Easy 1920s Mens Fashion: Sport ClothingThe Vintage Dancer

Easy 1920s Mens Fashion: Summer Sport Clothing

From the Duke Yearbook

Looking for an easy 1920′s men fashion outfit? You can put together a casual 1920′s Men’s sporting outfit with items from your closet or local thrift store. Here is how:

What you need:

1. Plain, plaid, check, or tweed pants and suit jacket (optional)
2.Long Sleeve stripe shirt with white-collar
3. Knit vest or wool suit vest
4. Flat / Ivy cap or boater hat
5. Accessories Bow Tie, Pocket Square, Shoes

The 1920′s Sportsman

In the 1920′s men and women began to experience leisure time with the newly created work “weekends.” With the free time came a new enjoyment for outdoor sports such as tennis, golf, and sailing. Sport clothes had to be comfortable, easy to move in, and still stylish for the middle to upper class men that played them.

The 1920s sportsmen’s clothes consisted of light colored baggy pants or even baggier plus fours. Plus fours also know as knickers caped off just below the knee with longer argyle socks covering the rest of the leg. Pants would be white or off white for tennis and sailing or bold patterns of checks and plaids for golf.

Tip: To quickly make plus fours take baggy pants and a piece of elastic. Tie the elastic around the pant cuffs just below the knee and fluff the pants over. Be sure you don’t tie it too tight and cut off your circulation.

1920s Sport Shirts

1920s Striped Shirts

1920’s men especially liked striped shirts- white/blue, white/yellow, and white/pink were popular combinations. Shirts were always long sleeve (yes, even in summer) and usually had white cuffs and collars.
Prior to the 1920s it was improper to be out in public without a jacket. Wearing only a shirt was unacceptable however knit sweaters became a new approved fashion trend. Long sleeve sweaters, short sleeves sweaters, and sweater vests were worn over dress shirts for a casual sporty look. Enjoy this new freedom by wearing a light colored suit vest or chunky knit sweater vest. For a collegiate look put a large letter on the front or lower right side of the sweater.

1920s Men’s Accessories

Neckties and bow ties in bold colors of thick stripes and dots with matching pocket squares/handkerchiefs were the two accessories that allowed for a lot of color. Have fun with your selection and if possible buy a self tie bow tie and learn to tie it. It will look better then a pre-tied bow tie.
The best part of 1920’s men fashion were the hats. Summer hats could be straw boaters, panamas or flat caps. Flat caps, also called Ivy caps, Cab driver caps, Big apple caps, Newsboy caps and slew of other names were the choice hat worn in the 1920’s by all classes of men. Even the Great Gatsby wore a white cap to his summer parties. These hats should be easy to find locally or online. The baggier style “newsboy” caps are the most authentic to 1920′s caps.

1920s shoes took a fun shift into two tones lace up oxfords. Brown and white for day wear and black and white for evening wear were popular for the wealthy. Golf shoes are still made in two tones otherwise you may have to special order them online. It’s the one fashion splurge that is worth it to make this outfit look VERY 1920s vintage.

More 1920s Outfits:

1920s Summer Suits- The Great Gatsby Look

1920s Mens Gangster Suits - Striped Suits for Bootlegging Men

Shopping Advice

If you don’t have these clothes already in your closet I recommend heading to your nearest thrift store or department store. Most of these items can be found locally. The following clothes are new clothes with a 1920s look and feel to them. Supplement your outfit or piece together a whole new wardrobe with these options.

Satin Stripes White Club Collar & French Cuffs Dress Shirt

$30.00

The old school club collar with rounded points is enjoying a resurgence in popularity due to the 1920s mens fashion come back [Read more]

Store: Paul Fredrick MenStyle

Club Collar Grid Dress Shirt

$30.00

Used to artful advantage, seasonal color is the perfect pick-me-up for traditionally blue patterned dress shirts. The old school club collar perfectly balances the lively a... [Read more]

Store: Paul Fredrick MenStyle

Trim Fit White Club Collar & French Cuffs Dress Shirt

$40.00

Popular again, the old style club collar offers timeless attitude in polished white collar and cuff style. [Read more]

Store: Paul Fredrick MenStyle

White Club Collar & French Cuffs Dress Shirt

$50.00

Fittingly the first recorded use of spring green as a color name was mid 1700's. It was Crayola;&reg that actually dubbed this color seafoam. No matter the name, it cap... [Read more]

Store: Paul Fredrick MenStyle

European Style Alternating Satin Stripe Dress Shirt

$25.00

A multi striped shirt the Great Gatsby would be proud of. [Read more]

Store: Paul Fredrick MenStyle

1920's Inspired Satin Stripe White Collar and French Cuff Dress Shirt

$40.00

1920s Style white collar and French cuff shirt. [Read more]

Store: Paul Fredrick MenStyle

1920's Ideal Mens Shirt- White Club Collar & French Cuffs Dress Shirt

$40.00

Popular again, the old style club collar offers timeless attitude in polished white collar and cuff style. [Read more]

Store: Paul Fredrick MenStyle

Windowpane Double-Breasted Wool Suit

$280.00

The distinctive attitude of a double-breasted suit is as relevant today as it was thirty-years ago a la Gordon Gekko. Signature quality detail including better half canvas ... [Read more]

Store: Paul Fredrick MenStyle

Pioneer Round Collar (Blue)

$209.99

Only a brave fashion leader would wear a collarless shirt in the 1920's. Go ahead be brave and show off your Gatsby spirit. [Read more]

Store: Zappos.com

Pinstripe Wool Three-Button Suit

$230.00

A touch of unexpected color (in this case purple) has the power to transform the ordinary pinstripe into a very singular suiting choice. Signature quality tailoring includi... [Read more]

