"Unequaled Bargains" (Chicago Mail Order Sale, 1933)

 Every once in a while I like to move away from women's fashions and take a look at what the men were wearing.  This colour page from a Chicago Mail Order sale catalogue gives us a pretty good idea of what the average male had in his wardrobe in 1933.

Starting at the upper left corner we have "a man's handsome three-piece suit" tailored in "Extra Fine Quality All Wool Cheviot in self-color herringbone weave".  It's easily the most expensive item on the page, and probably would have been worn on the job by white collar workers, or as "best" by manual workers.

Next is a shirt in cotton broadcloth, "printed in the latest way, in a small, very modish plaid".

At top right is a "snappy pullover... in striking pattern and color combinations".  Men's clothes may have been dull by women's standards, but occasionally a bit of colour snuck in via casual wear or knitwear.  The same can be said of the "smart, dressy, summery socks" for sale at the bottom left.

For young men, and just that little bit jazzier (though teen fashions weren't yet a thing in 1933) are a pair of

cool, snappy, dressy, yet serviceable trousers.  Look like expensive "flannels", but are washable and shrinkproof.  Fine for dress, sports and all occasions.

These trousers were a trendy 22½ wide at the bottoms.

For younger boys we have yet another suit, a cheaper version of the men's ("½ Wool, Balance Cotton"), a boy's blouse ("Mothers!  To sew blouses for your boy when you can buy this good-looking Good Quality Percale blouse for so sensationally little, is indeed unprofitable and unmodern") and a two-piece outfit consisting of  trousers with wide cuffed bottoms and a matching v-necked "slipover".  As I said above, teen fashions weren't really a thing in 1933.  These youths are dressed like little men!