About 1940s Clothing Styles for Men

Men’s apparel of the 1940’s decade was a mixture of classic and practical. There were many contributing factors that made this time so eclectic, including the war and the depression. Work clothes and sturdier, structured uniforms were the common look then. However, as the times changed and the war ended, men’s apparel moved into a new and exciting direction.

The Classic Suit

During the 1940s, men began to express their personal style in their suit selections. The average working stiff usually wore a dark colored suit in grey, black or blue with a white button-down shirt and tie. They generally worked as clerks and administrators. Other more prominent men flocked to the tailor to pick up a new type of suit called an Esquire suit. They are still very popular today.

The Double-Breasted Suit

The double-breasted suit made a much bolder statement. These suits were made with vests and unique lapels that allowed them to stand out from the classic style suit. They also began to incorporate patterns like pinstripes and herringbone into the designs.

The Single-Breasted Suit

Favored by aristocrats during this time. Most men wore these suits with elaborate accessories such as ascots, large knotted ties and pins. Shirts of different colors were also made available and worn under these suits.

The Zoot Suit

This type of suit also spawned a generation of civil unrest and rebellion. Cleverly stylish, zoot suits were often designed in flamboyant colors with vibrant accessories, including outlandish hats and shoes. The pants were super baggy and the over-sized jacket completed the look

The Swing Suit

This may be the most popular and well-known style of the 1940s; you’ve seen this look in movies hundreds of times. The swing suit was not actually a suit but more a revelation of what lied underneath the suit. For this look, it is all about the accessories. Suspenders and bright-colored ties paired with plain, classic, single-breasted suits was the uniform of the swing set.

Hats

The most popular hat in the 1940s was the Fedora, another classic look that has been replicated time and time again in almost every Hollywood movie ever made. This hat is so famous that it requires very little description, except maybe one: it was worn by everyone.