The WORST Men’s Fashion Fails of the 20th Century!

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If you cast a critical eye back through time, you can see that there’s much evolution and change that has occurred with menswear over the centuries. These changes have meant that we can deal with modern luxuries and conveniences and styles of clothing that we think are appropriate. But, frankly, there’s also just been a lot of downright silliness, which we’ll have a laugh about today!

Indeed, the 20th century had many fairly ridiculous fashions over the course of its 100 years, and while we can’t cover all of them, we’ve hand-picked a few from each decade that we think are particularly egregious. 

It should be said that not all of these fashion trends were commonplace. Certainly, it wasn’t the case that a majority of men were wearing all of them, and indeed, some were even fairly unpopular at the time, but let’s go in for the giggles with some of the silliest fashion choices.

Bright and baggy outfits and matching denims are among the worst fashion fails of the 20th Century.
Bright and baggy outfits and matching denims are among the worst fashion fails of the 20th Century. [Image Credit: (L-R) Jacobtyler.com, Glamour.com]

Worst Men’s Fashion Fails of The 20th Century: 1. Ridiculously Tall Collars (1900s-1910s)

We’ll go in chronological order today, starting of course with the 1900s and 1910s – an economic boom time, a time of mechanization, and a time of ridiculously tall shirt collars.

As menswear historians, we have to admit that the look of a stiff detachable collar can be quite sharp in some circumstances. But with that said, the collars of the 1900s could be quite tall – sometimes even reaching a whopping three and a half inches (nearly nine centimeters) in height.

Tall collars from the 1900s
Tall collars from the 1900s. [Image Credit: (L-R) Ties.com, Stephane-jacques-addade.com]

Legend has it that if men fell asleep in these tall collars with their heads bent forward, they could even cut off circulation and oxygen to the brain. As a result, some men were said to have died from asphyxiation, giving these collars the cheerful nickname of “vatermorder” or “father killer.”

While obviously not as severe as death, other men experienced inconveniences like friction sores or rashes, and so, some took to using a special wax called glattolin.

Glattolin
Glattolin [Image Credit: Etsy.com]

With all that said, though, we don’t want to put you off of detachable collars entirely. When worn at the right height that corresponds well with your neck, they can be comfortable – at least, once you get used to them – and indeed, they can be quite stylish.

2. Oxford Bags (1920s-1930s)

Today, of course, classic menswear enthusiasts fight against the modern trends of ultra-skinny trousers by wearing pants that have a leg width that’s more in the middle and flattering to multiple body types. But, if you want to go to the complete opposite end of the spectrum from the tight-fitting trousers of today, look no further than the Oxford bags of the 1920s.

The Oxford Bag are trousers with wide legs.
The Oxford Bag are trousers with wide legs. [Image Credit: Putthison.com]

These were incredibly wide-legged trousers that had their origins at Oxford University around about 1924. For reference here, the leg width of modern trousers tends to sit around an average of 18 inches, and, indeed, these Oxford bags started out not too much wider than average at a width of about 22 inches. But, at their widest, they reached a ridiculous  44 inches in width.

If nothing else, they might come in handy for a particularly comfortable three-legged race at a county fair or, alternatively, if you fell from a plane wearing Oxford bags, you wouldn’t even have to be wearing a parachute to land safely.

Sanforized Oxford Bags
Sanforized Oxford Bags. [Imahge Credit: (L-R) theguardian.com, putthison.com]

Not everyone was wearing this style of trousers even at the time, but they persisted in one form or another for almost 30 years and even reached a revival of sorts in the 1970s.

3. Matching Work Sets (1930s-1940s)

Let’s now move into the ’30s and ’40s, which we consider the center of the so-called Golden Age of menswear. Indeed, we don’t really have too much to discuss in this period as many of the fashions were fairly middle of the road–we might even go so far as to say “boring.”

But then again, this is our preferred era of menswear, and you’ll hear us talking up its virtues all the time. So it’s perhaps not surprising that we don’t have too many nitpicks or gripes here.

