50's Casual Fashion 50's Working Man
Part two of our wait at men'southward 1950s vesture and fashion leaves the dull grey of the workplace behind and enters the vibrant coincidental clothing world. Read part 1 almost men's 1950s business organisation attire here and workwear hither.
During the '50s, leisurewear for men became very pop. Instead of wearing three piece suits all day long, men would dress for business in the morning time and quickly changed into more comfortable habiliment when they returned home.
For labor workers in a uniform, many employment offices now had lockers so men could change into street wearing apparel earlier heading dwelling. Naturally, on the weekends, men wore coincidental wearable fit for whatsoever task they had: lounge clothes for at dwelling house, sport clothes for playing or viewing sporting events, and swim dress for the embankment.
1950s Sporty, Casual Outfits
None of this is new information. Leisure clothing has been established since the 1920s. What sets 1950s men'due south casual clothing apart is the sheer variety of options, the bold splash of colors, and the overwhelming use of new textures and materials. The toll of clothing plummeted subsequently the war. New synthetic materials fabricated dress piece of cake to wash and clothing and the movies helped spread new fashions faster than ever before. For both men and women, the 1950s gave them options — lots of options — to wear whatever time of day. The diverseness was virtually prevalent in casual clothing.
Jackets
1950s Men's Clothing: Sport Coats
Even though men no longer wore formal business suits exterior of the role, they withal wore suit coats that mimicked the design. Sport coats and blazers had the same 1950s natural shoulder, straight hanging fit, 2-button single breasted fronts, and flap pockets with side vents. Well-nigh 1950s sport coats also came with four-push cuffs, an element seen on concern suits equally well.
1954 Men'southward Autumn Sport Coats
What was different was the variety of colors and materials. For business organisation, sport coats came in dark colors and small patterns like checks and subtle plaid. For leisurewear, the colors exploded into hunter light-green, burgundy red, slate bluish, and charcoal grey in winter or bright blue, emerald green, silver grey, ivory, tan, teal blue, and mustard yellow in summer.
1951 Men'due south Sport Coats with Plaid Linings were Very Common
Solid colors were inappreciably ever just solid. They ordinarily had subtle patterns of stripes, plaid, or bank check. Others had rough textures of nubby tweed, blanket cloth, or corduroy. Corduroy was a major tendency in the mid '50s. Everything came in corduroy, and it came in every color imaginable.
1955 Corduroy Sport Coats and Shirts
By 1957, subtle patterns were out and large patterns were in. Large plaids, big checks, deeper textures — suits got loud. Contrasting leather elbow patches, buttons, and collars were also added. Even the inside of the jacket was not ignored. Sport coat linings were frequently big plaids and vivid colors. Something flashy was office of every sport glaze design.
Another pop material in the mid 1950s was the jersey. Its smoothen end assorted nicely with textured pants, and information technology offered quite a scrap of stretch every bit well, making them remarkably comfy. Jersey could be worn year round, only the most popular option for summer was Indian madras. It was a very lightweight, breathable, loose cotton weave made in colorful plaid prints (the impress is on both sides of the fabric). It has a slight wave texture every bit well.
Ivy League Men in Madras Sport Coats
Texture + plaid was the perfect pairing for 1950s summertime. The materials was used heavily in sport coats but also pants, shorts, shirts, and ties. Authentic madras was non inexpensive. Cheaper cotton and synthetic blends came in printed plaids that imitated real madras.
Shop classic 1950s manner sport coats.
1950s Men's Wearable: Coincidental Pants
To contrast with colorful, textured sport coats, men's casual pants/trousers/slacks came in just equally many if not more than varieties. The full general rule was to wearable a textured sport coat with smooth pants, or textured pants with a smooth sport coat.
The aforementioned rules practical to colors. Patterns on top meant solid colour on the bottom and vice versa. Likewise much texture or impress was considered tacky. Matching summit and lesser colors was too "too formal" for leisurewear. Colors were almost ever mixed.
