Fifties Males’s Trend – Timeless Mid Century Model | Fashion

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Diving into the golden period of fashion, Fifties males’s style epitomized a interval of transition, magnificence, and the delivery of recent informal put on. This decade, post-World Battle II, was a time of financial increase and cultural shifts that considerably influenced how males dressed, each of their each day lives and on particular events. 50s males’s style additionally laid a variety of the groundwork for model staples that also dangle in individuals’s closets at this time.

Nevertheless, the early years of the last decade have been a method desert, a buttoned-up hangover of inflexible post-war conformity through which even the maddest of males have been trapped in grey-suit lockdown; however an awesome loosening-up had begun to happen by the point the like of Brando roared into city.

Rock ‘n’ roll music, Beat poetry, and the summary expressionists have been main the countercultural cost, and style took its cue from their let-it-all-hang-out ethos; cuts turned looser, collars misplaced their starch, and parts of sportswear, workwear, and army uniform started to seek out their method into the on a regular basis wardrobe.

This text delves deep into the essence of the period, exploring the elemental items that outlined males’s wardrobes and the way these kinds have left a long-lasting legacy on up to date style. Maintain studying to find all that there’s to learn about males’s style within the Fifties.

Key Takeaways: What Is Fifties Males’s Trend?

This was a time when a few of at this time’s model staples – the turtleneck, the denim jacket , the knitted polo – have been beginning to come into their very own, worn with an air of studied nonchalance, if not a sneer on the be-hatted company drones. However maybe nothing symbolised the brand new, rebel-yell period extra potently than the elevation of the standard white T-shirt.

Previously a military-issue undergarment, it was immediately draped throughout the last decade’s most iconic chests; Brando acquired sweaty in a single in 1951’s A Streetcar Named Need, whereas James Dean brooded in a single in Insurgent With out A Trigger (1955). Even Arthur Miller was pictured in a single at his writing desk. “It became a kind of visual shorthand for rebellion,” says G. Bruce Boyer, style historian and creator of True Model: The Historical past and Ideas of Traditional Menswear, who was himself a young person within the Fifties. “It represented the appropriation of blue-collar clothing for those who refused to buy into corporate society.”

In the meantime, rockers like Elvis Presley left extra formal gown codes, effectively, all shook up, changing trilbies with slick quiffs, ties with button-down shirts, and fusty flannels with featherweight fleck-linen jackets. Jack Kerouac and the Beats made a fetish of utilitarian workwear, each of their lives – of their plaid shirts and beat-up blouson jackets – and of their literature: “His dirty work clothes clung to him so gracefully, as though you couldn’t buy a better fit from a custom tailor but only earn it from the Natural Tailor of Natural Joy,” writes Kerouac of Dean Moriarty (impressed by real-life Beat hipster Neal Cassady) in 1957’s On The Highway.

Main the pack of unruly artists, Jackson Pollock sported splattered denim overalls when creating his epoch-making drip work: “A lot of artists in the 1930s and 1940s dressed like accountants,” says Boyer. “Jackson and his peers wanted to look like the antithesis of that.” Of their decisive break with sartorial custom, the Fifties rebels discovered their final – and most enduring – trigger. “They broke the mould,” says Boyer. “And we’re continuing to live with their legacy.”

That Fifties Man” by A.Davey is licensed beneath CC BY-NC-ND 2.0
Fifties Males’s Trend: A Transient Background

The Fifties have been a pivotal decade for males’s style, characterised by a mixture of conservatism and flamboyance that mirrored the post-war financial increase and the rising youth tradition. Originally of the last decade, males’s style was closely influenced by the austerity of the Forties, with clothes that was practical and reserved. Nevertheless, as the last decade progressed, males’s style started to embrace extra shade, sample, and informal kinds, reflecting a society that was changing into more and more prosperous and leisure-oriented.

Hollywood actors like Marlon Brando and James Dean turned model icons, influencing males’s style with their informal, rebellious seems to be, together with leather-based jackets, denims, and T-shirts. This decade additionally noticed the rise of designer style in males’s put on, with designers like Christian Dior and Hubert de Givenchy starting to affect males’s style selections.

Tv and promoting turned extra prevalent, enjoying a vital position in spreading style tendencies and making a unified sense of fashion throughout the USA and past. The Fifties additionally marked the start of the Civil Rights Motion, which, whereas primarily a wrestle for social justice, subtly influenced males’s style by starting to problem conventional norms of gown and grooming based mostly on race and sophistication.

