The 1920s were a time when men’s fashion changed dramatically.
Traditional styles gave way to bold new looks that defined an entire generation. These fashion choices help anyone interested in vintage style or period-accurate costumes.
This blog promises to break down the essential clothing items of 1920s men’s fashion.
Readers will learn about hat styles to shoe choices to suits, accessories, and fabrics that made the decade memorable.
The Evolution and Origin of Men’s Fashion
World War I ended in 1918, and everything changed after that.
Men returned from war ready for something different. The stiff, formal clothing of previous decades felt outdated.
Young men wanted comfort and style together. Jazz music spread through cities, bringing new attitudes with it. Hollywood movies showed glamorous actors in updated suits.
These influences pushed fashion forward quickly. Tailors began cutting suits with looser fits and shorter jackets.
Trousers got wider, creating the signature silhouette of the era. Social restrictions loosened, so men experimented more with patterns and colors.
The result was a fresh look that broke from Victorian traditions completely.
What Did Men Wear in The 1920s?
Men’s wardrobes in the 1920s consisted of specific essential pieces.
Let’s examine the key clothing components that every well-dressed man owned during this transformative decade.
1. Shirts
Dress shirts came in white or light colors for formal settings. Collars were detachable, which allowed men to change them without washing the entire shirt.
Stiff, high collars remained popular early in the decade but softened later. Button-down collars appeared for casual wear and sporting activities.
Shirt fabrics were typically cotton or linen, chosen for breathability and comfort.
2. Pants
Trousers in the 1920s featured high waists that sat near the natural waistline.
Wide legs became the signature look, creating a relaxed, comfortable fit throughout. Cuffs appeared at the bottom, adding weight and structure to the pants.
Pleats at the waistband allowed for better movement and a fuller cut.
Oxford bags, extremely wide trousers became a youth trend mid-decade. Most pants had a straight leg that draped smoothly over shoes.
3. Waistcoats and Vests
Waistcoats completed the three-piece suit look that defined 1920s menswear.
They buttoned up the front and fit snugly against the torso. Most vests matched the suit fabric and color for formal occasions. The cut was sleeveless with a V-neck that showed the shirt and tie beneath.
Back panels featured adjustable straps for a custom fit.
Men rarely removed their waistcoats in public, as doing so was considered improper and underdressed.
4. Jackets
Jackets offered alternatives to matching suit jackets for casual settings. These separated pieces came in bolder patterns and textures than business suits.
Tweed, corduroy, and wool blends were popular fabric choices for relaxed occasions.
Norfolk jackets featured belts and pleats for outdoor activities and country wear.
Blazers in navy or bright colors appeared at sporting events and social clubs. The cut remained similar to suit jackets but allowed more freedom in styling.
5. Shoes
Oxford shoes were the standard footwear for 1920s men across all occasions. These lace-up shoes came in black or brown leather with a low heel.
Two-tone spectator shoes mixed brown and white or black and white leather panels. Wingtip designs added decorative perforations along the toe and sides.
Spats, fabric coverings for the ankle, protected shoes, and added formality to outfits. Derby shoes offered a slightly less formal alternative with open lacing.
The Accessories of Men in the 1920s
Accessories completed a man’s outfit and showed his attention to detail. No gentleman left home without proper finishing touches.
These items elevated basic clothing into polished, sophisticated looks that defined the decade’s style standards.
Hats
Fedoras topped the list of essential headwear for 1920s gentlemen. These felt hats featured a center crease and a medium-width brim.
Straw boater hats appeared during the summer months and at sporting events. Flat caps suited working-class men and casual weekend activities perfectly.
Watches
Wristwatches gained popularity among men after soldiers wore them during World War I. Before this, pocket watches were the standard timekeeping method for gentlemen.
Leather straps or metal bracelets held watches securely on the wrist. Round faces with Roman or Arabic numerals were the most common styles.
Suspenders and Belts
Suspenders, called braces in some regions, held up men’s high-waisted trousers effectively. They are attached to buttons sewn inside the waistband of pants.
Most suspenders were made from elastic or leather in neutral colors.
Belts were less common since pants typically lacked belt loops during this period.
When belts appeared, they were thin and understated for casual wear only.
Chains
Pocket watches remained a staple accessory despite wristwatches gaining ground throughout the decade. Men kept these timepieces in vest pockets, secured by decorative chains.
Gold or silver chains draped across the waistcoat front are attached to outfits.
Many men inherited pocket watches from their fathers, making them sentimental family heirlooms.
The Fabrics and Colors Choice
Natural fibers dominated men’s clothing throughout the 1920s because synthetic materials hadn’t been invented yet.