1955 Men'south Colorful Pants
1950s men'southward slacks were frequently made of gabardine, rayon, Nylon, Dracon, cotton, linen, flannel, silk, wool, and blends of these. "Wash and wear" piece of cake care was a major marketing slogan. In winter, heavier textured fabrics were favored such every bit wool tweed and corduroy.
Solid colors were mutual, every bit were some subtle patterns such equally thin stripes, checks, and plaid. Ii distinct patterns were the "flecks" and "splash" patterns establish in the 2d half of the decade. Colors afterward 1954 were quite assuming – pink, teal, sea-green, rust, yellow, lavender, and powder blue. Neutral shades such as lite and medium grey, blues, browns, white, and tans were common throughout the decade.
1956 Splash and Fleck Patterns
Some slacks had contrasting pocket flaps, belts, top stitching, and insert panels. These are very collectable today as part of the "atomic era" style.
1955 Men'south Summer Trousers with Unique Waistband, Contrast Trim, and Skinny Belts
Waistbands were given new treatments in the 1950s. They continued to fit high on the waist, some slightly college than previous decades. While virtually slacks were designed to be worn with thin belts, a few styles had unique belt loops, beltless waistbands, and back details:
- Self-belt – An attached belt in matching fabric. Could be full, half, or partial length.
- Continuous waistband – High waist with no waistband seam, optional dropped belt loops. Known today as the Hollywood waistband.
- Drop belt loops – Belt loops placed one.5 to 2 inches below the waistband edge.
- Tunnel belt loops – Wide A-frame belt loops creating a "tunnel" for the belt to slide through
- Backstrap – A belt back or backstrap placed on the backside of the slacks, cinched with a slide.
- Rubberband Back- Doodle Pants had a wide elastic back waistband for comfort.
From the waistband downwardly, 1950s pants fit wide and full effectually the hips and thighs, ending in a cuff or evidently hem. After 1954, men's pants took inspiration form Rome, where the tapered leg look was already trending. Manifestly or pleated waistbands were smoothed down and tapered into a long, lean, leggy expect. The cuff was at present simply 17-one/two inches. Pockets now had flaps and beltloops returned to standard placement.
1958 Leg Men's Pants and Bowling Shirt
As the decade inched closer to the 1960s, the pleated waistband was old news. The baggy look, too, was replaced by a more narrow, straight-leg pant. The ascension was withal high, but now centered at or just below the navel.
Shop 1950s manner men'southward pants.
Most pants had belt loops and were worn with a thin leather belt. They were skinny — three/iv″to 1″ wide, sometimes less, were the standard belt widths. Thin belts with a small buckle helped proceed the appearance trim and neat. Webbed nylon belts with contumely buckles and even woven plastic belts were also used in summer.
1957 Men's Thin Belts – All 1″ or Less
1950s Men'south Shorts
"Don't forget to article of clothing them knee length so you don't look similar a fugitive from a baseball game game. With them you'll want knee-length socks in contrasting designs. The shoes of course should be moccasins or sports style. And habiliment these shorts with a swagger, lads. This is a fashion with the comfort men take been waiting for so long, and now,-in its many forms- it has entree anywhere." Esquire, Baronial 1956
1950s Men's Walk Shorts (Bermuda Length)
Men's 1950s shorts were non a new invention, but they certainly gained mass market entreatment starting in 1949. Beach and sport playing were the prime reasons men wore shorts prior to the 1950s. Now, information technology was all most casual fashion. The most popular way of short was the almost-knee length walk (walking) shorts, known as Bermuda shorts today. They fit like men's slacks without pleats at the waistband, and hung straight down to an inch or two above the knee cap. They came in plain colors equally well as plaid, seersucker, and stripes in cotton, linen, madras, and fifty-fifty flannel. Some had back belts and virtually were worn with a contrasting fabric belt.
