Menswear History 1940 - 1990

Working Clothes

1940

Alot of men in the 1940 wore work clothes or business attire. For those who didn't wear suits to work, a collared shirt and work trousers in sturdy cotton twill or gabardine were the way to go. Work trousers had flat fronts with a single leg crease. The leg widths were also generally narrower than suit or sports pants.

Suits

1941

Here is a picture of some of the types of suits worn in the 1940's.

Baggy suits with narrow ties

1950

In the early 1950s, many men wore conservatively-colored, baggy suits with narrow ties. As the decade progressed, men's wardrobes became more textured, colorful, and casual.

Casual Coats

1955

Men's casual coats became very popular in the late 1950s. A man's personality was expressed in the type of jacket he wore.

Trousers

1960

For boys in the 1960's trousers paired with a sweater, jean jacket or matching blazer and plaid vest and it was the height of fashion.

slim-fit trousers

1961

The 1960s men's everyday look consisted of slim-fit trousers, a button-down shirt or polo shirt, and a patterned sport coat. This Ivy League look started on college campuses, but was adopted by businessmen who began to wear it instead of traditional conservative 3 piece suits.

Plaids and Stripes

1970

Plaids and stripes were especially popular and many had matching vests, often belted. These elements were worn with brightly colored button-down shirts and sometimes with a matching jacket.

Polyester leisure suit

1971

The polyester leisure suit, popular among some men in the seventies, was also worn by young boys.

Alot of outfit diversity

1980

There are a variety of popular outfits in the 1980's. The fabrics of the 1980s were unquestionably velour, spandex, and Lycra, with comfortable cotton and natural silk also popular. Severely tailored military -style suits and jackets with padded shoulders were worn side-by-side with printed t-shirts, velvet tracksuits, and baggy harem pants or leggings

MIlitary Grade suits

1981

Here's a look at the tightly worn military grade suits of the 1980's.

More Bold Prints

1990

Animal prints and bright colors were popular carryovers from the early 1990s. Men's clothing also featured bold prints, the most common being Hawaiian and paisley patterns, sports jerseys, graphic t-shirts, leather jackets, and velvet blazers.