1930's Men's Fashion - Influenced by Hollywood, Mobsters, & the Zoot Suit

Hollywood and Movies

The 1930s was an era that saw a number of changes in men's fashions. One of the reasons for the sudden sartorial interest by more males was due to the fact that Hollywood was beginning to have an impact on how fashionable clothing was now viewed. Having a modern and trendy appearance was becoming more important to both men and women.

Restructured Suits

Men's suits were being restructured in the early 1930s to produce a look that featured a larger than normal torso and squared off, padded shoulders. This newly tailored effect gave men an imposing silhouette. Double breasted jackets with shiny buttons became a status symbol and men rushed to buy them. Even very inexpensive suits were using these new, sharp lines that held such an appeal to males across the country.

Requisite Accessories

Neckties, cufflinks, sporty shoes and hats were standard clothing accessories that any 1930's well dressed man considered to be "must have" items. It would have been unseemly for any gentleman to have appeared in a public setting without at least taking the time to choose the right handkerchief, tie and hat.

Hats during the 30s were available in many different styles. Neckwear and bowties were also being made in more than one style to tempt consumers. Most neckties were 44 inches long although they ranged from 2.5 inches to 4.5 inches in width.

After these were tied about the neck they reached about 2/3rds of the distance from a man's collar to his waistline. Ties were almost always unlined and the two most common materials that were used were rayon, wool and silk. Popular ties could be bought for prices that ranged from 10 cents to 1.50 during the decade of the 1930s.

Gangsters Influence Fashion

The 30s may have been a time when the Great Depression was a major factor, but there were other elements shaping the world of men's fashion. One of these was the influence of the mobsters, or gangsters, of the era. The clothing that these men wore would be used to help define what choices of clothing would also be judged to be appropriate for men who were active in the business world.

Era of Zoot Suits

The Zoot Suit was another iconic 30s fashion creation. This overly stylized suit included baggy fitting pants, a large, oversized jacket, and a rounded hat known as a tando. Gold chains, pocket watches, bright, colorful ties and walking canes were added to complete the look. This was a very desirable style that was favored by many teenagers, Hispanics and African-Americans.

Emulating Famous Actors

Thanks to a Clark Gable movie that featured him exposing a bare chest, a large number of American men began to avoid wearing undershirts. The practice of wearing an undershirt as well as a dress shirt had been standard for men at all socio-economic levels until this time. Now it was apparent that even men would follow the lead of Hollywood stylists.