An illustration of gentlemen wearing suits in 1940
An illustration of gentlemen wearing suits in 1940

If we were to call suits from this era boring, we’d focus mostly on the early to mid-1940s as World War II was getting into swing, and fabric rationing stopped fashion from evolving. After all, it was seen as patriotic at this time to save fabric for the front lines.

So, not many suits featured excessive fabric and, therefore, had narrower trouser legs than in years prior, and they also didn’t feature decorative buttons or trims, patch pockets, or even cuffed pants. Also, because of fabric rationing, double-breasted jackets became less popular around this time. Although, they did experience a resurgence once rationing requirements eased off.

In some countries, such as Britain, certain restrictions were put in place on garments’ details. For example, things like cuffs or turn ups were banned, and double-breasted jackets were disallowed.

1940s Wool Suits
1940s Wool Suits [Image Credit: (R) Vintagedancer.com]

If we were to single out a fashion fail from this era, it would probably be in the realm of men’s workwear, specifically matching work sets that were worn by servicemen, delivery drivers, and the like, and that were styled to military uniforms to further give the sense that everyone was doing their part.

These would usually consist of shirts, pants, and short jackets, all made from matching colors and fabrics, usually in mercerized or sanforized cotton or in a rayon cotton blend.

By the way, mercerized fabric has been treated with sodium hydroxide, and the sanforized fabric has been pre-shrunk before it’s made into a garment. The idea behind these processes was to make the garments more long-lasting and hard-wearing, perfect for work uniforms.

Men in Matching Work Sets (Image Courtesy: VintageDancer)
Men in Matching Work Sets [Image Credit: vintagedancer.com]

The shirts often featured camp-style collars, which were popular at the time, and they could be buttoned all the way up to be worn with a tie or bow tie or left unbuttoned to give the appearance of a small pseudo-lapel. They also often featured a breast pocket on both sides for holding work tools.

The trousers were high-waisted and could come in flat-fronted or pleated varieties and were often worn with belts that again came in fabric of the same color, though some men opted to wear regular leather belts instead.

They were also advertised as being tub-fast, which meant they could be washed at home with then-contemporary laundering methods and thus, didn’t have to be dry cleaned.

1940s Work Wear
1940s Work Wear. [Image Credit: vintagedancer.com]

The matching jacket was also, of course, in the same fabric and emulated the shirt, often also having pockets on both sides of the chest and stopping right around the waistband. The difference here is that the jacket was fastened with a zipper and was often thicker than the shirt.

Because the colors often merged and gave an overall stale and dull appearance, these really weren’t fashionably inspired ensembles. Still, then again, they were work uniforms, so the men wearing them didn’t have much of a choice, and after all, they did have more important things to worry about at that time.

4. Teddy Boys (1950s)

Let’s turn now to the next decades, where especially in Britain, we saw the advent of the “Teddy Boy.” The Teddies or Teds were a subculture of young British men who wore pseudo-Edwardian or Edwardian-inspired ensembles.

The Teddy Boy Subculture
The Teddy Boy Subculture [Image Credit: (L-R) Pinterest.ru, CNN.com]

This came about in the post-war era when Savile Row tailors attempted to re-insert things like long jackets and fancy waistcoats to servicemen who had returned from the war. However, these looks didn’t really go over well. So, the tailors had to cut their losses and sell them cheaply to the general public.

They were mostly picked up by young working-class men and were originally associated with delinquents called “cosh boys,” but by 1952, the style spread throughout the UK. It was associated with the emerging rock and roll subculture. The style was given the name “Teddy Boy” in 1953 when a reporter for the Daily Express newspaper shortened Edwardian to Teddy.

Teddy Boys sport pseudo-Edwardian or Edwardian-inspired ensembles.
Teddy Boys sport pseudo-Edwardian or Edwardian-inspired ensembles. [Image Credit: Pinterest.ph)

The style featured things like long jackets with velvet trims, sometimes in bright colors and with fantastically fancy waistcoats, as well as Western-style bow ties or bolo ties, and even creepers as footwear. Of course, all of this is hardly anything like genuine styles of the Edwardian period, but these clothes certainly did turn heads.

