Mens Fashion 1920 - 1929

Exploring the History of Men's Fashion: 1920 - 1929

The 1920s were truly some of the most interesting years in the history of America. Between the invention of the radio, the birth of Mickey Mouse and the historic stock market crash of 1929, plenty of things happened during this era that still affect the world today. It should also stand to reason, then, that the 20s saw a few distinct shifts in menswear compared to the decade beforehand, some of which have gone on to influence modern-day fashion to a rather large degree. Learning about 1920s fashion is a great way to take a step back and look at what may have prompted some of today’s styles of menswear, and is an essential exercise for anyone who pays attention to the way they look.

Early ‘20s Fashion
Men’s fashion in the 1920s can be viewed as being divided between two rather distinct eras. The first of these takes place between 1920 and early 1925, a period in which men tended to wear jackets that exhibited extremely high waists (these were usually worn with belts). Since suit jackets at the time were usually buttoned up quite high, their lapels tended not to be very wide; a style that likely influenced WWI military uniforms. Trousers during this period were never tapered, and tended to be relatively narrow/straight. More often than not, they were worn quite a bit shorter than trousers tend to be worn today, which allowed for socks to show through rather apparently.

1925 and On
1925 saw a relatively dramatic shift in a different direction for men’s fashion. “Oxford Bags” began to come into fashion at this time, which were basically trousers that were much wider than the ones seen in the past. Lapels widened, and were very often worn in a peaked manner. This was also the first time when double-breasted vests truly began to come into fashion. Often worn underneath a single-breasted jacket, this look characterized much of the late 1920s. As far as formal attire went in the late 20s, men almost always opted to wear a tuxedo instead of the tailcoat that was popular during the previous decades. For the first time so-called black tie dress became the go to choice for formal occasions.

Men’s casual attire saw quite a few memorable clothing pieces. Perhaps two to the most memorable are the fedora hat as well as strong contrasting (typically white and black) wingtip dress shoes.

Neckwear (1920-1930)
The period between the 1920s and 1930s had a strong impact on design and manufacturing of ties. Neckties were the predominant choice and bow ties were typically reserved for formal black tie occasions. Repp stripe ties and so-called Macclesfield ties were most popular. What stood out the most in the world of men’s ties were designer ties that featured unique patterns inspired by the Art Deco movement. Last but not least a tailor by the name Jesse Langsdorf created a new way the necktie was made in 1926 – which allowed the tie to go back into its wrinkle free and straight shape even after repeated wear. Since then this tie making process has become the standard and is being used by almost all necktie makers throughout the world.

Takeaways for the Modern Man
There are so many elements of 1920s fashion that can be applied today that it’s difficult to know where to start. The double-breasted vest, for example, is still extremely effective; try going with a luminous silver vest for a modern take on this piece. The 1920s also saw a great deal of change in the hats that men wore; fedoras and trilby hats started to come into fashion, both of which can be pulled off quite well in modern times by those who are looking to embrace a retro/vintage look. As far as embracing early ‘20s fashion goes, it’s best to leave the high-waisted jackets and short trousers in the past; after all, these trends ended for a reason, and didn’t do most people a great deal of favors during the height of their popularity.

More Fashion History Articles You May Like:

• Mens Fashion Through the Decades - Our 12-Part Series Exploring the History of Men's Fashion Over the Past 100 Years
• The History of The Tie

Your Ties-Necktie.com Team