Store: Paul Fredrick MenStyle

Glen Plaid Wool Flannel Suit

$250.00

The warm, brushed softness of Super 100's wool flannel tailored meticulously for maximum comfort and an optimal fit. [Read more]

Store: Paul Fredrick MenStyle

Men's 4 Piece 4 Button Sharkskin Pattern Suit 1920s Style

$335.00

Sharkskin was a common fabric in the 20's. 4 Piece Suit with 4 Buttons. Feature high lapels which are very 1920's. [Read more]

Store: Womensuits.com

Signature 2-Button Wool Suit- Cream/Black Plaid with Rust Deco

$299.00

2-Button. Merino wool with exceptional softness and an uncompromising fit. Self-fabric scalloped facing, full Bemberg lining, soft shoulders. Signature suits have buttons s... [Read more]

Store: Jos. A. Bank

Signature Gold 2-Button Wool Suit- Grey Touch Plaid

$498.00

2-Button center-vent jacket for classic styling. Year-round fabric has fluid drape and rich hand for classic styling. Sleeve constructed for the addition of custom working ... [Read more]

Store: Jos. A. Bank

1920's Sharkskin Fabric Summer Suit

$199.99

Another complete Sharkskin 2 Button 3pc Vested Suit for a 1920's Boardwalk Empire Costume. [Read more]

Store: Sean John

1920's Style Double Breasted Men's Suit

$275.00

Designer Men's Suit Style Description Double Breasted Suit with Peak Lapels. Straited Pattern. Fully Lined. Dry clean only. The suits run true to size. Please choose the si... [Read more]

Store: Womensuits.com

Men's Classic 4 Button Wide Leg Suit (L1232)

$315.00

Wide legs for an accurate 1920's look with windowpane pattern suit for even more roaring 20's fashion,. [Read more]

Store: Womensuits.com

Signature 2-Button Wool Suit- Dark Blue Plaid

$298.00

Signature Classic Superfine Merino Wool Suit in 2-Button. Made from superfine merino wool for exceptional softness and an uncompromising fit. Self-fabric scalloped facing, ... [Read more]

Store: Jos. A. Bank

Men's 1920's Stripe Suit- Very Classy

$199.00

2 Piece Suit Single Breasted, 3 Buttons, Multi Stripe Pattern. Ideal for mens summer wear. [Read more]

Store: WomenSuits.com

Haggar Suit Separate 2 Button Gatsby Jacket

$79.99

Suit separate 2 button Gatsby jacket features 2 exterior pockets, 4 interior pockets and back pleat. [Read more]

Store: Boscov's Department Stores

Men's Suits 3 Piece Stripe Stacy Adams Suit 1920's Gangster

$309.00

Gangsters were prevalent in 1920's even though the 1940's take the spot light. [Read more]

Store: Womensuits.com

Roaring 20's Pinstripe Costume Suit

$39.99

Mens polyester pinstripe suit has two button front, decorative front pockets, and matching suit pants. [Read more]

Store: ElectriqueBoutique.com

1920's Gastby Pink Men's 3 Button Shadow Stripe Suit

$322.50

3 Piece Suit with 3 Buttons. Satin Lapels, Embossed Shadow Stripe Jacket. Vest with Lapels with Piping Detail. [Read more]

Store: Womensuits.com

White Linen Pants

$34.00

White pants for your summer Gatsby party. Solid linen pant features a button/zip fly closure, slash front pockets and belt loops. [Read more]

Store: Sean John

Wide Leg 1920s Oxford Bags Trousers

$29.95

Ideal late 1920's wide leg, oxford bad, style pants. Hem them to your own length. [Read more]

Store: DanceStore.com

Signature Year-Round Box Check Pleated Trousers

$135.00

Premium wool works year-round. Button-through back besom pocket, premium pocketing, half-lined to the knee. Unfinished bottoms for altering ease. Dry Clean. Imported. [Read more]

Store: Jos. A. Bank

1920's Oxford Bags Mens Pants

$29.95

Ideal 1920;s wide leg, oxford bad, style pants. Hem them to your own length. [Read more]

Store: DanceStore.com

1920's Suit Vest

$49.98

Basic day wear vest in brown. [Read more]

Store: Macys.com

1920's Spectator Two Tone Tuxedo Shoes

$174.50

Fun two toned oxford shoes. Available in black, gray, burgundy or brown with white accents. Available in a large selection of sizes including wide. [Read more]

Store: Tuxedos Direct

1920's Mens Two Tone Spectator Shoes- Cheap!

$14.99

Black and white oxford style shoes have a 1 1/2 inch heel, 1/2 inch platform, squared toe and lace up front. Great for any 20's costume. [Read more]

Store: ElectriqueBoutique.com

1920's High Fashion Two Tone Wing Tip After Six Tuxedo Shoes

$125.00

Perfect black and white lace up, man-made patent leather finished with classic wing tip detail. The height of old-world cool. This shoe's cushion insoles make it super comf... [Read more]

Store: Tuxedos Direct

Wool-Feel 3 Piece Men's Suit with Classic Pinstripes (P1062)

$289.90

Designer Men's Suit Style Description 3 Piece Suit, 3 Buttons with Classic Pinstripes. Wool-Feel Poly Rayon. Fully Lined. Dry clean only. The suits run true to size. Please... [Read more]

Store: WomenSuits.com

Stacy Adams Men's Gatsby 1920's Cap Toe Oxford Shoes

$60.47

The crocodile-embossing and perforation accents on this soft leather design lend a little additional style to this already handsome look. The cushioned insole and smooth l... [Read more]

Store: Endless.com