1950s Men's Shorts
Shorts were hardly ever worn without a pair of genu high socks, normally in bold patterns such every bit the classic argyle. Plain colors were OK, besides. Paired with a sideslip on pair of penny loafers or moccasins, a human was gear up for a round of golf, a walk to the park, a day at the seaside, or gardening in his own backyard. Some fashionable men wore flannel shorts to dinner paired with a sport glaze, shirt, and tie, specially in seaside resort towns.
1952 Human in Short Sport Shorts
Shorts lengths changed footling for most of the decade, but some specifically designed for able-bodied clothing were even shorter. I call them men's short shorts. : ) They hit well-nigh mid thigh, worn without a chugalug and made of a sturdier cotton fiber twill. They provided maximum liberty to move and breathe and play a great game of baseball, tennis, or soccer.
1958 Swim Shorts and Shirts Created Cabana Sets
Swim shorts were even shorter than sport shorts with apartment or gathered elastic waistbands, zipper fly or side buttons, and sometimes a minor flap pocket on one side. It was quite common to buy swim shorts with a matching push button-downward sport shirt, worn open. The cursory (aka Speedo) mode swim-curt were another swimsuit option. Read more nearly men's 1950s swimwear here.
1950s Men'southward Casual Shirts
1950s Casual Shirts: Polo Shirts, T-Shirts, Nix-Down Pullovers
I have already written a detailed article on men's shirt styles here. There were and then many different styles of casual shirts for both winter and summer that they need their own commodity. In full general, men'south casual shirts came in a few varieties: button down, knit shirt, T-shirt, Hawaiian shirt, and shirt jacket.
The button down shirt was a twelvemonth circular style in both long and short sleeves. Shirts came in plaid, plaid, plaid, and more plaid. Solid colors, too, but generally only plaid. Heavy plaid fleece or wool blends for winter (Pendleton still makes them simply like the '50s cut) and light cotton or madras in summer. Nigh button down shirts came with either a high push collar like a dress shirt or an open neck collar. 2 chest pockets with button downwardly flaps mimicked the western look, another manner of button-down shirt. Pockets could also be patch with no flaps. As well plaid, pastels were mutual (pink, xanthous, teal blue) too every bit abstract prints, minor checks (gingham), and vertical stripes.
1953 Button Down Sport Shirts and Gabardine Jackets
The Hawaiian "Aloha" shirt was a classic button downward shirt made of cotton and printed in abstract tropical designs. Information technology could exist worn tucked in, merely when paired with casual pants and shirts, information technology was left untucked.
Men's 1950s knit shirts resembled a mod day polo, except the collar was much wider and contrasted with the shirt trunk. Some knit shirts buttoned with a single button at the neck, while others had ii buttons on a placket. A few styles had a lace up placket instead of buttons– a carry over style from the 1930s. Most were pullover styles with a gathered waistband worn tucked (and sometimes not tucked) into pants.
1958 Knit Shirts
The T-shirt was less common among men than it was with youth. It was made of a jersey knit and a high circular neckband that sometimes came in a contrasting colour (modernistic day calls them ringer T's). They usually had i patch pocket on the chest. Some T-shirts had novelty prints on them, but nigh men wore them in plain colors. They were reserved for agile sportswear.
1951 white tee shirt worn by Marlon Brando in A Street Car Named Desire
Shirt jackets were a blend between the button down shirt and a long sleeve lightweight jacket. It was more often than not a leap or autumn item, when the weather was too absurd for short sleeves just too warm for a lightweight push button downward shirt. They featured a wide pointed collar worn buttoned or tied with contrasting panels of stripes, checks or other western inspired impress. They had one patch or flap pocket on the chest and an elastic waistband to keep the absurd wind out. Sleeves buttoned at the cuff.
1957 shirt-jackets
The overall wait was again inspired past men's western vesture. We will look at men's western wear in this article.
Shop 1950s style men'southward casual shirts.