Wool was the primary fabric for suits, available in different weights for various seasons.
Summer suits used lightweight wool or linen to keep men comfortable in the heat. Tweed provided warmth and durability for casual jackets and country wear.
Cotton worked well for shirts and undergarments due to its breathability. Flannel offered softness for both trousers and shirts in cooler months.
Color choices leaned toward conservative tones like navy, brown, gray, and black for formal wear.
Younger men experimented with lighter shades and bolder patterns as the decade progressed and social norms relaxed.
The Impact of WWI on Men’s Facial Hair
World War I changed how men viewed facial hair dramatically and permanently.
Gas masks required a tight seal against the face to protect soldiers from chemical attacks. Beards prevented a proper fit, so military officials ordered men to shave them off completely.
This practical necessity carried over into civilian life after the war ended. Clean-shaven faces became the new standard for modern, professional men throughout the decade.
The bushy beards and elaborate mustaches of the Victorian era disappeared almost entirely.
Small, trimmed mustaches remained acceptable, but full beards were considered outdated and old-fashioned.
Young men, especially, followed the smooth look as a symbol of progress and moving forward from the past
Shows that Bought Back Men’s 1920 Fashion Back in Trend
Television series have revived interest in 1920s menswear through authentic costume design.
These shows introduced vintage fashion to modern audiences. Period dramas made fedoras, three-piece suits, and Oxford shoes desirable again.
This HBO series, set in Atlantic City, showcased prohibition-era gangster fashion perfectly. Steve Buscemi and the cast wore impeccably tailored suits with wide lapels and high-waisted trousers.
The show’s costume department won multiple awards for historical accuracy and style.
British gangsters wore distinctive flat caps and sharp three-piece suits throughout this drama. The show made newsboy caps fashionable again among young men worldwide.
Dark colors, pocket watches, and wool overcoats defined the working-class aesthetic that became trendy.
Upper-class British fashion appeared in formal dinner scenes and country estate settings. Men wore white ties, tails, and perfectly pressed dress shirts for evening events.
The show demonstrated how social class influenced clothing choices during the twenties era.
This German series presented Weimar-era fashion with dark suits and structured overcoats. Men wore fedoras, suspenders, and striped shirts in this noir-style detective drama.
The show proved that the European 1920s style differed slightly from American trends but remained equally stylish.
5. Lawless (Film)
This prohibition-era film showed rural American men in practical work clothes and simpler suits.
Tom Hardy and Shia LaBeouf wore vests, work boots, and functional jackets suited for bootlegging. The movie proved that not all 1920s men dressed in fancy, elaborate outfits daily
Misconceptions About 1920s Style and Clothes
Popular media and movies have created many false ideas about how men actually dressed in the 1920s.
Hollywood glamorizes the era, showing only the wealthy elite at parties and social events.
Knowing what regular men wore daily helps separate fact from fiction.
Not everyone wore tuxedos constantly
Movies show men in formal evening wear all the time, but most men wore regular business suits for work and daily activities. Tuxedos were reserved for special evening events only.
Gangster style wasn’t mainstream fashion
Pinstripe suits and fedoras are associated with gangsters, but these were normal business clothes.
Most law-abiding citizens wore the same styles without any criminal connections whatsoever.
Working-class men dressed differently
Films focus on wealthy characters, ignoring how factory workers, farmers, and laborers dressed. These men wore practical, durable clothing that could withstand physical work and harsh conditions daily.
The Gatsby look was for the rich
F. Scott Fitzgerald‘s characters represented the upper class exclusively.
Average men couldn’t afford custom suits, silk shirts, or expensive accessories shown in luxury party scenes.
Colors were more subdued than films suggest
Black and white photography makes the era seem monochrome, while modern films add bright colors. Reality fell somewhere between, with conservative earth tones dominating most wardrobes.
Casual wear existed and was common
Period dramas rarely show men relaxing at home in comfortable clothes.
Men removed jackets, loosened ties, and wore simpler outfits when not in public view or working.
Regional differences were significant
Films show mainly New York or Chicago fashion, ignoring rural and southern styles. Small-town men dressed more conservatively and kept older fashion trends longer than city dwellers.
To Wrap Up
Men’s fashion in the 1920s reflected a society rebuilding itself after the war.
Three-piece suits, fedoras, and Oxford shoes became symbols of respectability and progress. The decade proved that clothing choices matter beyond mere function.
Today’s vintage enthusiasts and costume designers study these details carefully. Getting the look right requires understanding both the clothing pieces and the cultural context behind them.
The 1920s left a lasting mark on menswear that still influences modern fashion choices.
