Are you into crime and gangster movies? Want to channel that 1920s gangster look? Then you might want to read this article about how to style a 1920s gangster costume for yourself. Some of you might be thinking what’s so fascinating about 1920s gangster look? Let’s give you a background on what we are talking about.
The 1920s was the time when people had a newfound interest in mixing with the wrong crowd of criminals. With the release of the movie Underworld in 1927 masses flocked to mix with gangsters and were fascinated by the power shown by organized crime criminals.
1920s gangster movies are more popular because till then no Hays Code was implemented in the films industry that regulated movie scenes. This period of no code in the American film industry was known as pre-code era.
What Is Pre-Code Era?
Pre-code era was from 1927 to 1934 when several gangster movies were released with unregulated violence and sex scenes. This era resulted in a new genre of gangster crime movies that became an instant hit among the masses.
Just like the new wave of influence K-pop has on the new generation at present day creating a buzz about a new genre of movies, shows and music. Similarly, the pre-code era saw a new genre emerge the gangster crime genre.
These 1920’s gangster movies were full of illicit sex, profanity, murders, prostitution, infidelity and of course, illegal drug trade. All these movies were mostly influenced by real mob bosses and gangsters like Al Capone, John Dillinger and Vincent Cole.
These gangsters were among the top criminals in 1920s who created a name for them in the organized crime department. These 1920s gangsters even controlled the police and corrupted them to increase their business.
With movies like Scarface, The Public Emeny, the Killings, Little Caesar and so on masses were more fascinated and influenced to be like these gangsters. Even now in present Hollywood several gangster movies have a separate fan base and earn quite a lot of revenue.
1920s Gangster Fashion
The 1920s was a time when men’s fashion entailed heavy and warm material that would last for a long time. Popular choice of textiles were tweed, herringbone and Donegal which were all thick materials.
Long over coats made with these thick materials were often worn to keep warm. Along with long coats, baker boys’ and flat caps were also popularly worn by the working class. The working class did not have money to make suits at that time, so clothes made of heavy materials were mainly worn with long coats.
Gangsters also had working-class roots which led to them also wearing these heavy fabrics but in the form of suits. 1920s gangster costume entailed heavy suits paired with armbands, collar pins, tie clips, round collars and smart ties.
Gangsters at that time had more money than any working class so they could easily afford these accessories to pair with their outfit. Collars were separate in 1920s and men had to purchase it to fit them on their clothes. Fedora was worn during special occasions.
What is more fascinating is that even though 1920s gangster style was way back in the time it’s still fashionable today. Till today suits are made with these materials like tweed and herringbone but made lighter to make it more wearable. Long coats are still worn while fedora and flat caps are more of statement pieces in the fashion world.
1920s Gangsters costumes also included pleated trousers, and dinner jackets. With more money in their hands from illegal trade than ever gangsters would spend money lavishly on many things including clothes. 1920s was a rise in tuxedo with shawl or peak lapels. Satin also became popular.
How To Dress Like A 1920s Gangster?
From Scarface to Peaky Blinders, if you want to create a gangster costume you would need a gangster suit. If you want to look like the notorious 1920s gangster Al Capone? Or like Micheal Corleone (Al Pacino) from The Godfather? You must opt for these pieces of clothing to create a 1920’s gangster costume.
There are five main components to create a Gangster look which we have provided below given below. Here’s how to dress like a 1920s gangster using these clothing.
Gangster Suit
A double-breasted striped suit jacket with high-waisted flat front pants would create the classic 1920s gangster look.
You can also opt for single breasted suit jacket or pleated pants that has straight cut and cuffed at the bottom. 6-buttoned vest can also be worn under suit jackets. A three-piece suit was mainly worn by rich people including gangsters.
Gangster Shirt
Button down dress shirts with stripped patterns and white collar is the classic 20s look. Double cuff or French cuff shirts with cuff links were also worn.
Gangster Overcoat
Mafia overcoats made from heavy wool to keep warm were worn over suits by gangsters and mob bosses. The overcoats were long and plain with single or double button closure and simple notch lapels. Overcoats lined with fur were for winters and often darker colored overcoats were worn.
Gangster Hat
Hats like bowler hats, fedora, and flat caps were popular in the 1920s era and movies have shown this style of hats time again. But the most popular choice of gangster hats was the fedora shown in The Godfather movie.
Wealthy man of that time including gangster also wore Optimo Panama. Al Capone, a notorious gangster of the time owned several Panama hats imported from Ecuador.
Gangster Accessories
What can show that you are different from the common folk and working men other than accessories? Similarly in 1920s when illegal drug trade led to lots of cash in the hands of gangsters and mob bosses who spent a lot not only on their clothes but also accessories that go with the suits.
Be it ties of different styles like dark colored ties, wide striped ties, small pattern ties, light colored ties or patterned ties with jewel tones. Gangsters were seen wearing many types of ties with their shirts.
Gangsters also wore suspenders which helped hold up their pants. Suspenders were necessarily worn in matching colors of the shirt and suit. Suits with vest did not need suspenders and common suspenders colors were black and grey.
If you are going for a dark shirt and suit, then opting for a white suspender would make a striking statement.
Tan, brown, white spectator shoes were also iconic in 1920s, Al Capone was often seen wearing these shoes with shoe spats. Wingtip dress shoes were also worn in 1920s with suits. For occasions, black dress shoes were worn with white spats.
Other accessories include a watch with a watch chain that dangles from the vest or watch pocket to clip, pocket square, cigar, and cane.
How to Create The 1920s Gangster Costume?
You must have a single- or double-breasted gangster suit with wide lapels preferably in striped pattern or in black. In the early 1920s, striped jackets with wide lapels were a popular style. You will get to see these kinds of suits worn by actors playing gangster or mob boss roles on television shows and movies depicting the 1920s era.
Not only that well-tailored suit with wide lapels with fedora gits and walking stick are common looks for gangsters in movies. Hollywood signature gangster look is created using these gangster suits.
Jackes were fitted and buttoned up high in the 1920s, but at the end of the decade the style remained the same with looser tailored suits. Gangster suits were mainly made with dark grey, black, and darker brown colors.
While chalk stripes were also popular suit styles preferred, they were wider than pinstripes. Tweed, plaid and brown striped suits were worn on casual meetings and by lower-ranking mob members.
Gangsters preferred to show off their money and wore fitted-tailored suits made of high-quality materials and fedora with expensive accessories for special deals and occasions.
Pants worn in the 1920s were mostly high-waisted with flat fronts. In late 1920’s pleats were introduced which led to people with money going for the new style of pants. Pants of 1920s era were straight through the leg while being cuffed at the bottom. The fit was narrow with a crease in the center.
So, if you want to create a 1920’s gangster costume then try pairing a pleated pants with a 6-button vest with lapels and a suit over it and a Fedora hat. A three-piece suit at that time was quite expensive so only higher-ranking gangsters or gangster boss could be seen wearing it.
Mostly the suit jacket, vest and pants were made of the same material.
Conclusion
Now that you know how to create a 1920s gangster costume or look, which actor are you trying to create your look on? Is it Al Pacino’s Micheal Corleone, or Edward G. Robinson’s Little Caesar or any other gangster character maybe Cillian Murphy’s Toomy Shelby from Peaky Blinders?
Whichever look you might create from modern gangster shows and movies or classic gangster movies all have taken their inspiration from the 1920s gangster look era.
Read More…
Livin’ In A Gangsta’s Paradise: The Era Of Gangster Movies
Top 8 Best Gangster Movies Of All Time
