7. Shoes

One huge change that happened in the 20s was the emergence of color in shoes. Previous styles had been single color shoes, but in the 20s we see the wingtip style so associated with the jazz age.

They were a little more casual than previous decades’ single color spats, but they introduced flair into men’s footwear. Shoes could be two tone, with white and brown or black being the most popular colors.

Wingtips made an entrance. Although patent leather was still the only formal style shoe available, men began to wear this style with a perforated flap over the lace. This lent shoes an air of artsy design, and signaled that a man was part of the jazz age.

8. Driving Dress Style

With cars becoming more popular, and more affordable, it was only fitting that fashion would reflect a particular fascination with the automobile. Buying a car meant being part of modern times, and the fashion industry was quick to step in.

Clothing created specifically for driving included flat tweed caps, meant to hug the head close and stay on even when driving with an open top. They also wore driving gloves, hold overs from riding gloves, but vented for comfort.

This was also the perfect time for men to wear the new leather jackets made fashionable by Charles Lindbergh. They often included a white scarf as an accessory.

9. Athletic Influence

Previous to the 1920s, men’s fashion was impossibly formal, often requiring several changes per day as formal rules dictated.

The 20s saw some relaxation of formal dress rules for the upper and middle class. The influence of sports and the rise of sports stars caused some casual changes in the men’s fashion of the day.

Golf had a particular impact on men’s fashion. This style was influenced by the required uniforms of sports stars. This included sweaters in clean colors such as white or navy, and cable knits.