1920s Men’s Sweaters
1920s men’s vintage sweaters were heavy chunky shaker knit and cable knit sweaters, either with roll collars in pullover styles or shawl collars for button up cardigans and pullovers. Colors were neutral in the early years while vivid fair isle, windowpane, geometric, and jacquard patterns appeared in the middle years. Brown with burgundy, blue with pea green, mustard yellow and green were common late ’20s colors.
Learn about and buy men’s 1920s sweaters here.
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- 1920 men’s jersey rollneck sweaters
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- 1926 V-Neck Sweaters and Sweater Jackets
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- 1928 plain cardigan sweaters
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- 1929 V neck sweaters and round scoop necks
1930s Men’s Vintage Sweaters
1930s men’s vintage sweaters all of the 1920s style but with a narrow knit and tighter fit. The length also reduced to meet the high rise of pants with a wide waistband to accentuate the natural waistline. The shawl collar lost favor to the crew or V neck pullovers and cardigans that zipped rather than buttoned. The quarter zip sweater as well as full zip in solid or two tone patterns were trendy with young collage men.
Most sweaters, vests and cardigans were plain neutral colors so they could be layered with patterned suits, pants and jackets. The one new technique was the “knit-in” design that made a subtle pattern on the front or pocket.
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- 1932 men’s classic sweaters, cardigans and vests
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- 1934 knit-in sweater design
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- 1935 zip and pullover sweaters, vest
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- 1939 sweaters, cardigans
See more 1930s men’s casual fashions.
1940s Men’s Sweaters
1940s men’s vintage sweaters started off with the two tone pattern zip up sweater as the style leaders. Pullover sweater and cardigans added some dimension with wide ribbing. They also continued to reduce bulk with narrow slit pockets or no pockets. The sweater vest followed in the same styles, colors and patterns.
The late 1940s saw prints return such as the fair isle, chevron stripe, animal, and airplane novelties added to the already popular windowpane and argyle patterns. Colors moved from neutrals to bright hues. Sweaters and pullover vests continued to be a big deal in the 1940s as a layering piece under sportscoats.
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- 1940 two-tone sweaters and zip cardigans
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- 1942 wide ribbed short pullover sweaters
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- 1946 plain and argyle button cardigans
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- 1948 novelty prints and pattern sweaters
Learn more about 1940s men’s casual fashion.
1950s Men’s Sweaters
1950s men’s vintage sweaters were still very slim, but now preferred a high crew neck pullover or very deep V cardigan style in a longer length. Color choices exploded with baby blue, teal, red, yellow, and white coming into fashion. The shawl collar also returned in a pullover style. Novelty prints were out, but wintery Nordic patterns and Fair Isle sweaters remained trendy. The contrast trim cardigan also returned in the late ’50s with a low buttoning waist.
Don’t forget that the Varsity or Letterman sweater ruled the schools (although the style began decades before).
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- 1950 print and solid cardigans and sweaters
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- 1955 deep V cardigans, varsity letter sweater
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- 1957 pastel cardigans and winter ski knits
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- 1959 contrast trim waist button cardigans
Learn more about 1950s men’s casual fashion.
1960s Men’s Sweaters
1960s men’s retro sweaters and cardigans returned to a chunky home-spun texture such as mohair or thick fisherman knits, cable knits and ribbed knits. V necklines were the most popular with minimal edging. Crew necks and especially turtlenecks made a comeback as well in new mod colors- mustard yellow, lime green, and sea blue. By the end of the decade, the ultra-skinny sweater with geometric designs was a part of the Mod fashion and continued into the 1970s.
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- 1964 mens mohair fuzzy sweaters
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- 1967 vertical stripe cardigan sweaters and pullovers
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- 1968 chunky knits in crew, V and turtlenecks
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- 1969 mod colors, slim fit and smooth V neck sweaters
1970s Men’s Sweaters
1970s men’s sweaters returned to some vintage cuts and patterns such as argyle cardigans, “Art Deco” geometric shapes, and crop pullovers (1930-1940s.) There was also a blending of jacket and sweater with suede elbow patches. The crew or roll neck ski sweater returned too with wide horizontal stripes. The belted safari jacket was made in knits, also a throwback to the 1930s bush jacket. Colors fit the 70s palate of clashing reds, green, yellows, and browns.
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- 1971 Art Deco pattern sweaters
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- 1969 geometric cardigan
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- 1974 vintage crop sweaters
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- 1977 striped ski sweater
1980s Men’s Sweaters
1980s men’s vintage sweaters were known as the ugly sweater decade. Usually oversized with funky patterns- abstracts, novelty characters, clashing colors and bizarre designs – they are trendy again if only for the laughable cool factor. By the early 90s the patterns calmed down into darkened into more subtle abstracts, Aztecs, ski prints, and classic fair isle patterns.
Also, the Ivy look returned- white tennis sweater and cardigans, pullover sweater vests, pastels pullovers, knit argyle vests and sweaters tied around the shoulders.
Shop men’s 1980s sweaters and sweatshirts (new and vintage.)
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- 1980 V and Crew neck sweaters
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- 1983 argyle sweater, plain cardigans, turtleneck shirts
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- 1986 sweaters
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- 1986 wearing a sweater over the shoulders- very preppy!
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- 1987 geometric print sweaters
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- 1989 patterned sweaters and sweater vest
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- 1990 “Aztec” inspired designs
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- 1990 Fair Isle V neck sweater
1989 Ivy style with collegiate sweaters
Men’s vintage sweaters make a comeback every year from one decade or the other. For 2020 they are revving the 60s and 80s bold patterns. What will the trend be for next year?
Learn more:
Men’s Sweater Vests History- 1920s to 1940s
Men’s Vintage Gym Clothes | Sweatshirts
Shop men’s vintage style sweaters
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.
