| The Cold War Contributes to Conformity | | | | Good examples of the trends in the 1950s can be |
| Man's fashion in the 1950s was greatly reflected by | | | | seen in many movies and TV shows. Actors such as |
| the onset of the Cold War. Gone were the days of | | | | Cary Grant and Henry Fonda sported the |
| excitement and the use of bold colors and patterns as | | | | businessman look. Flannel suits in shades of gray, dark |
| worn in the 1940s. People were fearful to stand out | | | | blue and brown were tapered and a lot shorter than in |
| and just wanted to be seen as a 'good American'. This | | | | previous years. The jackets were single-breasted and |
| resulted in high levels of conformity and it was often | | | | shoulder pads were eliminated. Man's shirts were quite |
| hard to distinguish one man to the next. | | | | often bleached to retain their pearly white color. |
| Clothing was very business-like and conservative. | | | | Neckties were always worn in the workplace. They |
| Everyday clothing became a lot simpler with very little | | | | became a lot slimmer much like the 'skinny ties' we are |
| variation in style or color. In the early years of this | | | | accustomed to today. Their width was rarely more |
| period it was deemed by most that a man without a | | | | than 3'' and the length increased to around 52''. |
| suit was not serious enough. Comfort was less of an | | | | It was with the neckwear that some color was kept |
| issue. The man was expected to wear his suit for the | | | | on a man's business suit although wild patterns were |
| most part of the day. | | | | diminished for a more sensible look. Diagonal stripes |
| This being said, things were a little more relaxed when | | | | and small geometric shapes were common but nearly |
| he returned home, removing his jacket and necktie | | | | always against a dark background. Hats were part of |
| although some magazine ads would have you believe | | | | the ensemble too, but the rims of Fedoras and other |
| that men wore neckties even in most relaxed of social | | | | styles became much smaller. The choice of fabric |
| settings. A lawn mower advert depicted a man going | | | | ranged from wool, cotton and silk. |
| about cutting his front lawn wearing a shirt and tie! | | | | Ushering in a New Era |
| Advertisements of families at a picnic reflected much | | | | Towards the end of the era, a movement known as |
| of the same dress, which many men actually adhered | | | | 'beatniks' became apparent. Trousers were always |
| to. | | | | slim and the shirt untucked. There was a desperate |
| Also during this time, gender roles were being | | | | need to break through the con-formative style and |
| enforced, therefore if you were a man, you wore a | | | | give way for individuality. A slow inclusion of pattern in |
| suit and if you were a woman, you wore dresses. | | | | the form of tweeds and pin-stripes showed us that |
| There were very few exceptions to this rule. | | | | the con-formative style was beginning to loosen up. |
| Examples of Clothing Worn | | | | |