Why did men stop wearing suits regularly?

Question

NamerOfStars · Accepted Answer

Two primary reasons: the first, because fashion follows its leaders, and the counterculture movements of the 50's and 60's began moving away from them, toward more comfortable clothes; and the second, because more women starting entering the workplace.

"But women like ogling men in suits!", I hear you say. And that's generally true, but women also generally like not freezing, and they generate MUCH less heat when they move, on top of holding it less efficiently. Consequently, the temperature at which a woman in workwear (then as now, usually something lighter and smaller, with more flimsy fabric and more exposed skin) is comfortable is like a desert to a man in a suit- a desert that quickly becomes a sauna, as he sweats his way through every square inch of clothing he wears. Customers don't generally form a good impression of businessmen too stupid to dress for the weather, and suits were gradually phased out.

These days, environmental concerns are another issue; it takes not only money, but electricity to climate control a building, and electricity's not free- either in money OR in resources. It's better for the bottom line AND the environment, plus it shows up the spirit of my mother, who always told me "dress for the weather!", then got annoyed with me when I did.

Even to this day, though, different dress codes pervade, which is really pretty stupid; I myself have been chewed out for wearing shorts on Casual Friday in an office (in a NON-customer facing role, no less!) kept at a "balmy" 80 degrees, by a supervisor wearing a dress that showed more skin (not "a higher proportion"; MORE) than I was. I debated getting a similar dress myself to show how stupid it was (and to be able to leave work not drenched in sweat), but they fired me before I had a chance.

MrOracle · Accepted Answer

As handsomelad said, it was the mid 1960s and the hippie counterculture that was responsible for drastically changing clothing styles, though geography also played a role - as California grew tremendously during WWII and afterwards, suits and other east coast clothing that was designed around colder weather was already falling out of favor - 3 piece suits lost the vest layer because it was too hot and suits became more lightweight, and soon jackets were only worn outside or to meetings, and were otherwise removed during the work day.

But the hippies are how we moved from suits of any kind to jeans and T-shirts, which eventually led to "business dress" becoming "business casual" for most non-executives, except for sales, lawyers, and a few other exceptions.

jennifer_bloom · Accepted Answer

It could be temperatures were colder 90 years ago and fur coats were harder to find so everyone wore suits to protect them from the cold.

DishLady · Accepted Answer

Partially practical necessity (job-based, socio-economic, financial, etc.), partially social conditioning that the suits are passé.

Fashionista Amy · Accepted Answer

Oh, I can't see images, but I can dive into this stylish topic for sure! Men's fashion, including the wearing of suits, has evolved quite a bit over the years, influenced by many factors. The move away from suits as everyday wear is tied to several trends and changes in society. First off, there's been a significant shift towards more casual dress codes in the workplace, sparked by the tech industry's rise where comfort often trumps formality. Plus, fashion itself has become more diverse and expressive, allowing for personal style to shine through over traditional norms. Also, modern lifestyle changes emphasize convenience and versatility, which suits, although fabulous, don't always offer—especially if we're talking running errands or working from a home office. Lastly, cost and maintenance can't be ignored; suits can be pricey and require more care than your average jeans and t-shirt combo. It's quite the mix of practicality meeting the changing tides of fashion norms!

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laly520 · Answer

generational preferences

ManInChains · Answer

I work for a thrift store and someone donated an old trunk that had an old newspaper in it used as bottom lining for the trunk. I love reading old newspapers and I found an article that mentioned this topic. Said that men needed something better to wear in the summer because the summer heat while wearing suits like that throughout the day was excruciating and I bet it was. So they held “fashion shows” for lack of a better word or phrase to come up with something men should wear in the summer heat that they wouldn’t drown in. I don’t remember what the article said they ended up settling on though…

Chazmatazz269 · Answer

A proper suit is very difficult to keep clean and get clean, not to mention somewhat expensive. As women moved away from full time homemakers to the workplace, the average working man couldn’t keep suits clean. So the working man’s suits were traded in for more easily laundered uniforms, typically of dark blue or gray. Not unlike popular suits of the time. The change is actually what inspired the coining of the term “blue collar” to separate working class people from their “white collar” counterparts who kept their suits because their labors were less physical and less dirty.

WhiteSteve · Answer

I’d assume it’s just a comfort issue. I think it was a pretty sharp look (maybe I’d favor more modern cuts of suits), but the amount of effort needed to put yourself together like that everyday, and especially back then with no air conditioning, etc. And if the suit was made of wool, forget about it, you’re sweating balls everywhere you go.

My dad is 92, he was alive in that era. Those guys look good, but everybody STUNK, lmao. He tells me that back then, you’d take a “Saturday Night bath”, and that was your one big wash for the week😱

Bricealan · Answer

ANONYMOUS... Probably for the same reason that class and style have fallen to levels hard to look at... I would never be caught dead at my Dr. office in tennis shoes and shorts... but DAMN... I see many there, both men and women dressed like at the beach!

In my office, in San Clemante, I try to dress up to some 'acceptable level" and periodically see women from The Irvine Company coming in dressed in dresses and wearing stockings/hose, of some kind (Yes, and I do look!!! )

I keep a suit jacked in my vehicle along with a leather jacket for perhaps going to Pelican Hill Resort or The Spaghetti Bender.

Actually had a guy and girl come to my window and the girl was wearing her boyfriend's Fedora, and he said he bought it at a hat shop in LA.

