Fashion is a reflection of the times, and during the Roaring 20s mens fashion, the United States was rapidly evolving as major socioeconomic changes spread across the country. With new freedoms and greater wealth, there was more money to spend on the latest fashion versions that permeated Mecca’s great melting pot. The timeless styles created during this period set the first rules of fashion that are still in use today.
Roaring 20s mens fashion laid the groundwork for both the working class and the elite to participate in the fun and freedom that fashion allowed. The clean look became a popular trend for men, with many manufacturers opting for softer materials and looser cuts.
Roaring 20s mens fashion made elegant formal wear that was completely functional and tailored to perfection. Fitted jackets, three-piece suits, and pleated cuffed trousers created a strong silhouette for men of the era.
Casual attire Roaring 20s mens fashion became even more casual, with sportswear making its debut with sweaters, slacks, pullovers, and hats paired with plenty of accessories to make a statement. The 1920s saw fashion move away from stiff, durable fabrics and towards more natural fibers that allowed for more movement.
Clothing made from synthetic fibers such as cotton, wool, linen, and rayon became the norm. New manufacturing techniques led to lighter garments, more variety, and softer textures, resulting in knitted sweaters, cardigans, and button-down shirts that would pair with a wide variety of hats for a sleek silhouette.
Seasonal fashion cycles became common in the roaring 20s mens fashion, giving people the opportunity to change their style every few months based on current trends. In men’s clothing, this meant moving away from khakis and neutrals and towards brighter suits, more colorful shirts, and patterned trousers as everyday options.
Formal wear in roaring 20s mens fashion also underwent a slight adjustment, with formal evening wear at the time featuring tuxedos, top hats, and leather Oxfords. For semi-formal occasions, men had the option of wearing tweeds, pinstripes, and even herringbone suits in blue, grey, or other muted colors.
Derby hats and fedoras remained popular amongst men of the older generation of that period. In the 1920s flapper style was all the rage but elegant and practicality was also soon to follow: the slim cut and trousers look also fuelled as menswear as we know it today.
What kind of changes were observed in the clothing worn by men in the 1920s?
Men fashion of roaring 20s was liberated, prosperous, and full of leisure for both the higher class and the lower class. They are also associated with the emergence of new consumerism. It’s no surprise that men’s and women’s styles began to reflect these changes as fashion reflected the era.
In the 1910s, the working class wore durable, sturdy clothing that would last. Many also preferred a clean look.
- But by the early 1920s, styles had become more relaxed than ever. More manufacturers were producing suits in softer fabrics and slightly looser cuts. Formal wear became more varied, elegant, and sleek, yet still functional.
- Wealthy women were opting for shorter skirts, cocktail dresses, and flapper dresses, the latter of which first became popular in European fashion. Elite men still wore tailored suits as before, but there were a few notable changes.
- First, the Roaring 20s mens fashion was influenced by the rise of gangsters. These included the infamous Peaky Blinders, a street gang from Birmingham, England, who brought many iconic styles, such as the three-piece suit and flat cap, into fashion.
- The shoulder pads and rigid fits of the previous decade were gone. In their place were fitted jackets with slightly sloping shoulders and tailored suits with cuffed trousers that folded down the front for a sharper silhouette.
- Roaring 20s mens fashion was also a time of casual wear. As men’s clothing became less regulated, casual wear and sportswear made their debut.
- This meant sweaters, cropped trousers and other loose or baggy trousers, work trousers, sweaters, caps and a range of accessories that people could wear to express themselves. Sportswear, in particular, had to be fashionable enough for the middle and upper classes, yet still practical.
- Matching jackets and ties were still fashionable for the young, educated man, but they were not as restrictive.
The roaring 20s mens fashion also included cardigans, knitted sweaters, and ankle socks. Men also switched to button-down shirts with detachable collars and began wearing a wider variety of hats, including bow ties and fedoras.
1920s fashion in your wardrobe
If you’re trying to emulate the classic look of the roaring 20s mens fashion in America, here are some guidelines for what were considered the essential elements of 20s style.
Jackets
Men’s jackets in roaring 20s mens fashion were inspired by the morning coat of the time, and were therefore cut to emphasize the waist and a defined silhouette.
They were usually double-breasted and made of sturdier fabrics such as wool. They sometimes featured a two- or three-button placket position cut into the front of the jacket and a silk-lined body through high-quality tailoring. Although lighter fabrics have now been added to the mix, the style effectively maintains the style of modern menswear.
Although tweed predominated the countrified attire, cotton and linen took over the warmer days to a large extent. In the modern twenties of men’s fashion, we have come across fabrics lighter than what was then conventional. Loose-fitting and low-buttoned garments and wide collars of jackets of that age also shaped the contemporary official wear.
For something more blatant, don’t forget about the collar shape, the presence and type of the pockets, throat height, and material.
Most of the men’s wear in the Roaring 20s comprised of decent or tailored shirts with contrasting vertical stripes that showed through vests and coats.
By the end of the decade, pastel colors were a trend, with young men wearing cotton shirts with colored collars and single cuffs.
Although relatively popular in the modern era, short sleeves were still relatively rare at the time, and most men continued to roll up their sleeves on warm days.
Trousers
Looser-cut, straight-front trousers were a staple in the early roaring 20s mens fashion, typically made of cotton or wool, with wide legs that were cinched at the waist, but straight or cuffed legs were the norm. Tapered trousers became the norm by the end of the decade and are still an important element of men’s style.
