Men's Clothing

During the 1890s, men generally wore only readymade, mass-produced clothing. A greater variety of clothing was also available, ranging from work wear and casual wear to dress wear. Bib overalls for the working man were a notable addition to the 1890s wardrobe.

Jackets were notably short and narrow during the 1890s. Sleeves were narrow and short enough to reveal the cuffs. The jacket was close-fitting with extremely narrow lapels and a rounded bottom at the front. The jacket was generally buttoned to the top. Notice the tight fit and shortened sleeves of the man's jacket below.

1890s Jacket: Image courtesy of Joan L. Severa, Dressed for the Photographer: Ordinary Americans and Fashion, 1840-1900, 1995

Informal attire often consisted of light trousers with dark jackets.

1890s Informal Light Trousers: Image courtesy of Joan L. Severa

Trousers also became narrower, fitting closely to the legs in a tubular style.

1890s Narrow Trousers: Image courtesy of Joan L. Severa

Shirts were close-fitting with narrow sleeves. Shirt collars were small and stiff with small points. A black bowtie was frequently worn for more casual attire, while a long, narrow tie was worn with dress suits. Notice the tight-fitting shirts with small, pointed collars in the image below.

1890s Shirts: Image courtesy of Joan L. Severa