Fashionistas: The Men The Jazz Singer

Men’s Fashion: The Suits The 1920s saw major changes in men’s fashion. Most of men’s fashion gets solidified in this decade. Men wore suits for most of the day, whether it was to work, the day, the evening, a party, the office, or almost anything. Men’s suits were traditionally double- breasted or had 3 buttons. Suits had 3 pieces, including a maching vest. Suits were cut more slender than in the past to give a more narrowing look. Bow ties were acceptable.

Men’s Fashion: It’s All About the Hat In the 1920s, men wore hats for the season and the occasion. For a summer outing or event, a man or boy might wear a flat cap (left). For a slightly more formal summer event, a man might wear a straw hat or a panama hat which was very similar. For work, a man might wear a stiff hat called a bowler or derby which was typically black, although a man might have a tan or gray one. Originally a woman’s hat in the 1880s, by the 1920s, the fedora had become a middle class man’s hat. – However, as the gangsters wore them and became popular, the fedora became an upper class hat.

Men’s Fashion: Knickerbockers For sports, men wore knickerbockers. They were often called plus 2s, plus 4s, plus 6s, etc. which referred to how far below the knee the knickerbockers went. Knickerbockers were baggy pants, which were often held up by suspenders.

Men’s Fashion: Accessories Two items were must haves for men’s upper fashion: gloves and pocket squares. Pocket squares were often in contrasting colors to the suit, but harmonized with the tie.

Men’s Fashion: The Shoes Men wore oxford shoes, which were two toned and laced up with eyelets. They often had sewn decorations on them.

Men’s Fashion: Hair Men’s hair was kept simple during this time. Mostly it was short in front, slicked back on the top with grease and a comb. Men’s facial hair was kept at a minimum.