Perhaps the most eye-catching aspect of the overall aesthetic was the hairstyles, which were reminiscent of bird beaks, croissants, and even tongues drooping down from the wearers’ heads. But, of course, you needed a lot of hair and a lot of product to pull these styles off, and hairstyles got bigger and bigger over time.

The bold, eye-catching hairstyles of the 1950s
The bold, eye-catching hairstyles of the 1950s [Image Credit: magnumphotos.com]

The Teddy Boy style even had a brief comeback in the 1970s, and, indeed, there are probably still a few Englishmen rocking the style today.

5. Body Shirt (1960s)

As we get into the latter half of the 20th century, classic menswear enthusiasts may be cringing along with us because, of course, the ’60s, ’70s, and ’80s are decades known for particularly terrible fashion choices. That being said, let’s get into the 1960s with the body shirt.

Tight-fitting body shirts from the 1960s
Tight-fitting body shirts from the 1960s [Image Credit: jazzwax.com]

These shirts, which were cut similarly to body coats, with seams that made the shirt fit as close to the body as possible, might seem bad enough. Once you combine them with wildly patterned trousers, velvet suits, a mix and match of bright colors, huge bow ties, an obsession with colorful tartan, and ruffled shirts, you’ve got yourself a pretty eccentric and overall, a pretty ugly era.

And, of course, we can’t talk about the 1960s without mentioning hippies, a subculture of the time that was decried by many as a bunch of lazy, do-nothing, beatnik young kids.

The colorful, psychedelic Hippie aesthetic
The colorful, psychedelic Hippie aesthetic [Image Credit: kgw.com]

Traditional norms were out the window, and, indeed, that didn’t stop at their clothing choices, or perhaps, lack thereof, either. Of course, the hippie movement has its defenders even today. But, we can probably agree that with their colorful, crazy, psychedelic, and mismatched ensembles, you can see where some of the other fashion fails of the 1960s came from.

6. Dog-Ear Shirt (1970s)

Today, men’s collar leaves on dress shirts are getting smaller and smaller, leaving the traditionally-minded among menswear enthusiasts hoping that collar leaves will start to get longer again. But, we should be careful not to go too far in the opposite direction, or we might end up with these dog-ear collars.

Dog Ear Collars
Dog Ear Collars [Image Credit: Vintag.es]

These shirts featured collars with ridiculously long and rounded leaves, leading some even to call them “man boob collars” or “saggy boob collars.”

7. Ultra-Wide Lapels (1970s)

It’s no secret that, at the Gentleman’s Gazette, we’re interested in helping men to find clothing that fits them well and complements their frame. So, with that in mind, we ask, “Why would anyone wear a jacket with lapels so wide you could land an airplane on them?”

1970s wide and colorful lapels
1970s wide and colorful lapels. [Image Credit: Vintag.es]

1970s lapels were ridiculously wide and colorful. It was a look that didn’t look good on many men. But, indeed, a trend is a trend, so most followed suit. Of course, lapel widths have fluctuated over time, seeing periods of wideness in the 1870s and again in the 1940s, but by the time we see the wide lapels of the 70s, one major gust of wind and you might as well fly away.

8. Stubbies (1970s)

Moving on to our next item, we move down under to Australia. Indeed, summers there can get quite hot. So, naturally, men are always looking for ways to cool down, but if you ask us, we’d probably rather boil to death in wool trousers in the summer than be caught wearing Stubbies.

Men's short shorts known as Stubbies
Men’s short shorts known as Stubbies [Image Credit: (middle) WSFM]

These were a style of shorts (or short-shorts) that were invented as casual wear and became a staple of workwear for a time. Frankly, they’re pretty unflattering, and to add insult to injury, they were also often worn still with high socks. 