Single pleats and side belts emerged during this period, and patterns and colors quickly became fashionable. These included plaids, tweeds, and stripes in black, khaki, and grey. Today, men have the option of wearing loose or skinny, depending on their sense of style.
Vests
The roaring 20s mens fashion marked the beginning of a new dress code for men, as vests and waistcoats were no longer mandatory. While some men at the time chose not to wear them at all, those who did wore them wore lower-cut, notched, or no collars at all.
Slim-cut vests with front pockets and single-breasted vests. Men of lower socioeconomic status at the time would pair a handsome tweed or knit vest in solid colors like black, blue, or grey with matching trousers. The addition of a vest was considered an elevated, casual look that offered more versatility to a man’s wardrobe than it does today.
Coats
Suits in the roaring 20s mens fashion were bulkier and tailored compared to the suits that are present today and belonged to darker shades of colours. To start with, the basic colors of suits were brown and black, but due to these colors, they were replaced by an appreciable color for all men: navy blue.
The hemlines of coats were below the knee length, shirts had broad shoulders and wide lapels, and silk linings were used for luxury models.
Tie and cufflinks arose in the early roaring 20s mens fashion.
Men’s accessories emerged in the roaring 20s mens fashion
Hats
If any sector of men’s clothing experienced a true renaissance, it was thanks to the hats worn by men of all classes in every way. While the upper class preferred the top hat, the middle class men of the time turned to felt hats and fedoras. During this time, a man’s wardrobe consisted of hats designed for both formal and casual occasions.
From bowler hats and fedoras for formal occasions to newsboy caps and tweed hats for sporting events, men had a variety of colors and patterns to choose from to accent their suits.
To further accentuate these, the most elegant headwear featured ribbons or feathers that added a sophisticated and stylish touch to the outfit. Today, men have even more choices when it comes to hats.
Pocket squares
Designed to accessorize a man’s suit, pocket squares made of silk or linen added a vibrant color and elegance to the outfit. Carefully folded and a must-have for smart men’s attire, pocket squares are designed to match your tie, hat ribbon, or shirt color.
Feel free to view The Dark Knot’s striking silk and linen pocket squares here.
Watches
Today’s premium brands began their dominance in the watch industry in the roaring 20s mens fashion when soldiers popularized the accessory for its functionality. Luxury watches for the elite quickly became in high demand, and high-end retailers like Rolex expanded their traditional lines by producing the first wristwatch made of precious metals.
Meanwhile, more accessible watches for the average person were also developed and became an integral part of mainstream culture.
Eyewear
Eyewear was considered a luxury fashion accessory in the roaring 20s mens fashion; round glasses and horn-rimmed glasses that sat on the bridge of the nose were popular.
In this period, glasses underwent variety and began the production of oval and octagonal glasses as well as sport types with thick and matte or tortoise shells.
Ties
The one that showed the greatest change among male apparel was the tie, because it was previously used to be heavy, poorly stitched, and crumpled, hence making it hard for men to attain an elegant look. Ties became a more prominent accessory in the roaring 20s mens fashion, with more options available for men, including checks, horizontal stripes, and solid colours in various tones.
Bow ties were also added to the mix to allow for greater freedom of expression; most ties from this period were made of knitted silk or wool. Scarf ties made of rayon or silk were worn with the Windsor knot and under sweaters. Many men also wore lapel pins and clips to change up their look.
Feel free to browse The Dark Knot’s wide range of silk ties here. Each of our ties comes with matching outfit suggestions, so you’ll never leave the house looking unique again!
Men’s Right to Shoes in the 1920s
When the Oxford shoe became a trend in the United States in the roaring 20s mens fashion, menswear underwent a radical transformation, inheriting other styles such as tassel loafers, wingtips, patent leather shoes, work boots, athletic shoes, and winter boots.
Most shoes of the time were made solely of leather or a combination of canvas. Although shades of black, brown, and white were common, the roaring 20s men’s fashion also introduced a touch of style by introducing two-tone colors with Wingtips, which offered an alternative to traditional leather shoes.
Formal Men’s Clothing in the 1920s
In the popularly termed Roaring 20s, wear fashion started a new shift towards a little more relaxed look, a departure from the formal look that was precipitated by several reasons; among them a world war, jazz, and the melting pot that America had become.
Formal events for men in the roaring 20s required a black or navy suit or tuxedo. The tailcoats of the period featured a tailcoat at the back, and three-piece formal suits were designed for greater comfort and movement.
Tuxedos or suits often came with a matching top hat; white ties were worn for formal events, with black ties becoming increasingly popular.
Casual men’s clothing in the 1920s
Brighter colored and striped button-down shirts began to become trendy during this period; young men favored softer or no collars, as seen in Henley shirts.
Pre-1930s men’s fashion was also a foundation for the initiated Jazz Age where men could afford to experiment with their fashion and blend fashionable tailored-wear if they desired.
This meant that more men wore high-waisted, pleated trousers in colors ranging from dark purple and red to dark green suit jackets. For the more adventurous men of the period, corduroy and flannel sweaters were popular alternatives.
Conclusion
The house of the 1920s was an era that was fixed in the middle of elegance and innovation among menswear. It was the evolution of the cut-away, business suits, or even casual wear where men, irrespective of their class, were free to flaunt themselves.
Hats, pocket square, and wrist watches gained importance and featuring them in clothes made the difference, whereas the shoes and sunglasses gave class to formal and formal instead formal wear.
This selection proves that the trends dated back to 1920s still have an impact on the modern menswear, as the styles, comfort and individuality were the key values of the chosen decade.