Our Favourite Fifties Males’s Trend Staples

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PercivalCasa MartiniKnitted Polo

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VelascaNotaresco Bomber Jacket

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VelascaFurore Double-breasted Jacket

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Males’s Trend within the Fifties: Model Necessities
“1950s fashions – Fifty years ago” by gbaku is licensed beneath CC BY-SA 2.0
Fits

Fits within the Fifties have been all a few masculine silhouette, with a transparent emphasis on straight strains. The traditional sack swimsuit (suppose: looser jacket) was nonetheless standard in early Fifties male style. As the last decade progressed, the straight sillouete remained however turned barely extra form-fitting and slimmer than in earlier years, which means shoulderpads used to create a extra V-shaped torso in earlier years fell out of style.

The double breasted swimsuit was very a lot nonetheless in vogue, however the single-breasted jackets with wider lapels and rounded factors have been largely changing into the norm. The Roman-style swimsuit (invited by Brioni) additionally made its debut. Its greatest contribution to at this time’s model was the inclusion of aspect vents (one on either side of the hip) vs. the only again vent regular within the American sack swimsuit. 

Materials performed a key position, whereas polyester had been invented within the Forties, it actually took off in Fifties males’s style. However wool, flannel, and ultra-luxurious mohair continued to be predominant selections for his or her sturdiness and magnificence. The colour palette was comparatively conservative, dominated by shades of gray, blue, and brown, although the tip of the last decade noticed a gradual introduction of extra vibrant colours and patterns.

classic.everyday_ / Instagram
Shirts

Shirts within the early Fifties have been usually manufactured from cotton or linen and featured daring patterns and infrequently loud colours. As the last decade progressed, males’s Fifties style started to include softer pastels – some argue that is to permit for louder and bolder ties. The commonest kinds have been the shorter level collar and the unfold collar, and the membership collar (rounded edges) which have been appropriate for each formal and informal settings. Not like the Nineteen Twenties when removable collars have been the norm, the Fifties males’s style solidified the recognition of the connected collar – each for consolation and ease functions.

Fifties males’s style additionally noticed the introduction of extra informal shirt kinds, together with the polo shirt and the Cuban collar shirt, reflecting a rising curiosity in leisure and luxury.

Emulating the Hollywood superstars of the day, like Marlon Brando (particularly from his position in A Streetcar Named Need in 1951), the plain t-shirt actually started its reign throughout this decade – an informal wardrobe staple that is still standard to this present day.

greaserboyjoey / Instagram
Pants

Trousers in the course of the Fifties emphasised consolation and mobility, retaining with the loser minimize of the earlier a long time. The cuff on the underside of pants was highly regarded on the time, no matter whether or not you have been carrying denims or trousers. The cuff was usually 2-4 inches, relying on peak and private tailoring.

The popular pant model of males’s Fifties style was high-waisted, typically single or double-pleated pants that offered an extended silhouette. Shorts or Bermuda shorts, round knee size, have been additionally highly regarded, these have been minimize and designed similar to dress-trousers or swimsuit pants and featured bolder colours and plaid patterns.

Denim denims started to emerge as a well-liked informal put on choice, particularly among the many youthful technology, impressed by Hollywood and the rising music scene. Chinos and khakis additionally gained recognition from the rise in preppy style for each informal or semi-formal events, providing a lighter, extra versatile various to conventional wool trousers.

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Sweaters & Knitwear

50s males’s style marked a major interval for sweaters and knitwear as important elements of a gentleman’s model, reflecting the period’s shift in the direction of extra informal and versatile clothes choices.

Sweaters turned standard for his or her consolation and practicality. They have been typically worn over shirts for a smart-casual look. The V-neck sweater, specifically, was a staple. It was simply paired with a collared shirt beneath and generally a tie, making it appropriate for each workplace environments and informal outings.

The usage of new artificial fibers, alongside conventional wool, allowed for a wider vary of kinds and colours, making sweaters and knitwear extra interesting and accessible to the on a regular basis man.

“End section of pipeline construction, circa 1950s” by Seattle Municipal Archives is licensed beneath CC BY 2.0
Jackets & Outerwear

Outerwear and males’s jackets within the Fifties have been characterised by variety, splitting style tendencies and innovation, catering to each practical wants and style statements.

