Men in the 1920s typically wore casual shirts, coats, vests, and suspenders; they were often accessorized with hats, canes, and gloves. On special occasions, they don White Tie attire; at galas or dinners, Black Tie attire is required instead.
Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby encapsulates the exuberance and decadence of this period, while Bogart personified this style in his film portrayals of gangsters.
Shirts
The 1920s was a decade of cultural revolution, which could be seen through men’s clothing. Their attire changed significantly as men became more casual with looser fabrics that softened against their bodies, and more tailored and detachable collars were introduced, allowing men to customize their appearance for each outfit. This represented a notable departure from previous decades, where collars had to remain starched to look crisp.
Men in the 1920s typically wore cotton or linen fabric shirts with either a buttoned-up collar, open-necked, or open at the neck to achieve different styles. Solid colors or horizontal striping patterns were often found. Cufflinks, bow ties, armbands, gloves, and scarves became part of formal looks to accentuate traditional faces further.
Dress pants were typically constructed of wool or cotton fabric in either striped or solid hues, often designed to fit tightly around the waist while being wider at the legs for formal occasions. They were frequently worn with a dress shirt and jacket for added sophistication.
Country jackets were an indispensable wardrobe item in the 1920s. Conceived to look stylish but casual and frequently utilized during outdoor activities, they were commonly found in light brown or earthy green shades with features like leather buttons, slanted pockets, and tweed fabric.
Men in the 1920s often donned knickerbockers or plus-fours – loose trousers tucked into knee-high boots or shoes – as an alternative to suits, making it easy for them to feel at ease in an office or on day trips.
In the 1920s, hats were an essential fashion must-have for men. Various styles were available – from fedoras and homburgs to boaters and Panamas – with casual wear like knickerbockers or plus-fours being worn, as well as more formal outfits such as suits and dresses. A hat defined your overall appearance and helped establish who you were.
Hats
In the 1920s, men’s fashion saw a sudden renaissance of hats as an absolute necessity. Men were known to wear various styles daily – the newsboy flat cap being most frequently worn casually, while top hats, bowler hats, straw boater hats, Homburgs, and Homburgs could be seen for more formal events.
Before the 1920s, men’s clothing was often overly formal and required frequent changes; however, it began to loosen its dress rules, particularly among middle-class men. Men wanted to express themselves more through their choice of hats than ever before!
Men’s sweaters were highly fashionable during the 1920s, offering an array of vibrant colors and patterns. Woven with boldly colored yarn, others were made of tweed or cotton in more subdued hues; depending on the occasion, they could also be paired with suit pants, Knickerbockers, or plus-fours; for a more casual appearance, they could also wear pullover knit vests over shirts or blouses for added style points.
Bow ties and neckties were indispensable accessories during this era, often featuring solid colors and stripes or dots to add texture and vibrancy. Sleeve garters or cuffs also played an integral part in adding color and texture to a man’s wardrobe.
Footwear was paramount during this era for men, and a wide selection of shoes was available. Oxford shoes were often preferred for formal events, while wingtip and high-top leather shoes became increasingly fashionable. Most men favored plain or patent leather shoes for casual activities, while some preferred moccasins for outdoor activities.
Peaky Blinders TV show has shown men how to emulate the fashion of that period, starting with quality loafers or tweed lace-ups. Men can then accessorize with accessories like herringbone flat caps, skimmer hats, fedoras, or bowler hats – complete the ensemble by adding stylish gloves and pocket squares!
Shoes
The 1920s marked a new era of fashion that focused on practicality and comfort. Men favored looser, more relaxed silhouettes of lighter fabrics like linen or cotton twill; bow ties became less formal; fedoras or homburgs became vital accessories to complete any look.
Fabric production techniques also enormously influenced men’s style in the 1920s. Natural fibers like cotton and wool remained prevalent, while synthetic fabrics like rayon became increasingly popular as soft knitwear was developed for more varied knitwear styles and to add texture.
Men began wearing two-tone shoes that featured wingtip designs – an unprecedented trend compared to previous decades when single-color shoes were the norm. Furthermore, they often sported lace-up boots with either brogue or oxford patterns and saddle shoes with distinctive two-tone designs.
One of the biggest influences on men’s clothing in this era was Hollywood and its glamorous image of movie stars. Rudolph Valentino, Douglas Fairbanks, and Clark Gable all served as fashion icons who had an immense effect on how men dressed – people looked to these celebrities for fashion advice to guide their dressing. Men took inspiration from them and attempted to emulate their styles.
Men’s clothing trends during this era also saw the popularity of sportswear and golf/boating activities increase significantly, such as sweater vests paired with pleated trousers/knickers for leisurely activities and often accessorizing these ensembles with either a fedora or homburg to complete the look.
As time passed, this style began to lose popularity. Men began wearing more formal attire again – perhaps driven by needing comfortable work attire and World War I veterans returning from duty who wished to don more classic clothing styles.
The 1920s was a decade of significant cultural and economic change and economic expansion that profoundly shaped everyday lives – fashion included! Gangster-chic pinstripe suits were prevalent, while more refined attire from the upper classes left their mark on fashion in this timeless era. Men can resurrect it today by pairing classic suits with sneakers for more relaxed styles or adding accessories like flapper hats and scarves that recall this decade.
Accessories
The 1920s witnessed a decline in formal menswear as more casual styles began gaining ground; nonetheless, suits remained integral to men’s fashion. Cases typically came with white or black shirts in these hues and accessories like ascots/bow ties/pocket watches/shoe spats/canes to complete the look.
Suits were generally narrower in the early 1920s but gradually began widening throughout the decade as it progressed. Furthermore, lapel width increased. White suits became popular choices for summer vacation attire for upper-class men during later parts of this decade.
Formal wear for men typically consisted of black suits or tuxedos with either a long tail coat or shorter frock coat, depending on the event. Over time, tuxedo suits replaced zoot suits as the preferred dress code for nighttime events – however, longer tail coats were still popular among some circles.
More informal men’s suits were often worn with vests in cooler temperatures. Most commonly made from tweed and available in shades ranging from black to brown and grey, vests had either single-breasted or double-breasted buttons and waistcoat pockets in front for convenience and shawl collars to flatter their figures.
Men typically paired vests with either short- or full-sleeved shirts featuring a turned-down collar, single or double cuffs, and either plain or dressy fabric designs like stripes and solid colors for formal events such as the Peaky Blinders shirt; younger men often favored softer collars like those found on henley shirts as an alternative style choice.
Men of this period commonly wore casual striped and herringbone-patterned shirts, often with sleeves rolled up or removed, for warmer climates. Knit sweaters with large, shawl-style collars or pointed collars made of cotton or silk were also fashionable.
Men in this era wore woven hats such as fedoras or bowler hats to keep their heads covered, often pairing them with hat bands or bow ties and adding pomades for glossy and smooth back locks.