1957 men's western influenced shirts and jacket
1950s Men's Sweaters
Men'due south sweaters increased in popularity in the early on 1950s. The coincidental nature of the times combined with improve indoor heating and AC meant men could replace jackets with a low-cal pullover sweater or button upward cardigan instead.
1950s Men's Cardigans, Lettered and Winter Pullover Sweaters
While many women connected to paw knit sweaters, improvements in knitting machines fabricated machine-made sweaters more affordable. Cheers to new synthetic fibers, sweaters were now sparse, soft, and shrink-resistant. For those that could afford information technology, Cashmere, Alpaca, and lambswool were the best natural fibers.
Sweaters came in three weights: flat-knit was the lightest run up, Shaker knit was a medium rib stitch, and a shell stitch was thick and fancy. Nearly sweaters had ribbed necklines and wide rib cuffs. The fit was directly and slim, just like jackets.
1957 Men's Sweaters and Sweater Vests
The sleeveless V-neck sweater vest was popular with conservative men. The vest replaced the waistcoat of a 3 piece suit. Worn in plainly colors over a dress shirt and tie, it was appropriate for businesswear, yet added a touch of casualness men desired. Varieties that came in bold patterns were worn over open neck sport shirts for a coincidental sporty wait both on and off the golf course.
Button upward cardigan sweaters were still classics for casual wearing apparel. The depression V-neck styles could likewise be worn nether a buttoned upward suit coat or sport coat without showing, adding a layer of warmth.
High school students wearing letter cardigans
On high school and college campuses (and worn by post college age men as well), the letterman cardigan sweater or Five-neck pullover chosen an "Award Sweater," "Alphabetic character Sweater," or "Varsity Sweater" was the athletic human's compatible. The large felt white or gold block letter on the left side represented the school name. Additional letters, stripes, and symbols were sewn onto varsity sweaters or varsity jackets to specify the sport, year, or position on the team.
Letterman sweaters were a symbol of social rank in school and a nod to the by for grown men. They have become an icon for 1950s style thanks to many movies about life in 1950s high schools, such as Grease. Shop letterman sweaters and jackets.
1959 Men's Shawl Neckband Sweater (R) and Ski Sweater (L)
For winter habiliment, the pullover sweater (sometimes cardigan fashion) was knit with big stripes, color blocks, and Scandinavian designs inspired by ski article of clothing. White, red, and blackness were mutual color combinations. On the ski slopes, these sweaters were wool, thick, and quite heavy for warmth, but in the city they only looked heavy with a wide shaker knit or shell sew knitted loosely. Some pullover designs featured the high shawl neckband that could be rolled upward confronting the neck for more warmth or opened up for warmer climates.
Larn more than nearly men's vintage sweater history.
1950s Calorie-free Jackets and Coats
Men'south casual coats became very popular in the 1950s. Formal long coats and raincoats existed for business attire, but they were not needed on nights and weekends. Shorter jackets became the everyday choice for men and came in a few favorite styles with a lot of option in materials and color. For the first time in 20th century fashion history, men's outerwear was stylish, non just applied. A man's personality was expressed in the type of jacket he wore.
1955- Men'south Gab Jacket (Top), Fingertip coats (middle), Mackinaw Jacket and shirt-jackets (Lower)
The surcoat was the virtually popular in the early 1950s. It was mid hip length with a straight fitting torso, textile or fur classic collar, a yoke, and big slash or flap pockets– either two or four. The defining characteristic was the matching belt that wrapped effectually the waist.
The look was modeled after the Safari hunter's jacket, pop from the turn of the century to the 1930s. This pattern gave style to the Norfolk-style surcoat jacket. Both designs had a quilted lining that was oft removable. The jacket came in smooth leather, suede, gabardine, and synthetic blends. Color choices were endless, although chocolate-brown or grey was preferred over all choices.
