How to Dress 1920s | Men in the 1920s

Attending a Flapper party or want to plan a Boardwalk Empire bash? Provided below is a 1920s dress chart advising the debonair gentleman on how to dress for a variety of social situations. We have illustrated this listing with hand-colored fashion plates from the French publication, Gazette du Bon Ton.

Motoring, Golf, Driving and Country Wear

Overcoat: Slip-on, tweed, homespun
Jacket: Sport model
Waistcoat: Fancy flannel or to match jacket
Trousers: Or knickers to match jacket
Shirt: Negligee or oxford
Collar: Attached
Tie: Four-in-hand or bow
Hat: Cap, soft hat, Panama or soft straw
Shoes: Laced calf or brown, high or low
Gloves: Tan cape or chamois

Afternoon Tea or Reception

Overcoat: Chesterfield
Jacket: Oxford or black cutaway
Waistcoat: To match or of fancy fabric
Trousers: Gray striped or black & white striped worsted
Shirt: Plain white pleated, linen
Spats: Pearl Gray
Collar: Fold or wing
Tie: Four-in-hand, dark gray or black
Hat: High silk, with felt band
Shoes: Patent leather or dull calf, laced
Jewelry: Gold or jeweled
Gloves: Gray suede or gray mocha

Day Wedding

Overcoat: Chesterfield or skirted
Jacket: Black or oxford cutaway
Waistcoat: To match jacket or pearl gray or white
Trousers: Striped or black and white striped worsted
Shirt: Linen or pique, white, pleated or stiff white
Spats: Pearl gray or white
Collar: Wing or poke
Tie: Black and white, gray four-in-hand or Ascot
Hat: High silk
Shoes: Patent leather, buttoned
Jewelry: Gold jeweled or pearl (pin permissible)
Gloves: Gray suede or glace

Informal Dinner, Stag, Country Club Dance
or Dinner at Home

Overcoat: Chesterfield or slip-on
Jacket: Dinner, black or dark blue
Waistcoat: Black silk or white pique
Trousers: To match jacket
Shirt: Pleated white, pique or linen and stiff white
Collar: Wing or fold
Tie: Bow tie, black silk
Hat: Derby or soft, straw
Shoes: Dull calf pumps or button boot
Jewelry: Gold or jeweled links and studs
Gloves: Chamois, gray mocha

Formal Dinner and Theater
Evening Wedding, Formal Reception, Dance

Overcoat: Skirted or dress
Jacket: Swallow tail, black or dark blue
Waistcoat: White silk (pique also worn)
Trousers: To match jacket
Shirt: Stiff linen or pique
Collar: Poke, wing or lap front
Tie: White lawn, linen or pique
Hat: High silk
Shoes: Patent leather pumps or patent leather button
Jewelry: Pearl links and studs or pearl, platinum trimmed
Gloves: White glace, buck or chamois

Riding

Jacket: Regulation riding jacket or more formal riding cutaway coat, black or dark oxford Melton
Waistcoat: To match jacket or Tattersall
Trousers: Regulation breeches or more formal riding trousers, dark blue or black, whipcord
Collar: White neck stock closed with sport pin or poke
Tie: Formal white Ascot fastened with sport bar pin
Hat: Informal riding derby, formal top hat
Shoes: Informal regulation riding boots, black or tan, formal black gaiters with box spurs