Classic Menswear Accessories
Instructions: From tie clips to cufflinks, how well do you remember the accessories that completed a gentleman's outfit?
- 1.
What small metal clip, worn horizontally across the necktie to secure it to the shirt, was a standard men's accessory?
ATie pinBTie clip / tie barCTie tackDCollar pin - 2.
What men's accessory, worn on the wrist and typically engraved with initials, was a popular gift in the 1950s and 1960s?
AID braceletBLink braceletCBraceletDCharm bracelet - 3.
What accessory, inserted through both sides of a shirt cuff, was required for French cuff dress shirts?
ACufflinksBCuff buttonsCStudsDSleeve clips - 4.
What square piece of fabric, folded and placed in the breast pocket of a suit jacket, was a mark of a well-dressed man?
AHandkerchiefBKerchiefCBreast pocket linerDPocket square - 5.
What men's grooming product, sold in a tube or tub, was used to slick back hair in the 1950s?
ABrylcreemBHair gelCMousseDHair wax - 6.
What spring-loaded device was used to keep men's trouser creases sharp by stretching the pants overnight?
ACrease keeperBTrouser pressCPant stretchersDPants hanger - 7.
What alternative to a belt, consisting of Y-shaped straps worn over the shoulders to hold up trousers, was common in the 1940s?
AGartersBShoulder strapsCHarnessDSuspenders / braces - 8.
What small decorative pin, pushed through the tie into the shirt, was used to secure a necktie before tie clips became popular?
ALapel pinBBroochCHat pinDStick pin / tie pin - 9.
What type of pocket watch chain, looped from one vest pocket to another, was a distinguished accessory for men in the 1940s?
AWatch fobBGuard chainCPocket chainDAlbert chain - 10.
What style of men's wallet, long and narrow for carrying in the inside breast pocket of a suit jacket, was popular in the 1950s?
AMoney clipBBillfoldCSecretary walletDBreast pocket wallet - 11.
What grooming item did well-dressed men carry in their pocket for on-the-go maintenance of their appearance?
AMirrorBLint brushCPocket combDShoehorn - 12.
What monogrammed personal item was considered an essential accessory for a gentleman, used for everything from wiping brows to offering to ladies?
AHandkerchiefBNapkinCToweletteDPocket square - 13.
What collar accessory, a narrow bar pinned under the tie knot connecting both collar points, was popular in the 1940s and 1950s?
ACollar buttonBCollar stayCTie clipDCollar pin / collar bar - 14.
What small metal or plastic device was inserted into dress shirt collar points to keep them stiff and straight?
ACollar clipBCollar boneCCollar pinDCollar stay - 15.
What portable men's grooming set, containing items like a razor, comb, and nail file in a leather case, was a common travel gift?
AGrooming setBDopp kitCToiletry bagDTravel case
Answer Key
The tie clip (or tie bar) was an essential men's accessory from the 1940s through the 1960s, keeping the necktie neatly in place against the shirt.
ID bracelets, featuring a flat plate engraved with the wearer's name or initials, were a popular men's jewelry item and a common gift in the 1950s and 1960s.
Cufflinks were essential for French cuff dress shirts, and a quality pair was considered a must-have for any well-dressed man. They were popular gifts.
The pocket square, carefully folded and placed in the suit jacket's breast pocket, was considered essential for a polished, well-dressed appearance.
Brylcreem, with its famous tagline 'A little dab'll do ya,' was the go-to hair product for men in the 1950s, used to achieve the slicked-back look.
Pant stretchers were spring-loaded frames inserted into trouser legs to maintain sharp creases while drying or hanging overnight.
Suspenders (called braces in Britain) were the traditional way to hold up trousers before belts became standard. Many older men preferred them throughout the mid-century.
Tie pins (or stick pins) were used to secure neckties to shirts before tie clips became the norm. They often featured decorative heads with gemstones.
A watch fob (chain with decorative attachment) connected a pocket watch to the vest, serving both as security for the watch and as a decorative accessory.
Long breast pocket wallets, designed to fit in the inside jacket pocket, were the preferred wallet style for suit-wearing men in the 1950s and 1960s.
Pocket combs were carried by virtually every man in the 1950s, essential for maintaining pompadours, side parts, and other styled haircuts throughout the day.
A clean, pressed handkerchief (often monogrammed) was carried by every gentleman, used practically and offered gallantly to ladies in distress.
Collar pins or collar bars were worn underneath the tie knot, pulling the collar points together and pushing the tie knot forward for a refined look.
Collar stays, small strips inserted into pockets on the underside of shirt collars, kept the collar points straight and crisp-looking.
The Dopp kit, a leather zippered toiletry bag invented by Charles Doppelt, became the standard travel grooming case for men, and a popular gift for decades.