9. Bodysuits (1970s)

Our final item from the ’70s is bodysuits. Frankly, there isn’t much we feel we need to say here. For everyone’s benefit, let’s just move on!

Bodysuits were worn by men in 1970s
Bodysuits were worn by men in 1970s [Image Credit: allthatsinteresting.com]

10. Power Suit (1980s)

The 1980s weren’t so innocent either with their focus on huge hair, the mullet, and various other trendy styles, but, as we alluded to previously, the worst crime of this era has to be the 1980s power suit.

Overall, ’80s suits were guilty of overly padded shoulders, wide-cut bodies, and unflatteringly-low button stances that threw off the proportions of the suit informed originally by the golden ratio.

1980s Power Suits
1980s Power Suits [Image Credit: carderoclothing.com]

Although the trousers were usually higher-waisted than modern trousers today, the extremely low buttoning point of the squared-off jackets made the torso look larger, the legs look smaller, and indeed, the head of the wearer looked tinier as well.

Also, because of the low button stance, double-breasted jackets tended to cross much lower on the body and could sometimes gape and gap at the top, again leading to an unflattering square silhouette.

11. Denim Obsession (1990s)

While the fashion crimes of the 1990s aren’t as severe as some of the previous decades, they are still numerous. If we had to pick one area, though, we’d say that the worst fashion crime of the ’90s had to be the decade’s obsession with denim.

The 1990s was a period almost synonymous with denim.
The 1990s was a period almost synonymous with denim. [Image Credit: (L-R) electricliterature.com, rollingstone.com]

Denim trousers, also called “jeans,” were invented in 1873 by Levi Strauss and Jacob Davis as workwear. Over the course of the 20th century, denim worked its way into casual wear ensembles, but by the 1990s, things had definitely gone overboard.

As one example, we can turn to the oversized, low-hanging baggy jeans made by companies like JNCO, which were originally made for young boys but came to be worn by adults as well.

JNCO Baggy Jeans
JNCO Baggy Jeans [Image Credit: imagediply.com]

We could also bring up this photo from 2001, featuring Justin Timberlake in jeans and a matching denim jacket and denim hat, while Britney Spears is wearing a denim dress with a matching denim bag.

Britney Spears and Justin Timberlake in Denim Outfits
Britney Spears and Justin Timberlake in Denim Outfits [Image Credit: businessinsider.com]

Despite what they may have heard at the time, a Canadian tuxedo really shouldn’t be worn on the red carpet or elsewhere. Luckily for us, this trend would eventually die out, and “double denim” became a phrase associated with poor fashion taste.

Also, by the ’90s, we were starting to see the beginnings of what we’re still experiencing today, where traditional casual menswear is being supplanted overall by streetwear and other casual fashions.

Kyle here pairs a navy blazer with dark-wash denim, a white shirt, and a cream-colored sweater
Kyle here pairs a navy blazer with dark-wash denim, a white shirt, and a cream-colored sweater

We’re not going to decry this entirely, as there certainly is a place for more casual dressing. Indeed, you can even work things like jeans into more classically-inspired menswear ensembles. Just make sure that they’re dark wash, free of too much detailing or distressing, and work well with your body type.

Conclusion

In conclusion, then, with all these weird and wild fashion trends over the course of the 20th century, it should be no secret why we at the Gentleman’s Gazette prioritize a wardrobe that is not only classic but also timeless.

Men of The Gentleman's Gazette in Classic and Timeless Outfits
Men of The Gentleman’s Gazette in Classic and Timeless Outfits

In other words, if you make an effort to follow the fundamental principles of aesthetics that we outline in several other posts, you can be confident that you won’t have to look back at photos from a certain period and cringe.

If there’s a lesson to be learned from today, other than, of course, not wearing any of the styles that we’ve directly profiled here, it should be that following trends is a surefire way to have future generations laugh at you.

Outfit Rundown

I’ve tried to get into the spirit of things a bit by wearing a suit from my own wardrobe that does have some frankly 80s-inspired power shoulders to it that are perhaps just a bit wide for my build.