A similar jacket without the chugalug was the classic Mackinaw style. It was a rugged, outdoorsy style that unremarkably came in heavy wool plaid or solid bright colors with a patterned quilted lining. Plain ones could be smooth or textured wool. They all had a button upwards or full zip-up front, archetype collar, two or three big patch pockets and a with a slide belt. The design was long and directly and looked good with near whatsoever kind of ensemble underneath.
1955 Suede Bomber Jackets and other leathers
The higher up two styles remained popular for the unabridged 1950s decade and were the basic of 1960s coats as well. The long, lean lines resonated with the era. However, if we were to choose one iconic style of men'south 1950s jacket, it would be the bomber jacket. This short waisted jacket with ribbed waistband, cuffs, front zipper, slash pockets, and ribbed collar or classic indicate collar became trendy in the 1940s and only grew in popularity.
1957 gab or nylon bomber jackets
The original design was called the Eisenhower jacket, a armed services jacket worn by the president. Over time, the extra military pockets were lost in favor of a simpler, more streamlined look. They came in suede, leather, wool, gabardine, and even cheap vinyl and satin. Teens and college kids wore bomber jackets with school colors and chenille "Letters" on the chest.
1955 varsity jackets (letter jacket)
Gabardine fabric was the best choice for a lite jacket. The "Gab jacket" became a name for a similar style to the bomber jacket except with the directly hemline. They were the perfect jacket for the coincidental man who needed a lite jacket for spring or a heavier suede jacket for fall.
1954 gab jackets
Some Gab jackets were reversible, some had two chest pockets instead of slash side pockets, some had knit collars while most had fold out collars. Prints and blueprint were trendy too in the heart to late 1950s. Diamonds, checks, argyle, colorblock and splash are simply a few collectable prints.
1955 bound gab jackets (semi bomber style)
Today "gab" jackets are hard to observe with collars. Golf jackets, bomber jackets, and varsity jackets are more current names.
Leather or suede bomber jackets had their own fad following. Made of horsehide or cowhide in dark brown or black, about every man who collection a car or rode a motorbike wore one. Topless convertible sport cars were the envy of every suburban man who longed to escape corporate business life on his manner dwelling. Wearing a leather jacket gave him that sense of youthful freedom. Leather made information technology the most windproof and durable selection also. Zip-out linings fabricated them like shooting fish in a barrel to wash at home.
1957 suede bomber jackets
The black motorcycle jacket with off center zip, slash chest pocket, one push flap pocket, and bottom chugalug became associated with rebellious youth, fifty-fifty if they didn't actually ride a motorcycle. For rockabilly greasers, this was the style to wearable.
Leather was sued to brand nearly all other style of men'due south jackets such as long surcoats and shirt gab jacket styles.
Shop 1950s style jackets and coats.
1950s Men's Casual Shoes
The final two bits of 1950s causal men'due south fashion are in his accessories: shoes and a hat. Casual shoes came in many forms, mostly slip on but some lace up Oxfords with unique materials. The crepe sole, for instance, was a new casual detail that changed the shoe look from sleek to rugged.
1955- Skid On Shoes- Tassel Loafers (50) and Moccasins (R)
The penny loafer, then named because a penny could be placed in the cutout piece that ran across the vamp, was daily vesture for Ivy League kids. Mature men wore them every bit well, at abode where slip on shoes were merely more comfortable. Most penny loafers were a medium brown. A few slightly more formal styles came in black or brown with a tassel necktie. Some loafers came in ii tones likewise – snazzy!
1953- Men's Suede Shoes
The moccasin was another favorite slip on. Black or brownish were equally pop with contrast stitching and a bow necktie. For at home, moccasin slippers in white or tan were soft even so dressy plenty to be worn in company.
