The 1900's saw a change in style for both men and women but the formal wear for men never changed, it was always (and always will be) black in the evening with a starched white shirt underneath, black trousers topped over shiny black shoes, and a matching hat with a bow tie. So, now that we have the formal wear out of the way, men's fashion in the 1900's started in the 1920's, also known as "The Roaring Twenties." Learning where modern variations of suits, hats, trousers, etc came from is crucial to being a Vintage Fashion enthusiast.
Blazers: The coat was once a heavy wool item but it soon gave way to much thinner and trimmed blazers so that it wouldn't be so bulky and heavy. Yet most men would still throw a fur coat over their slim wool blazer if the weather was too cold for them. A common fur coat was racoon fur but the wool coats were brown plaids, subtle colors so that they wouldn't stand out too much. In Summer the blazers would be yellow plaids or some other warm color and made of much lighter fabric.
Trousers: Trimmed and pressed, they used to be baggy, commonly referred to as "Oxford Bags" since it was Oxford University where it originated. Now they were slimmer, more form fitting to show off the male's silhouette, which is why they were pressed with creases running down the center of the pant leg. Now that the trousers and blazers were more form fitting, the shirts were also becoming trimmed as well.
Shirts/Ties: Shirts were always long-sleeved, plain or pale in color, and even sometimes striped. They could have french cuffs or plain cuffs. Shirts had not really changed much except they're more tailored now and that started in the 1920's because of the rapid acceptance of fashion change. Ties didn't change much since their use but a gentleman never removed his tie completely to unbutton his shirt, loosened yes, but never remove.
Hats: This is the most important aspect of the 1920's as NO MALE went outside without a hat on the top of his head. Whether it was a Panama Hat, Fedora, Boater, or Golf Cap. Fedoras were commonly made out of straw for summer, including Panama hats and Boater hats while it was wool in winter. The Boater and Panama hat were strictly for summer/spring time as they were only constructed out of straw. The Golf Hat was made of flannel, wool, and always plaid or herringbone. Remember, never leave home without a hat, that was the one rule.
Spectacles/Glasses: This is an interesting topic as they were used during this time quite a bit, there wasn't any differentiation between men's or women's spectacles because they were all unisex. Round frames, sometimes octagon, and oval. Rimless did exist but their fragility made them undesirable and rare.
The 1920s saw the rise of the automobile as a major influential part of culture. These booming financial times meant that many people could afford a car and the fashion industry took note. The industry created clothing worn specifically for driving; men wore flat wool or tweed English driving caps, vented leather gloves, and even the leather jacket which was popularized by aviator Charles Lindbergh. Many even included the white silk scarf as part of their ensemble.This list of fashion points for the 1920's gave way to what is now called "The Gatsby Style" and soon we'll get to the other part of the 1920's; The Gangster.
Blazers: The coat was once a heavy wool item but it soon gave way to much thinner and trimmed blazers so that it wouldn't be so bulky and heavy. Yet most men would still throw a fur coat over their slim wool blazer if the weather was too cold for them. A common fur coat was racoon fur but the wool coats were brown plaids, subtle colors so that they wouldn't stand out too much. In Summer the blazers would be yellow plaids or some other warm color and made of much lighter fabric.
Trousers: Trimmed and pressed, they used to be baggy, commonly referred to as "Oxford Bags" since it was Oxford University where it originated. Now they were slimmer, more form fitting to show off the male's silhouette, which is why they were pressed with creases running down the center of the pant leg. Now that the trousers and blazers were more form fitting, the shirts were also becoming trimmed as well.
Shirts/Ties: Shirts were always long-sleeved, plain or pale in color, and even sometimes striped. They could have french cuffs or plain cuffs. Shirts had not really changed much except they're more tailored now and that started in the 1920's because of the rapid acceptance of fashion change. Ties didn't change much since their use but a gentleman never removed his tie completely to unbutton his shirt, loosened yes, but never remove.
Hats: This is the most important aspect of the 1920's as NO MALE went outside without a hat on the top of his head. Whether it was a Panama Hat, Fedora, Boater, or Golf Cap. Fedoras were commonly made out of straw for summer, including Panama hats and Boater hats while it was wool in winter. The Boater and Panama hat were strictly for summer/spring time as they were only constructed out of straw. The Golf Hat was made of flannel, wool, and always plaid or herringbone. Remember, never leave home without a hat, that was the one rule.
Spectacles/Glasses: This is an interesting topic as they were used during this time quite a bit, there wasn't any differentiation between men's or women's spectacles because they were all unisex. Round frames, sometimes octagon, and oval. Rimless did exist but their fragility made them undesirable and rare.
The 1920s saw the rise of the automobile as a major influential part of culture. These booming financial times meant that many people could afford a car and the fashion industry took note. The industry created clothing worn specifically for driving; men wore flat wool or tweed English driving caps, vented leather gloves, and even the leather jacket which was popularized by aviator Charles Lindbergh. Many even included the white silk scarf as part of their ensemble.This list of fashion points for the 1920's gave way to what is now called "The Gatsby Style" and soon we'll get to the other part of the 1920's; The Gangster.