Preston wearing a suit with a simple light blue dress shirt that has French cuffs.
Preston wearing a suit with a simple light blue dress shirt that has French cuffs.
Eagle Claw Cufflinks with Tiger's Eye Balls - 925 Sterling Silver Gold Plated - Fort Belvedere

Fort Belvedere

Eagle Claw Cufflinks with Tiger's Eye Balls – 925 Sterling Silver Gold Plated – Fort Belvedere

Silk Pocket Square in Orange, Blue, Green,Red and White with Large Paisley Pattern - Fort Belvedere

Fort Belvedere

Silk Pocket Square in Orange, Blue, Green,Red and White with Large Paisley Pattern – Fort Belvedere

Cashmere Wool Grenadine Tie in Orange, Gray Wide Stripe - Fort Belvedere

Fort Belvedere

Cashmere Wool Grenadine Tie in Orange, Gray Wide Stripe – Fort Belvedere

Orange Exotic Caribbean Boutonniere Buttonhole Flower Fort Belvedere

Fort Belvedere

Orange Exotic Caribbean Boutonniere Buttonhole Flower Fort Belvedere

Shadow Stripe Ribbed Socks Dark Navy Blue and Royal Blue Fil d'Ecosse Cotton - Fort Belvedere

Fort Belvedere

Shadow Stripe Ribbed Socks Dark Navy Blue and Royal Blue Fil d'Ecosse Cotton – Fort Belvedere

The overall fit of the suit though does complement my frame fairly well and isn’t overly boxy. And I like the dark brown color and faint stripe in light blue and tan, which is more classically-inspired. I’ve paired the suit with a simple, light blue dress shirt that has French cuffs into which I’ve inserted our gold-plated sterling silver eagle claw cufflinks with tiger’s eye as the stone that harmonize with the brown of the suit. These cufflinks are from Fort Belvedere as are my other accessories today, including my grenadine tie, which is in a cashmere wool silk blend and features orange and gray tones, as well as a thin white stripe, our orange exotic Caribbean boutonniere, and the pocket square in silk, which features a large paisley pattern of orange, blue, green, red, and white.

Also from Fort Belvedere are my two-toned, shadow-striped socks in navy blue and royal blue to harmonize with the shirt, but also to pick up on the striped motif of the suit. Rounding out the outfit
today are a simple pair of dark brown Oxfords from Allen Edmonds and, of course, you can find all of the Fort Belvedere accessories I’m wearing in today’s video in the Fort Belvedere shop.

Arethere fashion fails from the 20th Century you think we forgot to mention? Please share them with us in the comments!

Reader Comments

  1. Not the Stubbies!
    While never flattering and perpetually derided (even over here), they’re better than some of the alternatives: footy shorts for example . As a kid in the 70s there were very few casually options available for summer. There were always brown cords for winter through.

    1. That’s probably because shorts as casual wear for adults were only starting to become normalised. My understanding is there was still that little boy association with grown men wearing shorts outside of swimming at the beach/pool and sporting activities.

  2. I think you are entirely wrong. These are the type of outlandish fashion statements which need to be cherished not trashed. Oh for the exhuberance shown in these examples rather than the ‘maoist’ conformity of the modern street kid or tech ‘petty corporate’ minions. DOWN with the grey and the pedestrian, let the sunshine back into our lives and embrace the ridiculous!

    1. If good style were “Maoist and conformist”, all the pictures on this site would be of guys in charcoal suits, white shirts, and navy ties. Obviously, this is not the case. I think there’s plenty of color/pattern/styles available to keep things from being bland, but at the same time, not look completely ridiculous.

      1. Oh i’m not talking about good classic style being ‘maoist’, no not all; but rather the mulitude of men who don’t dress with style or panache but rather in a manner that makes them look like a sort of maoist hobo – theres lots around! I’m merely saying I think some zany exhuberance wins out over the drab and humdrum.

