Men's Fashion in the 1920s

Men’s Fashion in the 1920s Overview

For the past few centuries, men had worn some variation on three-piece suits. Edwardian upper-class men in particular had been very formal, changing clothes several times a day as propriety dictated. The war changed attitudes and did much to level the classes, which reflected in fashion. Younger men, in a switch from wearing the clothes of their elders, adopted a look all their own with baggy plus fours and wide-legged trousers. Suits were simpler, with just slim, unpadded jackets over the trousers, and fabrics and colors were lighter and brighter than anyone had seen in years, reflecting the brightness of the music, theatre and good times.

Tennis, Anyone?

Much of men’s clothing in the 1920s took its cue from what popular athletes were wearing. The plus fours, of course, were worn by golf stars, who topped them with colorful Fair Isle sweaters. As tennis grew in popularity, the white trousers and V-neck sweaters the players wore informed much of what young men wore around town.

The Crease Is In

As men’s trousers grew wider, a new major change appeared – the front crease. Emphasizing a man’s overall shape, the crease made for a stronger silhouette and more striking look overall. Cuffs were added to trousers, further sharpening the look and drawing more attention to spectator shoes. Instead of suspenders, waist-slimming belts were becoming the popular means of holding up these slick new trousers.

The baggy trousers were called “Oxford bags,” because they had originated at Oxford University, where a ban on knickerbockers prompted the students to turn to baggy trousers instead.

Popular though baggy trousers were, men’s fashion in the 1920s changed as regularly as did women’s. Some jazz enthusiasts felt their musical passions were best expressed through long, tight-waisted jackets and skinny trousers. It was the beginning of individuality as expressed via clothing.

Formal Wear

With casual wear so radically different from previous decades, and women’s clothing changing so boldly, it may be something of a surprise to note that men’s formal wear in the 1920s was much the same as it had always been. Black was the only color to wear in the evening, and while the frock coat had given way to the tailcoat, the overall look was the same. A starched white shirt and high collar with a bow tie was worn under the tails, and the black trousers topped shiny black shoes. For all else that changed then and has continued to change in men’s wear, this formal suit remains much the same.

Hats On

No man of any class was out in public without a hat. That had been true for centuries and was still very much the case in the 1920s. In summer, light blazers were topped by a Panama straw hat or the shallow, flattop, stiff-brimmed hats called either boaters or skimmers, depending on the brim’s width. Autumn and winter were all about the felt fedora, worn with panache by gangsters but beloved of all men for their style and comfort.

Style Driving

The 1920s saw the rise of the automobile as a major part of the culture. The booming financial times meant that many more people could afford a car and the fashion industry took note, creating clothing worn almost specifically for driving. Men wore flat English driving caps and vented leather gloves when toting their sweeties around town. The leather jacket popularized by dashing aviator Charles Lindbergh was something no stylish man could do without, and many liked to include the white silk scarf as well.

Till the Music Stopped

Men’s fashion in the 1920s had a snap, sizzle and brightness that have mostly associated with women’s Jazz Age couture, and it stayed that way until the stock market crash of 1929. However, although it took several decades for the youth to have such sway again, there was no going back to the stuffiness of centuries past. A new age had begun.