1952 From Right to Left – Men's Saddle Shoe, Wingtip, and Cap Toe Two Tone Shoes
Saddle shoes, those iconic black and white lace upwardly shoes associated with teens, were notwithstanding very common since their debut in the 1920s. In the 1950s, we saw more color combinations, such as blue and white, gray and white, chocolate-brown and white, and brown and tan. Mature men hardly wore them, but they did wear other brilliant colors for lace up Oxfords. Blue suede shoes were not only the topic of a popular Elvis song but were also popular casual men's shoes. Why bluish? I couldn't find the respond. Maybe blue was the new black? Information technology was not followed past other colors (some green), although textures were plentiful: embossed leather like heavy reptile peel, corduroy, rough suede, woven canvas, and fifty-fifty printed plaid. Textured shoes, both lace upwards and slip on style, were big fashion items for trendy fashionable men.
1952- Textured Shoes in All Styles
Sport shoes, worn for actually playing sports, continued to have their identify in footwear history. The styles didn't alter drastically from the plough of the century. The high acme Converse shoes remained popular among basketball game wearers– this time with a crepe sole, ventilating eyelets, and a safe cap toe. Black and white sheet loftier tops were still the all-time choice for athletes while low tops in white, brownish or bluish were worn year round for the ultimate in sporty casualness.
1953 Converse Style Sport Loftier Tops
There are quite a few more, less mutual, styles of shoes for both clothes and casual clothing to look at. Read this commodity for more information.
1950s Men's Casual Hats
1950s Men'due south Hat
Men's hats were more often than not worn with business attire and dressy summer wearable. The fedora hat was the most classic with a narrow brim tapered downward in the front and upwards at the dorsum. Similar shapes such every bit the pork pie (round crown), Panama (center crease), and walking chapeau (a bucket lid) all had the aforementioned '50s tilt and broad, normally contrasting hat band. Newer band styles in the late '50s were sparse felt or leather bands.
1950s Men's Straw Chapeau Styles
In that location was not much difference betwixt formal hats and coincidental hats. In summer, all major hat styles came out in a harbinger version but with a slightly wider brim. In the 1950s, the hat band took on more personality with printed fabrics in tropical themes. Madras plaid, silk shantung and striped prints made their manner onto harbinger hats.
1950s Men's Sport Caps
The sportiest hat was the cap. It was coincidental, light and simple. Popular on collage campuses equally well as with mature men, caps came in the classic slightly floppy shape or the more oval shape with stiff brim. All textures were made into caps such as nubby tweed for wintertime, wool plaid for autumn, smooth silk for jump, and breathable cotton for summer. Some even had contrasting trim on the edges and skirt.
Read more item about men's 1950s hats manner here. Shop for men's hats equally well.
1950s Men's Coincidental Outfit Ideas
Summit row: 3 looks from Collectif menswear 1950s and 1960s habiliment line of shirts, jeans and jackets.
Bottom row: Outfits Oscar wears using a mix of genuine vintage and reproduction 1950s wear.
Your 1950s Mode Clothing
Brainstorm your 1950s wardrobe with these links:
1950s men'due south shirts– Army camp, bowling, knit, Hawaiian, T shirts and polo shirts.
1950s men's pants and shorts – Dress slacks to coincidental jeans and classic shorts
Men'southward vintage style sweaters and sweater vests
1950s men's jackets and coats– Letterman jackets, gab jackets, leather biker jackets, and long motorcar coats
1950s men'due south style shoes – Sporty oxfords, casual loafers, sneakers and sandals.
1950s style men's hats– Summertime harbinger fedora hats, flats caps and more in the 1950s style
Vintage reproduction wear brands – Browse the Large list of men'due south clothing brands that re-make 1950s men'due south clothing
Need more assist? Ask u.s. anytime.
Read More
- 1950s Menswear Outfit Ideas
- 1950s Men's Outfit Inspiration | Wear Ideas
- Men's Business Attire in the 1950s
- 1950s Men's Workwear and Casual Wearing apparel
- The Styles of 1950s Men's Hats
- 1950s Men's Shoe Styles, from Rebel to Rockabilly
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