        1. Well, a line has to be drawn SOMEWHERE. There’s plenty of character seen on this site, and some of the classic ensembles they come up with are a bit much for my taste, but going as far into zanyland as some of the examples in this article is excessive. As in most things, the middle way is usually best.

    2. I’ll join the devil’s advocate crowd here…I get it, the point is that sometimes to take risks and be noticed particularly among the young, It’s a time to experiment. I smiled at both the Oxford wide pants and those shown for excessive denim. I detect a sense of humor here along with comradery. I would make a distinction though between fashions that are organic and those imposed by industry. I remember Nehru jackets being derided from the git-go as I think the fashion industry was racing to figure out a way to get ahead of events and make money off the 60s generation, at the same time the latter was probably part of a more organic ebb and flow of conformity and non-conformity (but with plenty of poseurs to be sure). Dog ears? sounds contrived to me. And sure, the tide recedes, the looks become embarrassing, dated, but still leave something, 60’s let color out of the box, we still live with that. And yeah, you will always want something a little different, those “experiments” are what bring new ideas to the cutting table.

  3. As for the 80’s, I think the power suit wasn’t nearly as bad as everything OTHER than the power suit. All those neon-colored migraine-inducing patterns have them beat. Zubaz pants, louvered sunglasses, and high-tops, anyone? Scary times. I’m glad the internet didn’t exist in those days like it does today, or “those pictures” of me would NEVER have vanished from the face of the earth. But hey, you’re only young once.

    Now if we can just get the gangsta rap fashion to head the same direction, I’d be happy. At least have guys pull their dang pants up and wear a belt. Seeing your boxers has never been stylish.

    1. Amen. The sight of a man’s boxers is awful and shows a lack of pride. I also can’t imagine how it’s comfortable to walk around all day holding your pants up.

  4. Preston, what about leisure suits, platform shoes, disco shirts? Were these not fashion fails? Put on your plus fours as a punishment for forgetting these in your article. :-)

  5. Greetings,

    Other omissions from this list that seems top-heavy with British references, include Nehru jackets, casual shirts with knit waistbands, matching sweater sets, tie-dye, long wallet chains, backward or angled baseball caps, patchwork shirts, pukka shells, “Hammer” pants, painter’s pants, sagger pants, wide white belts, and powder-blue tuxedos with matching ruffled shirts.

    Best regards,

    Andrew Gregg,
    Palm Springs, California.

    1. And the brightly, sometimes neon coloured, parachute material tracksuits people wore as casual wear.

  6. Wow, that was both painful and hilarious! Thank you! But I wonder, how could you have omitted that quintessential fashion necessity of a certain year: the Nehru jacket!! Still painful to think about, even 55 years later.

    1. Especially as Raphael Schneider was guilty of that faux fashion pas with the white Nehru suit. The evidence is on GG, too :)

        1. It looks like a tennis sweater. Not the best I’ve seen but definitely not the worst. Beats the whole hoodie and jeans/cargos/sweatpants and trainers combo like a little boy on the playground.

  7. The blazers on the gentlemen of GG are a bit too short… perhaps fashionable, but not too classic.

  8. Were you referring to Savile Row, Mayfair, Central London?

    Referring to the Teddy boys hair styles, I’m not sure about ‘bird beaks’ but we would ask for a ‘DA’ (ducks arse)

    I remember ‘Shell suits’ were a popular fad this side of the pond for some.

    1. Good spot, Keith! We’ve updated the article to reflect the correct street name!

      p.s. My grandparents have often mentioned the ‘DA’ hairstyle from their youth – definitely a British term!

  9. Now I’m remembering the hideous wide labelled purple suit my mother bought me for my first day of work at the bank in 1970. I’ll probably need therapy. Thankfully, when I joined the Foreign Office 20 years later I’d progressed to dark suits with working cuff buttons

  10. Wonderful piece, although there are some parts of Memory Lane best left in the past. The sordid wages of doing simply because nobody ever did it that way before, and for good reason.