Cardigans, leisure jackets, and sport coats turned symbols of the relaxed motion to males’s model. The teenage rebel of the last decade, thanks partly to Hollywood’s affect, noticed the rise of leather-based motorbike jackets and new rising subcultures. The ditch coat maintained its recognition from earlier a long time, serving as a trendy choice for wet climate, whereas the pea coat supplied heat and sturdiness for colder months.

Outerwear within the Fifties not solely offered practicality and luxury but in addition a possibility for males to specific their particular person model and adaptableness to altering social norms.

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Footwear

Footwear within the Fifties noticed a mixture of conventional kinds and rising tendencies that mirrored the last decade’s various style panorama. Oxford footwear remained a staple for formal events, obtainable in a wide range of supplies and finishes, together with the ever-popular patent leather-based for night put on.

The idler, initially an informal shoe, gained recognition for its consolation and ease of damage. When crafted in finer leather-based, it turned acceptable in additional formal settings. The leather-based slipper turned the alternative ‘house shoe’ of the period.

The introduction of the desert boot and the chukka offered an informal but fashionable choice that paired effectively with more and more standard informal put on, like chinos and denims. Sneakers, like Converse (nonetheless standard at this time), as soon as primarily seen as athletic put on, started to cross over into informal style, influenced by the youth tradition and icons like James Dean.

The footwear selections of this period underscored the evolving nature of Fifties males’s style, balancing custom with a rising appreciation for consolation, versatility, and private expression.

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Males’s Formalwear within the Fifties

Males’s formalwear within the Fifties continued to emphasise magnificence and class, with a deal with tailor-made fits and a focus to element that outlined the period’s method to formal events.

The tuxedo remained the gold customary for night put on, that includes a single-breasted jacket with a scarf or peak lapel, typically in black or midnight blue. The dinner jacket, in lighter materials and colours, supplied a barely much less formal choice for night occasions, particularly in hotter climates.

Formal shirts have been usually white with a wingtip or turndown collar, accompanied by a bow tie or a slim necktie. Cummerbunds and waistcoats added a layer of refinement, whereas patent leather-based footwear accomplished the ensemble.

This era additionally noticed the rise of bespoke tailoring, permitting males to personalize their formalwear with customized fittings and distinctive particulars, reflecting the significance of particular person model even in essentially the most formal settings.

“SMDR Photographic Negatives Collection, [1950s][Rattler Grid 1950 squad & men]” by San Marcos Every day Document Negatives is licensed beneath CC BY-NC 2.0
Males’s Casualwear within the Fifties

The Fifties have been a turning level for males’s casualwear, marked by an growing need for consolation, performance, and private expression outdoors the constraints of formal apparel. The last decade noticed the rise of leisurewear, influenced by the booming economic system, elevated leisure time, and the affect of youth tradition and Hollywood icons.

T-shirts turned a staple, transferring from underwear to a standalone piece, popularized by stars like James Dean and Marlon Brando. Denim denims emerged because the image of informal and rebellious youth, due to their sturdiness and luxury, paired typically with leather-based jackets or informal button-down shirts for a whole look.

The introduction of the Hawaiian shirt within the ‘40s continued to add a colorful and exotic flair to men’s Fifties wardrobes, reflecting the period’s fascination with journey and leisure. In the meantime, knit polo shirts supplied a smart-casual choice, bridging the hole between formal shirts and informal tees.

For footwear, canvas sneakers, leather-based boots, and loafers have been favored for his or her consolation and flexibility, complementing the informal look.

“SMDR Photographic Negatives Collection, [1950s][Rattler Grid 1950 squad & men]” by San Marcos Every day Document Negatives is licensed beneath CC BY-NC 2.0
Males’s Equipment within the Fifties
Hats

Hats maintained their standing as a necessary accent for males within the Fifties, although their recognition started to wane as hairstyles turned a extra distinguished characteristic of males’s style.

The fedora, with its vast brim and indented crown, continued to be standard amongst males looking for a complicated addition to their ensemble. The trilby, a shorter-brimmed variant of the fedora, supplied a extra informal look, appropriate for each formal and leisure actions.

Regardless of the decline in hat-wearing in the direction of the tip of the last decade, these items remained symbols of magnificence and have been key to finishing the well-dressed man’s outfit.

Watches

Watches within the Fifties weren’t simply timekeeping units however symbols of standing and magnificence. The last decade noticed the rise of luxurious Swiss manufacturers, with Rolex, Omega, and Patek Philippe main the way in which in innovation and design.

