Men’s retro workout clothes, gym clothes, and sportswear are back! Looking at all of the fun colors and bold patterns, it’s no surprise that these retro sweatshirts, tracksuits, shorts and T-shirts are trendy once again. These timeless designs for sweatshirts and sweatpants, in simple cuts and colors, are perfect for lounging at home or while out on the basketball court.
While I work on researching the history of men’s retro workout clothes, these ads from the 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s will give you an idea of what they looked like.
Scroll down to shop retro workout clothes.
1960s Workout Clothes
1960s men’s workout clothes followed the same trends as the 1950s. Most men wore two peice fleece suit suits in either pullover or zip up hoodie. Colors were bright, the fit was slender, and contrasting strings, zippers or stripes were common.
Basic colorful T shirts could be worn instead of a sweatshirt or a short sleeve fleece shirt.
The other outdoor look was for tennis players. All white shorts with a white and contrasting stripe shirt, polo, track jacket or sweater.
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- 1960 zip up fleece hoodies
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- 1965 Chevron stripe zip hoodie
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- 1966 fleece sweatshirts and jacket
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- 1969 warm up jackets
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- 1969 sweatsuits
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- 1966 fleece shirts
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- 1969 Tennis Outfit
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- 1969 Tennis Outfits
1970s Men’s Gym Clothes, and Tracksuits
The 1970s changed workout clothes away from hot sweatsuits. The new look was the sleek nylon tracksuit or warmups.
Short shorts, running shorts, and tight polo shirts took over tennis and basketball courts. Retro stripes and colorblock patterns replaced boring white T -shirts.
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- 1970 Men’s Workout Clothes
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- 1972 Men’s Sweatshirts and Sweatpants
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- 1974 Warmups
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- 1976 Warmup Suits and Track Suits
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- 1977 Tracksuits
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- 1977 Men’s Tennis Outfits
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- 1977 Tracksuits
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- 1979 Shirt and Shorts
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- 1979 Tank Tops
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- 1979 Retro Men’s Gym Shorts and T-Shirts
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- 1979 Windbreaker and Shorts Set
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- 1979 Tracksuits
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- 1979 Running Shorts and T-Shirts
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- 1979 Shorts and Polos
1980s Men’s Retro Gym Clothes
1980s took most of the 1970s clothes and mixed them up with vintage classics. Fleece sweat suits in deep colorblock patterns were pile don in layers. Track suits made of light windbreak nylon. Track shorts became dolphin cut running shorts.
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- 1980 tracksuit
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- Puma shirt and Dophin shorts
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- 1981 Dophin shorts and striped shirts
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- 1984 men’s running outfits
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- 1985 gym shirt and shorts
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- 1985 Volleyball beach workout clothes
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- 1985 sweat suits
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- 1986 tracksuits
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- 1986 men’s gym shorts and tops- tank top, T shirt, crop shirt, windbreaker
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- 1986 sweatshirts and shorts
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- 1986 tennis outfits
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- 1987 men shorts and T shirt (Converse and Pony)
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- 1987 summer casual sportswear
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- 1989 tracksuits
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- 1989 color-blocked sweatsuits
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- 1989 Fila neon tracksuits
1990s Men’s Workout Clothes
The nylon windbreak suit in florescent colors dominated the early 90s. Sweatsuits returned with a wider boxy fit. Men were wearing workout clothes all day and that hasn’t stopped yet.
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- 1991 Tracksuits
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- 1992 Windbreaker Jacket and Shorts
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- 1991 Nylon Tracksuits
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- 1992 Sweatshirts, Sweatpants, and Shorts
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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.
