This is the Original Friday Inspiration series – amazing things that we handpicked to inspire you. This week’s post is focused on Men’s Fashion Thourgh the Ages.
We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again: menswear is governed by tradition and history. At some point, every person in the menswear industry has drawn inspiration from the past. In addition, no era has been ignored.
We’ll take a look back at men’s fashion over the last century or so as we continue to examine the foundations of personal style. A look at how men’s fashion has changed over time may help us make better decisions when it comes to purchasing clothing and developing personal style.
Hit the play button and let’s go back in time:
Table of Contents
Late 1800s: The Last Victorians
As the 19th century ended, men stopped wearing tophats, frock coats, pocket watches, and walking sticks.This may seem restrictive and elaborate, but it was a big step up from the Georgian period, when men wore feathers, pantyhose, and high heels. You thought you were “dandy”
1900s: Tall, Long and Lean
As we moved into the 1900s, most men’s clothes were practical and not very creative. The long, lean, and athletic look of the late 1890s stuck around, and tall, stiff collars are typical of the time. People wore three-piece suits with a sack coat, a matching waistcoat, and pants.They could also wear a matching coat and waistcoat with different pants or a matching coat and pants with a different waistcoat. Does that sound familiar? Pants were shorter than they used to be and often had “turn-ups” or “cuffs.” A new trouser press was used to make folds in the front and back of pants.
The 1930s: The Ultimate expression Of Elegance
The Great Depression began at the start of the 1930s. Even though most men couldn’t afford to take part in the world of fashion, many of them liked to watch how those who could dress.Hollywood movies on the Silver Screen gave hope to working-class men in this time period. Men and women alike looked up to stars like Fred Astaire, Clark Gabel, Cary Grant, and Gary Cooper because of how well they dressed.
1940s: The Year Ready-To-Wear Began
After World War II, American men strayed from the 1930s’ fine dress standards. Changes in the workforce and everyday informality contributed. With less demand for custom tailoring, mass-produced menswear became the norm.During this time, some brands that still sell us clothes today introduced mass-produced ready-to-wear.
1950s: The Decade of Conformity
The 1950s were conformist. Young veterans wanted to fit into society. The Ivy League look dominated menswear at the time. Style was an afterthought. Boxy sack suit, oxford shirt, rep tie, and loafers were worn to look “clubby.”Mass Ready-to-Wear manufacturers sold ill-fitting tweed jackets to any young man trying to look smart and employable.
1960s: Rebellion and Individuality
The 1960s were a time of unrest and rebellion against 1950s conservatism. Clothing reflected this new attitude, especially among youth who valued self-expression and individuality over “rulebook” dressing.The clothing industry caught this youth trend and offered many styles. More stores had variety. It was approaching a “anything goes” period, when what mattered most was what you didn’t wear.
1970s: Disco
In the early 1970s, hippie rebel fashion continued. Men wore bell-bottom jeans, tie-dye shirts, and military surplus.Necklaces, headbands, and bracelets made from wood, hemp, and leather were popular in the 1970s.
1980s: Power Clothing
In the 1980s, things got a little bit more serious. Power ties and suspenders were worn with broad shoulders.Bold colors and patterns showed a new sense of national pride, and businessmen started wearing expensive clothes and flashy accessories to show their power.
1990s: Business Casual
This is the worst-dressed decade. The 1990s fashion brought tattoos and body piercings to the west.This brought back indifferent, anti-conformist fashion, popularizing T-shirts, distressed jeans, oversized hoodies, and trainers. Corporate offices become less formal, causing suits to get bigger and uglier.
2000s: European Tailoring and Hip-Hop
Hip-hop culture and European “slim fit” tailoring influenced menswear in the new millennium.As the “European cut” became popular in America, stores started carrying “slim fit” suits. The internet helped men learn about menswear and share their opinions with others. In 2009, we started the first menswear blog.
2010s: The Style’s Evolution
In the 2010s, the “fashion star” evolved. Bloggers are popular. On one hand, fashion is now in the hands of the people, producing more styles, reviews, and opinions than ever.Those being watched are encouraged to stand out. “Peacocking” became a menswear term for “trying too hard” in the early 2000s, but men are now more comfortable with subtle, tasteful styling.
