When we think of vintage tailoring, it’s hard not to feel nostalgic for those bygone years where a freshly-pressed suit, leather brogues, and a classic fedora, were staple pieces in the everyman’s wardrobe.

Though times have moved on, and men’s style is leaning more on the casual side these days, that doesn’t mean we have to leave our favourite tailored pieces in the past.

By blending modern dressing with vintage details, you can create everyday outfits that feel sophisticated and timeless, but perfectly suited for the modern way of life.

Here are some ideas to get you started!

The term ‘vintage’ doesn’t refer to one era. In fact, you can use it to talk about any decade in style history, from the 1800s right through to the early 2000s!

So, what elements you choose to include in your vintage tailoring really depends on what eras inspire you the most, whether that’s the quiet elegance of the 1920s or the more colourful and flamboyant designs of the 1960s.

For the purposes of this style guide we’ll be focusing on The Golden Age of men’s tailoring, which spans from the 1930s to the early 1940s.

If you’ve always admired the sartorial style of Old Hollywood heroes, like James Stewart, Cary Grant, and Fred Astaire, have a look at some classic men’s tailoring from the 1930s-1940s.

Known as the golden age of tailoring due to its brilliant craftsmanship, suits in this era featured double-breasted jackets, geometric ties, and crisp striped shirts. It’s the vintage look for the man who loves to dress dapper. 

This is also the perfect era to explore if you’re a fan of the Peaky Blinders.

Though the series has a more modernised version of 1920s and '30s style, it does a great job of showing what working-class men might’ve worn at the time. The heavy tweed, wool, and corduroy fabrics will add some real edge to your tailored look.

If you want to learn How to Dress Like a Peaky Blinder, we have a blog on that too!

Although we love a full vintage look, if you’re wanting to bring the style into the modern day, it’s best to find a balance between current and vintage-inspired pieces. This could mean choosing a lightweight and slim-fitting shape, which is more typical of modern suits, over the classic “drape cut”.

Another way to bring modern and vintage tailoring together is to wear your blazer and waistcoat with jeans instead of tailored trousers. It’s an easy way to bring that casual element to your outfit, without having to sacrifice the sharp silhouette of a tailored suit.

Men’s vintage suits were made from a whole range of materials, which were often both comfortable and hard-wearing as they were designed to last year-after-year. 

For business attire and more formal occasions, suits were often made of woolen cloth. Suits designed for day-to-day activities were crafted from tweed with an eye-catching herringbone or houndstooth print.

Pinstripes, plaids, windowpane checks, herringbone, and houndstooth were the most popular patterns at the time, as seen on the big screen with movie stars like Humphrey Bogart and James Cagney. 

To put a vintage twist on your tailoring, make sure to incorporate these classic materials and patterns.

Double-breasted jackets and blazers were all the rage in the 1930s and ‘40s and, even though they went out of mainstream fashion in the 1970s, they still have a big influence on modern tailoring.

These structured jackets bring an instant old-school elegance to your outfit, whilst still looking right at home in the 21st century.

One thing we would recommend is to choose a jacket with wide lapels as slim lapels as they don’t fit well with the silhouette of a Golden Age suit.

You might assume a crisp white shirt was the top of choice for men in the 1930s and 40s, but actually many men preferred putting their own flair on tailoring with subtle stripes or bold colours.

It was a less rigid and more playful way of dressing, which allowed men to get creative with their outfits.

You can embrace this Golden Age style by choosing a brightly coloured shirt with sharp pinstripes. Mixing patterns is another way to make your vintage suit stand out. For example, you could mix a checked waistcoat with a striped shirt for a stylish and well-crafted tailored outfit.

Men’s ties offered an outlet for self-expression in a time where strict masculine dress codes made it difficult for men to show off their individuality.

Inspired by the art deco movement and modern art, you would often see patterns of colourful zigzags and chevrons. It's such a fun way to add some vintage charm to your tailoring!

If you want to stay true to vintage dressing, tie your tie using the four-in-hand knot! 

All you need now is a few practical yet refined accessories to bring your vintage tailoring together. 

Pocket squares were essential for any well-dressed man, but they didn’t wear theirs neatly folded like we might today. Instead, most men wore their pocket squares “puffed out” as if they were bursting out of the pocket. This brought an effortlessness to the otherwise impeccable suit.

Hats aren’t an essential, but they’re definitely a good way of bringing a vintage vibe to your modern outfit, especially if you’ve gone for a smart casual look. Whether you go for a Fedora or a flat cap, make sure to choose a hat that fits seamlessly with your look.

Guy Ritchie’s ''The Gentlemen’ is a great example of how to put a vintage spin on modern tailoring!

Although the series is set in present-day England, its wardrobe takes a lot of inspiration from classic vintage and old money styles, simply upgrading them with a more casual aesthetic to fit the setting.

The series follows Eddie Horniman, whose wardrobe is made up of tweed blazers, waistcoats, and houndstooth patterns, which are softened with knitwear, corduroy shirts, and the occasional t-shirt.

Characters flaunt traditional three-piece suits, complete with all the details you’d expect to see in 1930s and ‘40s tailoring, just crafted in modern-day shapes. Even one of Uncle Stan’s most iconic looks is inspired by a photo of Clark Gable! 

With season 2 on its way, you’ll find tons of inspiration on how to put a vintage twist on modern tailoring in ‘The Gentlemen’.

"You have to develop a style that suits you and pursue it, not just develop a bag of tricks. Always be yourself.” - James Stewart

We’re big advocates for finding your own personal style, and we have so many vintage-inspired tailored looks to help you find confidence in the way you dress.

Explore our men’s tailoring here. We can’t wait to see how you style it!