1910s

(Schneider, 2021a)
1920s

(MacGregor, 1926)
1930s

(Click Americana, n.d.a)

1930s

(Click Americana, n.d.b)

1940s

(Fashion and Decor, n.d.d; Fashion and Decor, n.d.b)

 1950s

(Vintage Dancer, 2016;

Fashion, c1955)
1950s

(Sessions, 2016b;
Sessions, 2016c;
Sessions, 2016d)
1910s Fabric

Wool, linen, cotton blends

Lined in silk, high wear areas lined in cotton

Thicker, heavier and coarser finishing compared to now

Fancier weaves, textures, patterns, hints of striping, checks and plaid

Dark colours for coal heating

Country suits more patterns and browns

Dark navy, grey, green, brown

(Schneider, 2020; Schneider, 2021b; Sessions, 2016a)
1910s Fabric

(Vintage Dancer, 2021a;

Vintage Dancer 2021b)
1910s Features of clothing styles

Mass produced

Better quality than now

Sewn canvas

Matching fabrics

(Blackman, n.d.b;
Fashion and Decor, n.d.a;
Schneider, 2021b)
1910s Features of clothing styles

Tall stiff collar shirt

Narrow tie

Matching vest with no

lapels

(Blackman, n.d.a;
Fashion and Decor, n.d.c;
LACMA, n.d.)
1910s Jacket styles

Wider and straighter with no front dart

2-3 cuff buttons with wider spacing than today

Straight-front, not cut away

(Schneider, 2021b)

Box shaped jacket hung straight/slightly

rounded edges
(Sessions, 2016)

(Costume Institute Fashion Plate, n.d.b)

1910s Jacket styles
Higher necklines

Double-breasted with 6-2 or 6-4 button configuration

and slimmer lapels

Single-breasted with 3-4 buttons

(Schneider, 2021b)

Single-breasted 1-3 buttons (because of the war?)

Lapels 2.75 to 4 inches

30-32 inches long, mid-thigh

(Sessions, 2016) (Costume Institute Fashion Plate, n.d.a)
1910s pockets
Jetted breast pocket

Jetted flap pockets (tucked in when inside)

Ticket pocket around half the size above

hip pockets
(Fashion and Decor, n.d.c;
McKay & McKay, 2015)

(LACMA, n.d.;
Art of Manliness, n.d.)
1910s vent
Single-breasted suit with centre
vent most popular
(Schneider, 2021b)
1910s Trousers

Narrow leg tapering to ankle

opening of 16 inches

No big break, mostly ankle

length with cuff

Long-legged and slender

Flat fronted with front and

back crease

(Schneider, 2021b; Sessions, 2016)

1910s Trouser back pockets

Welted hip pockets, one back pocket

with button

Button fly
(OverAttired Vintage Fashion, n.d.)
1910s Waistband

High rise 2.5-3cm higher than belly button/natural waistline

Straight backs in US for belts, fishtail in EU for suspenders

Higher in back for comfort with suspenders

Adjustable/cinched belted back

(Chowdhury, 2020) (OverAttired Vintage Fashion, n.d.; Schneider, 2021b; Sessions, 2016)
References

Art of Manliness. (n.d.). [Image of 3 classic suit pockets]. https://www.artofmanliness.com/style/clothing/a-mans-pockets/

Blackman, C. (n.d.a). 1914: Shirt and trousers [Photograph]. Fashion and Decor: A Cultural History.
https://mediakron.bc.edu/fashiondecor/lecture-birth-of-modernism-fashion/mens-fashion-1910s/daywear-1910s-men/1914-shirts-a
nd-trousers

Blackman, C. (n.d.b). 1918: Lounge suit styles. [Image of 1918 suit advertisement]. Fashion and Decor: A Cultural History.
https://mediakron.bc.edu/fashiondecor/lecture-birth-of-modernism-fashion/mens-fashion-1910s/daywear-1910s-men/1918-lounge-
suit-styles

Chowdhury, D. (2020, May 12). Trousers with cuffs. [Image of 1910s trousers]. Vintage Fashions.
https://vintagefashions.co/fashion-essentials-for-1900s-men/
Click Americana. (n.d.a). [Image of three 1930s suit catalogue pages].
https://clickamericana.com/topics/featured/vintage-1930s-suits-old-fashioned-menswear-styles
Click Americana. (n.d.b). [Sketch of five different suit styles of the 1930s].
https://clickamericana.com/topics/featured/vintage-1930s-suits-old-fashioned-menswear-styles
Costume Institute Fashion Plate: Metropolitan Museum of Art. (n.d.a). 1911-1913 lounge coats. [Image of two double-breasted and
single-breasted suits]. Fashion and Decor: A Cultural History.
https://mediakron.bc.edu/fashiondecor/lecture-birth-of-modernism-fashion/mens-fashion-1910s/daywear-1910s-men/1911-13-loun
ge-coats

