Men's Apparel 1940–1990

  • Collared Shirts

    Collared Shirts
  • High Waisted Pants

    High Waisted Pants
  • Hats & Suits

    Hats & Suits
  • Shoes in the 40s

    Shoes in the 40s
  • Period: to

    Lots of Suits

    In the 1940's, an everyday staple apparel item for men was a classic suit. Common suit materials were thick wool, tweed, or synthetic wool mixed with rayon. The majority of the suits were neutral colors, with lighter colors worn during the warmer months, and darker hues in winter and fall. Wide legged pants were the preferred trouser option for men in the 1940's. Most wide legged pants were high-waisted.
  • Men's Sport Coats

    Men's Sport Coats
  • Letterman Jackets

    Letterman Jackets
  • Summer Fashion

    Summer Fashion
  • Bowling Shirt

    Bowling Shirt
  • Professional Wear

    Professional Wear
    Although casual wear was increasingly becoming popular, business men still wore suits and more conservative outfits.
  • Trousers

    Trousers
  • Period: to

    Bowling Shirts & Letterman Jackets

    During the 50's, bowling shirts and letterman jackets were popular clothing items for men. When compared to the previous decade, the 50's were more casual, with less business attire in casual settings.
  • Colorful Pants

    Colorful Pants
  • Peace Pants

    Peace Pants
  • Hippie Fashion

    Hippie Fashion
  • Mod Clothing

    Mod Clothing
  • Period: to

    Way More Color

    Pops of color became popular and clothes started getting tighter for in the 1960's. Men's fashion became more interesting, as patterns and colors were being used more heavily when compared to previous decades.
  • Tight Bell Bottoms

    Tight Bell Bottoms
  • Disco Fashion

    Disco Fashion
  • Low Rise "Swinging Bells"

    Low Rise "Swinging Bells"
  • Pattern Clashing

    Pattern Clashing
  • Patterned Pants

    Patterned Pants
  • Period: to

    Mass-Produced Clothing & Discos

    The three primary styles worn in the 1970s were disco outfits, soul clothes, and hippie attire. Men in the 70s wore tight, bell bottom pants which were often colorful and vibrant. Different materials of clothing started being explored in the decade as well. Due to the rise of mass-manufactured clothing. more synthetic materials were being used for clothing, such as spandex and polyester. For disco-wear, men often wore tight, button up shirts, sometimes made from a silky material.
  • Even More Patterns

    Even More Patterns
  • Jeans & Denim

    Jeans & Denim
  • Parachute Pants

    Parachute Pants
  • Stylish Outfits

    Stylish Outfits
  • Younger Men's Clothing

    Younger Men's Clothing
  • Preppy Fashion

    Preppy Fashion
  • Sweatpants & Headbands

    Sweatpants & Headbands
  • Period: to

    Baggy Denim

    Men in the 1980s wore a variety of different clothing styles, from hippie, to punk, to preppy. Trend-wise, baggy denim jackets and pants were a popular option for attire in the decade. Lots of denim in the 80s had an acid wash look. Another trouser option that was popular in the 80s were parachute pants, which were made out of a windbreaker material and often were made in bright colors.
  • Grunge

    Grunge
    Nirvana was a popular band in the 90s that wore grunge clothing. Lead singer Kurt Cobain is on the left side in this picture.
  • Hip Hop Inspired Clothing

    Hip Hop Inspired Clothing
  • Will Smith in Overalls

    Will Smith in Overalls
  • More Denim

    More Denim
  • Flannels

    Flannels
  • Period: to

    Laid Back Fashion

    90s fashion featured even more laid back and casual attire. Lots of music inspired certain fashion trends for men's fashion. For example, the hip hop era of the 90s definitely influenced fashion, bringing in even baggier attire compared to what was worn in more conservative eras. Another fashion style that became more popular in the 1990's was grunge clothing. Musicians such as Kurt Cobain, lead singer of Nirvana, wore grunge "dirty" looking clothing.