Looking Good Throughout The Years - A History of Men's Suits

It's no secret that the twentieth century AD sawBut the course of the late 1950s and the 1960s
more changes in the fashion industry than hadsaw the dawn of a subculture that was to play
ever been seen in previous centuries. A numberan undeniable influence in the evolution of men's
of clothing trends have gone down in history assuits for years to come - mod culture. Peaking in
an emblem of a particular time or decade.London in the mid 1960s, those classed as "mods"
Bell-bottoms, for instance, are an eternal symbolbecame known for engineering key cultural and
of the 1970s, while the 1980s will always befashion trends in the UK and male mods donned
remembered for shoulder pads if nothing else!slim-cut Italian suits - a clothing style that soon
However, the evolution of men's suits alsobecame a hallmark of the era. As the mod
betrays a distinct sense of social history - onemovement continued to change, a new mod suit
that's too strong to be overlooked.came into being - which saw three-button suits
At the turn of the century and through to thetwinned with shirts, braces and often Dr Marten
1920s, there was still a distinct disparity betweenboots. Indeed, although mod culture began to
men's 'daywear' and 'eveningwear', and men'sdecline in the 1960s, giving way to the hippie
suits usually took the form of a tailcoat with afashion of the anti-war campaigners, the key
pristine, starched white shirt worn underneath, andfeatures of the mod suit continued to endure and
perfectly accessorised by a top hat and blackstill plays a significant role in the development of
leather shoes. But the Wall Street Crash of 1929the suit today.
had a profound effect on men's formalwear asIn the 1970s, bell-bottom suits became a common
there were severe cutbacks in the way clothesfeature as disco reigned supreme - and women
were manufactured and less people bought them.began wearing men's style suits too! Nevertheless,
Men's suits in the 1930s were altered in style tothe 1980s saw a further turning point in the
make their wearers appear to have wider torsosevolution of men's suits. As a new breed of
and squarer shoulders, while the double-breastedyoung professionals began to emerge with large
suit began to become popular as well.bank balances and an eye for what was trendy,
However, the Zoot Suit was one exception tofirst-rate fashion designers began to cater for the
the rigid fashioning of men's suits during this'yuppie' in a way that was never seen before, and
decade. With low-waisted, wide-legged andthe concept of the 'power suit' was born.
tightly-cuffed trousers and a long coat, Zoot SuitsThe 1990s love affair with retro clothing extended
were primarily popularised by youngto men's suits as well, though to a lesser degree
African-Americans and Hispanic Americans, untilthan with men's casual wear. Suits began to
the War Production Board branded them asbecome available in a wide range of colours and
"wasteful" in 1942 and banned their furthercuts, and this eclectic approach to men's suits has
production. The style persisted until the 1950s,continued into the new millennium. Today,
however, when men's suits evolved intoprevailing men's suit trends include slim-fitting
something more business-like and mentrousers paired with single-breasted jackets and
everywhere began to wear narrow trousers withwaistcoats worn with brightly coloured skinny ties
single breasted coats - an authoritative style that- a fashion that largely takes its influences from
reflected the role men were suddenly expectedmodern musical trends and is, moreover,
to play in post-war society and was largelyemblematic of the way current social movement
influenced by the "demob suit" given to soldiers atshape and style the way we look.
the end of the war.