Watches have been usually mechanical, with handbook or automated winding, and featured elegant, easy designs with leather-based straps or steel bracelets. The recognition of dive watches and chronographs additionally elevated, reflecting a rising curiosity in sports activities and out of doors actions.

Ties

Ties within the Fifties have been a vital part of a person’s wardrobe, signifying professionalism and individualism – as ties have been nonetheless seen as skilled with wild and daring patterns. Nevertheless, it was gaining popularity and nonetheless skilled to go to work or occasions with out one. The last decade favored wider ties with pointed ideas, reflecting a return to the daring kinds of the pre-war period, with vibrant colours and elaborate patterns, together with stripes, polka dots, and paisleys.

Silk, wool, rayon, polyester and even cotton knit have been the supplies used for ties of the period, providing a wealthy texture and sheen that complemented the period’s tailor-made fits. The bow tie additionally loved recognition, particularly pre-tied variations, providing a dapper and less complicated various to the normal necktie.

Suspenders and Belts

Suspenders remained a practical and trendy selection for securing trousers, favored for his or her traditional attraction and luxury. Nevertheless, as the last decade progressed, belts turned extra standard, partly because of the growing casualness of Fifties males’s style.

Leather-based belts, specifically, have been seen as a extra fashionable and versatile choice, obtainable in a wide range of widths and finishes to enrich each formal and informal apparel.

Glasses

Glasses within the Fifties turned a style assertion past their sensible function. The introduction of horn-rimmed glasses, with their distinctive thick frames, added an mental aptitude to males’s look. Metallic-rimmed glasses and aviators have been additionally standard, providing a modern look.

Sun shades gained in recognition, pushed by Hollywood and the rise of out of doors leisure actions. Types just like the wayfarer and the aviator turned iconic symbols of the period’s cool, informal aesthetic.

Extra Widespread Equipment for Males within the Fifties

Past the necessities, males’s style within the Fifties embraced a wide range of equipment to personalize and improve their outfits. Scarfs have been highly regarded within the colder season, typically neatly tied and tucked beneath the collar of a coat.

Males’s jewellery, together with signet rings and chain bracelets, started to realize acceptance, marking the beginning of a broader development in the direction of accessorizing in males’s style. These equipment not solely full the look but in addition allowed males to specific their individuality and standing in a quickly booming and individualistic society.

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Males’s Grooming Tendencies within the Fifties
Fifties Males’s Hairstyles

The Fifties noticed a wide range of males’s hairstyles that mirrored the last decade’s mixture of conservatism and rising rebellious tendencies. The crew minimize, and the Ivy League haircut was immensely standard for his or her clear, neat look, symbolizing the post-war return to conventional values. These kinds have been brief, straightforward to handle, and suited the skilled man.

On the opposite finish of the spectrum, the pompadour and the quiff turned symbols of the youthful rebel, impressed by music and film icons like Elvis Presley and James Dean. These kinds featured longer hair on prime, styled upwards and again for a dramatic impact, typically utilizing pomade to realize the specified maintain and shine.

The ducktail, one other iconic model of the period, concerned hair slicked again across the sides and introduced collectively behind the pinnacle, resembling the rear finish of a duck. This model, whereas much less widespread in skilled settings, underscored the rising affect of rock ‘n’ roll on style and tradition.

Sideburns additionally made a comeback, rising in recognition in the direction of the tip of the last decade, additional illustrating the shift in the direction of extra expressive private grooming.

Fifties Facial Hair

Facial hair within the Fifties was usually saved to a minimal, with clean-shaven faces dominating the period’s grooming tendencies. This was according to the last decade’s emphasis on neatness and conformity, particularly in skilled environments.

Nevertheless, the mustache noticed a resurgence in recognition amongst sure teams, typically worn skinny and neatly trimmed, including a contact of sophistication or ruggedness to a person’s look.

The goatee and the Van Dyke beard have been additionally modern in inventive and bohemian circles, although much less widespread in mainstream society. These kinds allowed for particular person expression throughout the constraints of the period’s grooming requirements.

Grooming norms started to chill out barely within the late Fifties, setting the stage for the extra various and expressive kinds of the Sixties.

Males’s Glee Membership Journey, 1955” by Duke College Archives is licensed beneath CC BY-NC-SA 2.0
Massive Names in Fifties Males’s Trend

Fifties males’s style was formed by quite a few influential designers, celebrities, and cultural figures who left a long-lasting impression on the model world.