  11. Even though I have very fond memories of the 80’s, as that is when I came of age, I have to agree with all but one of your fails. I agree that most of the fails you mentioned were outlandish and/or clownish, but I take a modicum of issue with the point on the double denim. While I agree wholeheartedly that it is not a good look for the red carpet or any such occasion, it does have it’s practical place in the traditional wear of American men. I also agree that the look can be and has been taken to the outlandish and/or clownish extreme, but when worn as a practicality they are neither outlandish nor clownish. I live in a part of the world where rodeo’s, Ag shows, and other western themed events are a part of life. I would much rather go to those events in blue jeans, boots, and a jean jacket than my suits or tailored trousers, camel coat, and more expensive shoes. These events are not designed for tailored clothing and can be very unfriendly to said clothing. The double denim was originally designed for just these types of activities and while they are not necessarily tailored clothing (although some men do have tailored western wear) they are absolutely part of the classic looks for American men, at least in rural areas. To be clear I would not wear this type out fit when out to the theater or art show, however, I am not about to ruin my vintage tuxedo at an Ag show or horse show either. I have no issues with being overdressed, and a lot of the time I am, but I do have an issue with being reckless with my investments in clothing. Especially when I know what machinery or animals and their by-products await me at specific events.

    1. Fortunately for you, it seems that Sven & Crew do actually have a bit of leeway for “event-specific” attire. They certainly don’t expect someone to climb Mount Everest, go snorkeling, or mow the lawn in a three-piece suit (though they’d probably give you extra style points if you did). I’m sure they wholeheartedly accept that, given the venue, you’re in the clear in regards to classic style.

      1. Speaking of which, it’d be very interesting to know what Sven and Crew think of wearing a suit to the birth of one’s child. My partner showed me this one and it made me laugh thinking of this comment, especially as Sven is rather fond of suits and ties himself.

  12. Mom kept up with the trends!: I have a photo of myself at age 8 wearing a green wool Nehru jacket. There is also a medallion on a long gold chain but it hangs just off the bottom of the photo.

    Regarding the 1970s, though, I have just one word to add: qiana.

  13. I think the worst fashion disaster of the 2010s is the emergence among celebrity men of the suit that is 2 sizes too small and ultra slim fitting. No need to speak of ‘break’ in the pants because the hem is a good 3″ above the shoe when the wearer is standing. Unless the asinine confabulations are made of stretchy lycra or some such, I don’t see how they could possibly move or be comfortable in them, let alone avoid having their man parts (insofar as male celebrities even have them) constantly crushed.

  14. About that fabric shortage in the 40’s, all three gentlemen are double breasted suits and two of them are also wearing a vest. Guess they were not trying to help the war effort.

  15. I hope the recent trend of omitting cumberbuns when wearing tuxedos joins the ‘Rogue’s Gallery’ in the future. Tuxedo jackets are simply not cut to be worn without a cumberbun.

  16. Those who lived in tropical regions may remember safari suits, definitely a cringeworthy fashion in hindsight.
    But I disagree that worksuits worn in the war years were fashion fails, rather practical work wear that reflected the wearers commitment to the war effort alongside that of members of the armed services.

  17. San Diego, early 70s. Kensington body shirts were stylish, if you had the body. My older brother, blond surfer type did, girls loved it, I looked like a stuffed sausage, gave it up. Went western wear, part time, leisure suits, then disco. Needed attention to compete I guess. 6foot 3, red afro, platform heels, worked for me, loads of girls.. sometimes I wear kilts to work, my heritage, other times, Indian kurta, my wife. Usually though, it’s pretty straight forward classic, good ironed shirts, suits and ties. If not, people ask if I was running errands before work.

  18. Those who lived in tropical regions may remember safari suits, definitely a cringeworthy fashion in hindsight.
    But I disagree that worksuits worn in the war years were fashion fails, rather practical work wear that reflected the wearers commitment to the war effort alongside that of members of the armed services.

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