Costume Institute Fashion Plate: Metropolitan Museum of Art. (n.d.b). 1911-1913 lounge suit. [Image of a single-breasted suit, front and
back]. Fashion and Decor: A Cultural History.
https://mediakron.bc.edu/fashiondecor/lecture-birth-of-modernism-fashion/mens-fashion-1910s/daywear-1910s-men/1911-13-loun
ge-suit
References
Fashion and Decor: A Cultural History. (n.d.a). 1918: Advertisement. [Image of 1918 suit advertisement].
https://mediakron.bc.edu/fashiondecor/lecture-birth-of-modernism-fashion/mens-fashion-1910s/daywear-1910s-men/1918-advertis
ement

Fashion and Decor: A Cultural History. (n.d.b). 1940s suit--slimmer fit [Photograph].
https://mediakron.bc.edu/fashiondecor/mens-suits-1940s/1940s-suit-slimmer-fit
Fashion and Decor: A Cultural History. (n.d.c). Lounge suit: 1910s.
https://mediakron.bc.edu/fashiondecor/lecture-birth-of-modernism-fashion/mens-fashion-1910s/daywear-1910s-men/1910-lounge-
suit

Fashion and Decor: A Cultural History. (n.d.d). Suits: 1940s. [Image of three men in different 1940s suits].
https://mediakron.bc.edu/fashiondecor/mens-suits-1940s/suits-1940s-1
Fashion: The Definitive History of Fashion and Style. (c1955). Jerry Lewis and Dean Martin [Photograph]. Fashion and Decor: A Cultural
History. https://mediakron.bc.edu/fashiondecor/jerry-lewis-and-dean-martin
LACMA. (n.d.). Lounge suit: 1910s [Photograph]. Fashion and Decor: A Cultural History.
https://mediakron.bc.edu/fashiondecor/lecture-birth-of-modernism-fashion/mens-fashion-1910s/daywear-1910s-men/1910-lounge-
suit

MacGregor. (1926, May). Men at the races, UK [Photograph]. Mr Porter.

https://www.mrporter.com/en-sg/journal/fashion/1920s-mens-style-history-roaring-twenties-2013922
McKay, B. and McKay, K. (2015, May 20). A man’s pockets. Art of Manliness.
https://www.artofmanliness.com/style/clothing/a-mans-pockets/
OverAttired Vintage Fashion. (n.d.) 1910s Fastidious Frank Trousers.
https://www.overattired.com/listing/933781568/pantalon-frank-fastidious-des-annees
References
Schneider, S. R. (2020, March 12). History of the suit: The evolution of menswear from 1800 to today. Gentleman’s Gazette.
https://www.gentlemansgazette.com/evolution-of-menswear-suits/
Schneider, S. R. (2021a, July 12). Mid-1910s suits were more form-fitting. [Image of four men in 1910s lounge suits]. Gentleman’s
Gazette. https://www.gentlemansgazette.com/what-men-wore-1910s/
Schneider, S. R. (2021b, July 12). What men really wore in the 1910s. Gentleman’s Gazette.
https://www.gentlemansgazette.com/what-men-wore-1910s/
Sessions, D. (2016a, May 10). 1910s men’s Edwardian fashion and clothing guide. Vintage Dancer.
https://vintagedancer.com/1900s/edwardian-1910s-historical-mens-fashion-and-clothing-an-overview/
Sessions, D. (2016b, June 22). 1951 men’s tropical weight Dacron and Wool suits. [Image of 1951 suit catalogue page]. Vintage Dancer.
https://vintagedancer.com/1950s/1950s-mens-fashion/
Sessions, D. (2016c, June 22). 1957 men’s tweed suits and sport coats. [Image of 1957 suit catalogue page]. Vintage Dancer.
https://vintagedancer.com/1950s/1950s-mens-fashion/
Sessions, D. (2016d, June 22). 1958 men’s sport coats - mix and match trousers and jackets. [Image of 1958 suits and blazers]. Vintage
Dancer. https://vintagedancer.com/1950s/1950s-mens-fashion/
Vintage Dancer. (2016, June 22). 1950s men’s suit [Photograph]. https://vintagedancer.com/1950s/1950s-mens-fashion/
Vintage Dancer. (2021, January 8). 1911 men’s suiting. [Image of fabric samples].
https://vintagedancer.com/1900s/1900-1910s-edwardian-mens-fabric-swatches-from-sample-books/
Vintage Dancer. (2021b, January 8). 1918 Banner tailoring suiting. [Image of fabric samples].
https://vintagedancer.com/1900s/16900-1910s-edwardian-mens-fabric-swatches-from-sample-books/