On this planet of high fashion, designers like Christian Dior and Hubert de Givenchy started exploring males’s style, introducing tailor-made fits and refined casualwear that blended conventional craftsmanship with fashionable aesthetics.

The affect of Hollywood was simple, with actors comparable to Cary Grant, Gregory Peck, and Marlon Brando changing into model icons for his or her on-screen and off-screen personas. Grant and Peck epitomized the traditional, timeless model with their impeccable tailoring and understated magnificence, whereas Brando and James Dean launched a extra rebellious, informal look that resonated with the youthful technology.

In music, Elvis Presley emerged not solely as a cultural phenomenon but in addition as a style icon, popularizing daring and flamboyant kinds that contrasted sharply with the conservative tendencies of the early Fifties. His love for flashy fits, leather-based jackets, and the pompadour coiffure influenced numerous followers and signaled a shift in the direction of extra private and expressive style selections.

50s model additionally noticed the emergence of influential photographers and journal editors who helped form public perceptions of style. Figures like Richard Avedon and Irving Penn captured the period’s seems to be in putting photos that graced the pages of Vogue and Harper’s Bazaar, whereas editors like Diana Vreeland championed the mixing of style and tradition, setting the stage for the evolution of males’s model within the a long time to comply with.

How you can Put on Fifties Males’s Trend At the moment
lost_in_the_1950s / Instagram

Incorporating Fifties style into at this time’s wardrobe is about embracing traditional model with a contemporary twist. Begin with the necessities: a well-tailored gray flannel swimsuit, a crisp white shirt, and a pair of polished Oxford footwear for a timeless formal look.

For informal put on, a pair of straight-leg selvedge denim denims, a plain white T-shirt, and a leather-based jacket can seize the Fifties insurgent spirit. Add a pair of loafers or canvas sneakers for a flexible look that bridges a long time.

Decorate with period-appropriate items like a fedora hat or a pair of horn-rimmed glasses so as to add authenticity to your outfit. Nevertheless, the bottom line is to stability classic parts with up to date matches and kinds to keep away from trying such as you’re carrying a fancy dress. Combine and match objects from totally different eras and experiment with textures and patterns to create a glance that’s each nostalgic and related.

Closing Verdict

Fifties males’s style was a decade of transformation, characterised by a mix of conventional magnificence and rising informal kinds. At the moment, the period’s affect stays sturdy, providing timeless items that may improve any wardrobe. By adopting the important thing parts of males’s Fifties style and adapting them to fashionable tastes, any man can obtain a glance that’s each traditional and up to date, proving the enduring attraction of this pivotal decade in model. Proceed on as we velocity in the direction of the tumultuous 60s and what excitements in males’s style lie forward.

FAQ

Within the Fifties, males wore a variety of clothes from tailor-made gray flannel fits, crisp white shirts, and slim ties for formal events to informal put on like polo shirts, leather-based jackets, and denim denims. The emphasis was on clear strains, high quality materials, and a neat look.

Widespread kinds for males within the Fifties included the traditional gray flannel swimsuit for enterprise and formal events, the leather-based bomber jacket and denims for a extra rebellious informal look, and the introduction of Hawaiian shirts and polo shirts for leisurewear.

Whereas denim denims turned extremely standard amongst younger males within the Fifties as an emblem of rebel and youth tradition, jean jackets weren’t as prominently featured in males’s style till later a long time.

Khakis and chinos have been standard within the Fifties as a part of the informal put on growth, providing a flexible and comfy various to formal trousers and completely becoming into the rising informal, suburban life-style.

Within the Fifties, attractiveness for males was characterised by a clear, well-groomed look, with a match and tailor-made silhouette in clothes. Hollywood icons like Cary Grant and James Dean epitomized the period’s beliefs of attractiveness by their polished and complicated formal put on or their rugged and informal insurgent seems to be, respectively.

The editorial workforce at Fashion is your trusted companion in redefining fashionable males’s model. Established in 2007, Fashion has advanced into a number one authority in males’s style, with tens of millions of readers looking for sensible recommendation, skilled insights, and real-world inspiration for curating their wardrobe and life-style.Our editorial workforce combines over 50 years of collective expertise in style journalism, styling, and retail. Every editor brings specialised experience—from luxurious style and sustainable model to the most recent grooming know-how and perfume science. With backgrounds starting from GQ and Esquire to private styling for celebrities, our workforce ensures each advice comes from a spot of deep trade information.