Men's Attire in the 1950s

Men wore purely functional attire in the early 1950s, choosing apparel for utility rather than style. Men's tastes became more eclectic as the decade progressed; they became drawn to clothing made from new synthetic fabrics that could retain bright colors and clothing specifically designed for leisure wear.

Conservatism

Men's attire reflected the era's conservatism, with customary office fashion consisting of a gray flannel suit, white shirt and solid-colored tie. Men added hats to the ensemble when they were outdoors. On 1950s' campuses, young men adopted the Ivy League "trad" look, wearing blazers, button-down shirts and khakis.

Leisure Attire

Bermuda shorts and Hawaiian shirts became popular leisurewear, and men often wore sunglasses to complete the ensemble. Society viewed jeans as unsuitable clothing for respectable men early in the decade, but by the late 1950s, jeans had become a common, accepted item of leisure apparel.

Sartorial Rebellion

Disaffected young men emulated the style of screen antiheroes such as Marlon Brando and James Dean. They wore leather jackets, jeans, plain white T-shirts and motorcycle boots, adopting their style as an aggressive reaction against their elders' conformity.

References

• "The 1950s"; William H. Young and Nancy K. Young; 2004
• "The 1950s and 1960s"; Anne Rooney; 2009
• "Esquire": The Evolution of Men's Style: 1933-2008
• "The New York Observer": Trad Men
• "Body Image: Fashioning the Postwar American"; Jill Francesca Dionne; 2009

Resources

• Ohio State University: Guide to Sloan Wilson's "Man in the Gray Flannel Suit"