What did men, guys, and teen boys wear in the 1950s summer? Some very colorful combinations! Read on to learn more about the typical spring and summer casual men’s 50s outfit.
Men’s 1950s Casual Outfit
The essential casual men’s 1950s outfit in all weather was trousers, a belt, and button down shirt (or polo shirt) In summer, shirts were short sleeved with an open “camp” collar or button up classic collar. Pastel colors, stripes, and small plaid made up the bulk of summer shirts.
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- 1955 Pink or Blue with Matching Belts
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- 1956 Button Down Shirts, Thin Belt, and Trousers
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- 1958 Striped Casual Shirt, Trousers, and Sunglasses
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- 1958 Seaside Sailor with a Brenton Stripe Polo and White Trousers
Hawaiian shirts with camp collars were another classic for summer. They could be worn tucked into trousers or untucked.
1951 Men’s Hawaiian Shirts
Elvis Rockin’ a Hawaiian Shirt
Knit pullover shirts without without a polo collar were also welcome in spring. Horizontal stripes were a classic, but there were also fun novelty prints and themes in the early years. These are making a comeback into mainstream fashion.
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- 1951 Men’s Knit Shirt
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- 1957 Polo Shirts
Men’s summer trousers were made of light wool, cotton, linen, rayon, Dracon, light corduroy, gabardine, and seersucker. They came in all colors, but lighter shades dominated summer. Tans, white, pastel blues, teal, yellow, and pink.
Shop men’s trousers and belts.
1955 Summer Trousers
1950s Men’s Golf Outfits
In the 1950s, men took up golfing in record numbers. The golf look was worn off the course by most working age men. Light colored trousers with a belt and polo shirt was the signature look. Button down shirts and T shirts could also be worn with golfing flat caps. Nylon jackets in the bomber style were worn in spring.
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- 1958 Classic Golf Outfit with Polo Shirts
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- 1957 Golf Outfits
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- 1956 Men’s Golf Outfits with Nylon Jacket
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- 1958 Polo and Button Down Shirts
1950s Men’s Shorts Outfits
Men’s shorts made great strides in the 1950s towards becoming acceptable casual clothing outside of playing sports. They were longer walking length pleated trousers, paired with tall socks and a casual shirt. There were shorter shorts for sportswear (gym clothes), as well as longer beachcomber pants that came to mid calf. Shop men’s shorts.
Paired with shorts were usually short sleeve button down shirts in bold prints (checks, plaid, vertical stripes) or polo shirts, also in bold colors or prints like argyle.
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- 1950s Men’s Shorts and Summer Shirts
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- 1955 Men’s Shorts, Argyle Polo Shirt, Tall Socks, and Flat Cap
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- 1959 Men’s Shorts, Swimsuit or Trousers with Striped Camp/Cabana Shirt
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- 1958 Men’s Beachcomber Pants / Calf-Length Shorts with Striped Polo
1958, Dressed for Summer Activities: Tennis, Golf, and a Picnic
1950s Men’s Cabana Sets
Lounging at the beach or pool meant wearing a coordinated swimsuit (trunks) with camp shirt. Together, they were called a cabana set. A pair of beach sandals or slippers made sure feet didn’t burn in the hot sand, while straw hats and sunglasses provided some relief from the sun.
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- 1958 swims shorts and cabana shirt with sandals
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- Cabana sets
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- 1958 Swim Shorts and Shirts Created Cabana Sets
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- 1955 Novelty Swim Trunks with Shirts
Shop Men’s Swimwear and Cabana Sets
Shop Men’s Sandals and Summer Shoes
1950s Sportscoats
Looking sharp in summer at the office didn’t have to be formal. Casual sportscoats were worn with dress trousers, shoes, and buttoned down shirts in light colors and fabrics. Colors of sport coats and trousers were usually in the same color family (blues, browns, greys).
The most casual sport coats took detailing from the past with unique lapel and pocket shapes. The navy blazer with white trousers remained a classic for men who sailed on yachts.
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- 1955 Casual Sport Coat
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- 1957 Summer Blazer with Cap
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- 1957 Summer Sportcoats
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- 1958 “Yacht” Look of Navy Blazer and White Trousers
Greasers
These 1950s men’s summer outfits are the essentials. Every sport had its own summer look, teens dressed similar but with more youthful styling — and working men and rebel guys lived in jeans always.
They paired jeans with loafers or motorcycle boots. Shirts could be buttoned down long or short sleeve plaid shirts, working class shirts (mechanic style), white or striped T-shirts, knit pullover shirts, and even Hawaiian shirts. Shop shirts.
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- 1958 Denim Jeans and Short Sleeved Western Shirt
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- 1956 Denim Jeans for Teens
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- Hot Rod Guys in Casual Jeans and a Button Down Shirt
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- Greasers- Jeans and sleeveless shirt, button own shirt and Hawaiian shirt
Elvis Wears Denim Jeans with a Chambray Shirt
Workwear
Workwear for the working class jobs had gone unchanged since the turn of the century. In the 1950s men often purchased matching shirts and trousers in durable cotton twill fabrics. A matching work jacket was also purchased once every few years. Not all outfits needed to match, unless it was required uniform for the occupation.
Men attending car shows will wear these “workwear” sets to match their car’s year for a mechanic look. Mechanic’s coveralls are also popular. Learn more about men’s 1950s workwear.
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- 1951 Men’s Workwear Uniform and Trousers
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- 1957 Men’s Work Shirt, Jacket, and Trousers Uniform
More Outfits?
The options are endless. Let me know what look you need.
Read More
- 1950s Men’s Outfit Inspiration | Clothing Ideas
- Men’s Vintage Boating Outfits
- 1950s Men’s Shoe Styles, from Classics to Rockabilly
- 1950s Men’s Workwear
- A History of Men’s 1930s-1950s Swimsuits
- 1930s-1950s Westernwear History
Debbie Sessions has been teaching fashion history and helping people dress for vintage themed events since 2009. She has turned a hobby into VintageDancer.com with hundreds of well researched articles and hand picked links to vintage inspired clothing online. She aims to make dressing accurately (or not) an affordable option for all. Oh, and she dances too.