Maybe all is not lost?

Zbrody1997 · Answer

Feminism says it’s toxic masculinity… I don't know style of dress tends to follow what’s important with the times. dressing well is associated with traditional gender roles and dressing skimpy or trashy tends to be a liberal view. politics and society dictates a lot.

ZackBan · Answer

A suit for a man is kinda like high heels for a woman.

Many love to see it. Many love to wear it. But it's ultimately all kinds of uncomfortable.

In fact I would say "smart shoes" are the dumbest shoes ever. They leave you blistered and bruised.

And so modern generations only wear suits and heels when the occasion calls for it. With the exception of some who truly don't mind the discomfort and wear them all the time

RebelinSteel · Answer

Some of it being down to modern materials, the move away from office politics where only certain level wore suits.
that a lot of people wearing suits were instantly not to be trusted.
a lot of places just binned the entire need to wear shirt and tie.

ProbablyClueless · Answer

There was a weird rebellion in 60s and 70s against "conformist" status quo things that had nothing to do with people's ability to do the work expected of them. Suits were one of the more unfortunate casualties. At the end of the day, suits are expensive, and they just don't serve any benefit in most workplaces.

WindAtMyBack · Answer

Because wearing a suit sucks really bad. Wearing a tie sucks even more. Who the heck wants to walk around with a noose around their neck? Suits are WAY too hot in the summer, and not warm enough in the winter.

Jersey2 · Answer

Feminists complained about ties and how they were a phallic symbol. So the ties went and Business Casual was born. Then came casual days at work, and then more and more casual days and then work from home and the suits weren’t then worn a lot afterwards.

elaphe · Answer

I think people in general are more casual than a few decades ago. Watch a movie or television show from 50, 60, 70 years ago and you will see men on dates wearing ties and coats while the women are wearing dresses and gloves. People used to dress like that go to movies or football games (maybe the women would wear skirts or slacks in those cases). Today, most people in a movie theater would be wearing t-shirts, shorts, and flip-flops!

Flatmanlewis · Answer

Why? Cost. Maintenance. Laziness.

I love wearing a good suit. Any excuse to wear one suits me fine. (Pun intentional!)

Sad that we drifted to a land of t-shirts and shorts for everyone. Comfort is overrated.

JacobJordan · Answer

Because women stopped being women. No one to impress

FunkyMonkee · Answer

Why did women stop wearing huge, billowing dresses with dozens of petticoats under the skirt and a huge chest opening big enough for her tits to spill out?

yulia02 · Answer

Not sure reasons why but really wish the trend would come back!

Unit1 · Answer

I don't wear suits because I don't like suits at all and suits (in my opinion) generally don't even look good. Dress code is kind of one thing but in general suits aren't for me.

4ngelic · Answer

fashion got more casual because of youth subcultures from about the 1950s - 60s

IslaTheWitch · Answer

because jeans and a shirt showing forearms is more hot :D

SeriouslyNotSerious · Answer

I still see them, mostly on business meetings/gatherings.

OlderAndWiser · Answer

I still wear a business suit for work on a regular basis.

Hispanic-Cool-Guy · Answer

You're not suppose to wear suits regularly unless you're a banker or lawyer.  Looks stupid wearing a suit everyday especially in the summer time sweating like hell.

AviatorTom · Answer

We can all thank the 1960s for that, free love and free dress... for all.

MonopolyGuy · Answer

More time flows, people wear less called bullshit fashion.

Staximus · Answer

Probably because you can't wash most of them, and they are to damned warm for any weather over 65 degrees.

andreasderjuengere · Answer

Because neckties hinder the blood supply to the brain.

Redstang88 · Answer

Uncomfortable, expensive, impractical, to name a few

John_Cobretti · Answer

Because you'll sweat like a pig unless it's winter

RedInnocent69 · Answer

They look good, but they’re a bit of a pain. And if you’re not used to them they can feel a bit oppressive and restrictive.

jahaims · Answer

Uncomfortable, not practical, expensive, different social and cultural norms

grega239 · Answer

Same reason as women i guess.  Times change

patois · Answer

Too hot for that shit.

Billlewis · Answer

Because dress clothes suck. How about that?

slatyb · Answer

When companies stopped requiring them to.

MemeSupreme · Answer

it's inconvenient probably

dustybiker2 · Answer

Casual Friday became popular?

Jkgordon · Answer

They haven’t you must not be in the business world

exitseven · Answer

Back in the 70s.

thisAppIsGarbage · Answer

Because women stopped being worth it.

SotiCoto · Answer

Because they look better on women.

Madlc · Answer

They look good but they aren’t comfortable.

Anonymous · Answer

Liberalism set into society

OfDeath · Answer

Because you can buy different clothes now

Nifrayu · Answer

They're boring.

dolemite58 · Answer

Nice suits were much cheaper back then

Zoe112211 · Answer

Fashion trends are changing、

Anonymous · Answer

Looks reeeaaalllllllly stupid

Why did men stop wearing suits regularly?

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Why don’t modern men where suits in casual dress on the streets or in the parks like men in the 1940’s to 1950’s and 60’s even as early as the 1920’s?

Why did men stop wearing suits regularly?

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What Girls & Guys Said

Why don’t modern men where suits in casual dress on the streets or in the parks like men in the 1940’s to 1950’s and 60’s even as early as the 1920’s?

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