eHow launches Android app: Get the best of eHow on the go.
Summary: The men's fashion of the 1940s is the gangster look, which is achieved by wearing a pin stripped suit, double-breasted jacket and suspenders. Find a brown, gray or navy blue suit to dress in 1940s fashion with the help of this free video from an experienced clothing designer.
Bruce Marshall is a clothing designer who has worked in Los Angeles and Miami for years. He has also worked for Nickelodeon as a stylist. Marshall planned the clothes for episodes of...read more
"Hello I'm Bruce Marshall, fashion designer and Emmy award Costume Award designer here today to show you how to dress like the 1940's gangster. Now one thing you need to keep in mind is when you are doing a 1940's gangster look is that all the suits were pretty much pin stripe and that means you know you see the lines and they run up and down the tie will have a stripe to it as well as the shirt underneath so you just layer it on and you never leave without your handy dandy handkerchief because sometimes you might need to dabble up a spot of blood or something but hopefully you are just pretending to be a gangster and you are not really wearing it like that to go do those naughty things again. Brown was a favorite color of the time so was navy blue and gray so if you keep it in that color palate you are pretty good to go especially if you want to do the gangster thing. Also remember that the jackets were always double breasted which is a signature of that time period. Another signature of the time period was that you always wore your handy dandy suspenders. You always had them with the outfit and you never left home without it so never forget it. Buckle them on and then you can go out, you don't have to shoot 'em up but you can have a couple of shooters and a real good time."
eHow Article: 1940s Men's Fashion & Clothes
Copyright © 1999-2009 eHow, Inc. Use of this web site constitutes acceptance of the eHow Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. en-US Portions of this page are modifications based on work created and shared by Google and used according to terms described in the Creative Commons 3.0 Attribution License.
Comments
fragzem said
on 9/25/2009 I enjoyed this, thanks Bruce for showing us how it works, bud!
I wasn't particularly looking for the gangster look, but it was within the realm of what I need and two things you said help me quite a bit. Always double-breasted and always have some suspenders.
I'm kinda trying to achieve the Bogart look circa 1941 in Maltese Falcon.
I had read someplace that single-breasted jackets were worn for day/casual and double-breasted was worn for evening/dress. Is this true for the time period?
I'd be happy to hear some more of what you have to say on 1940's men's dress clothes. I just appreciate the more stately look of the era. And perhaps if one is shopping on eBay you could suggest what name brands to look for of the period, or who to avoid? Obviously if the company is still in business I can understand if you wouldn't want to endorse or not-endorse them..
Anyway thanks again!!
...