1920s Mens Fashion: Classic Styles (2024)

FAQs

What styles did men wear in the 1920s? ›

Form-fitting suit jackets, three-piece suits, and cuffed pants with creases created a strong silhouette for men of the era. Casual wear became even more casual, with sportswear making its debut to include sweaters, baggy pants, jumpers, and caps paired with an abundance of accessories to express themselves.

While traditional black and gray remained classic choices, the 1920s introduced bolder patterns and colors into men's fashion. Pinstripes, checks, and plaids in earthy tones and muted pastels became increasingly popular. These patterns added a touch of personality and individuality to the classic suit.

1920S MEN'S FASHION: WORKING CLASS

Thick, made-to-last fabrics were a popular choice, like tweed, Donegal and herringbone. They were heavy and warm, often worn with a long overcoat in winter.

Two-tone shoes or brogues were the popular choice of shoe during the decade. Eveningwear for upper class men consisted of slim-fitting trousers, a waistcoat, a white shirt with an attached winged collar, a white bow tie and white gloves.

It includes iconic 1920s hats like the cloche, the fedora, bowler and boater hat- among the most worn during that era. All were symbolic of an age that brought such dramatic change to our nation. These hats not only became the eras most popular but became a symbol of the decade.

The flapper style is the style most people think of when they think of 1920s fashion. Flapper women chopped off their hair into a short, almost masculine style. They wore short, loose fitting dresses. Big, fancy, straw hats gave way to smaller hats such as cloches, a simple hat shaped like the bell of a flowerpot.

The most memorable fashion trend of the Roaring Twenties was undoubtedly "the flapper" look. The flapper dress was functional and flattened the bust line rather than accentuating it. The straight-line chemise topped by the close-fitting cloche hat became the uniform of the day.

A working-class man in the 1920s might be spotted in a shirt and tie with jeans held up by suspenders. Paired with a jacket, the look was finished with a flat cap.

Little boys wore short pants with matching jackets or short overalls and shirts. Older boys' clothing more closely matched that of men: knickers, long pants, and button-down shirts.

Did men wear fedoras in the 1920s? ›

Inching its way to the top spot in men's casual and formal wardrobes, the fedora hat is well on its way to claim the bowler hat's throne. In the 1920s, many men adopted the wide brim fedora as the new symbol of the respectable, modern gentleman.

The 1920s were also a time for casual dress. As menswear became less regimented, leisure clothes and sportswear made their debut. This meant sweaters, plus-fours, and other wide or baggy pants, workwear pants, jumpers, caps, and an array of accessories people could wear to express themselves.

Men used to wear tuxedos, well-tailored pinstripe suits, raccoon fur coats, silk shirts, handkerchiefs, black patent shoes made of leather, spats, and bow ties in the 1920s.

Working-class men often wore sturdy trousers, button-up shirts, overalls, or workwear in practical fabrics.

Pinstripe suits were often worn as part of formal or business attire and were considered a symbol of wealth and success. As a result, the suit was popularized by businessperson and bankers, and became associated with the booming economy of the 1920s.

In response, shoe designers produced a plethora of creatively styled and gorgeous pairs. BEADS! Also from the collection at the V&A Museum. Oxfords, Mary Janes, and T-straps were the most popular styles in the 1920s, the latter two in particular for 1920s eveningwear.

The typical 1920s businessman wore a three-piece suit with a hat to match. Unless you were a tradesman, athlete, or student, your suit would constitute your everyday attire. Men's suits were typically made from heavy materials like wool, tweed, flannel, or corduroy.

The classic and unmistakable Fedora

Over time, it became associated with the typical dress of detectives and gangsters, as was the case with Al Capone. But another iconic figure who brought the Fedora to the top was Michael Jackson and his distinctive style.

These boots were typically made from leather and featured a high ankle and a low heel. Dress boots were a popular choice for formal occasions and were often worn with suits or tuxedos. They provided a sleek and polished look that was perfect for the fashionable man of the 1920s.

Cotton was a staple in the 1920s just as it had been for centuries, but during the 1920s bright colors became all the rage. Greens, yellows, reds, and vibrant blues reflected the bold style of the time. Subdued pastels were also popular. Fashion during the 1920s was heavily influenced by what we call Art Deco.

What was the design style in 1920? ›

The 1920s was a decade defined by glamour and luxury, and was undeniably the birth of modern culture and interior design. Modernism, Bauhaus and Art Deco styles began to dominate design in all aspects, where geometric shapes, rich colour schemes, luxurious fabrics, and stylised imagery soared in popularity.

By the summer of 1926 the “look” we associate with the 1920s – short skirts, no waists, and a horizontal line across the hips – was truly the dominant fashion. These dresses for Misses – i.e., women aged 15 to 20 – look fresh and youthful, especially in contrast to the long, tubular fashions of 1924.

Stiff collar styles. Fully belted suits (not specifically Norfolk/hunting suits) were common. Novelty suits with weird designs and silhouettes were common in the early 20s, Gatsby's era.

Men had no limitations, as did women. Men were encouraged to be traditional or modern, in that they were allowed to live in an “obscure” manner. They were allowed to drink, smoke, gamble, and cuss in public- whereas, if women wanted to do so they were shunned.