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Wearing Men's Dungarees in 2021?

Like all things retro, a trip into the world of men's overalls is sure to make you nostalgic. And seeing as this trend has managed to make several comebacks over the years, it's safe to say that dungarees - also known as suspender dungarees or simply dungarees for men - are here to stay.

In fact, you might have a row of them in a back corner of your closet - maybe something your mom saved from your childhood, or leftovers from your 1990s wardrobes.

Functional, hard-wearing and always on-trend , good men's overalls are an essential part of your wardrobe. But what do you know of its history? For that, we'll quickly revisit fashion history to show how the humble overalls have evolved over time.

1 - The Origins of Overalls

Simply put, overalls for men are a type of protective clothing worn by workers. Overalls originated in the 17th century in India , in a village called "Dungri" (sometimes spelled "Dongri"). Indian calico , a coarse and thick fabric used to make durable but inexpensive work clothes, had the same name.

In true British tradition, when the English bought this tough fabric to make their own workmen's trousers, they adopted the name with a British twist, calling the fabric "dungaree".

In 1853, the fabric of La Salopette was used by Levi Strauss and his business partner Jacob Davis to design an outfit useful to workers and craftsmen , this legendary bib-trousers called "overalls" . Designed to be durable and practical workwear, these overalls featured buckles, buttonholes and a bib that allowed tools to be carried hands-free, eliminating the need for bulky belts.

Men's bib overalls became so popular that they eventually became standard workwear across America . To avoid confusion, these overalls were color coded and occupation coded . The railwaymen's overalls were in hickory stripe and the painters' in white , while all other workers' overalls were trimmed in shades of blue.

Men's Striped Jean Dungarees

Overalls eventually became part of mainstream fashion when even Hollywood greats, Judy Garland, John Wayne and Clint Eastwood , began to wear them casually. And the rest, as they say, is history.

Here is a mini history of overalls as we know them today:

- 17th century: overalls were born in India in the 17th century in an Indian village called "Dungri".

- 1853: the fabric of La Salopette is used by Levi Strauss and his business partner Jacob Davis to make the first bib-pants combination called "overalls".

- Late 1960s to 1970s: Men and women wear flared overalls during the height of the flower power movement of the hippie generation.

- 1980s: Punk, big shoulder pads and oversized blazers, bold colors and silhouettes marked the fashion of the 1980s. -Gos and New Kids on the Block wear overalls. Even the late Princess Diana wore overalls with her pastel 1980s look.

- 1990s: The 1990s - usually associated with the heyday of hip-hop fashion - obviously loved overalls. Want proof? Everyone - from Whitney Houston, Sir Elton John, Tupac Shakur, TLC and NSYNC to Katie Holmes as Joey Potter in Dawson's Creek, Will Smith as the Fresh Prince of Bel-Air and Jennifer Aniston as Rachel in the world-famous comedy TV series "Friends" - wears denim overalls.

- Early 2000s: Overalls made a comeback in the early 2000s, and were worn by Destiny's Child and famous American rapper Eminem , among others.

- Today: Female and male celebrities seem to be infatuated with this evergreen fashion trend - once again! Indeed, American hip-hop artists A$AP Rocky and Chance the Rapper have been spotted wearing men's overalls on various occasions.

So if you've recently felt the urge to wear men's denim dungarees, slim-fit dungarees, or dungarees shorts, it's high time to jump on the dungarees bandwagon.

Stars in Overalls

2 - How to Wear Overalls for Men?

People love overalls because they're functional, versatile , and always in style.

You can wear your overalls in different ways.

2.1 - The Two Straps are Attached

Follow the example of your favorite stars by pairing a crew neck shirt with navy overalls and black leather shoes. You can also go for an all-denim look by wearing a blue denim shirt under your overalls and finishing it off with brown leather oxfords.

2.2 - A Single Locked Strap

Reminiscent of one of Will Smith's looks, the single strap look synonymous with relaxation where you can play with the bib for a modern style in tune with the times, you can wear your red shirt with a crew neck favorite and your fitted dungarees with low-top red leather sneakers. You can also go effortlessly casual by wearing your overalls with a black crew neck T-shirt and matching black suede sandals.

2.3 - Detached Flap

Nothing is more casual than totally unstructured navy blue or black overalls, paired with a plain white T-shirt and light blue denim jacket, as well as derbies or sneakers.

If you like quirky, colorful pieces or floral shirts, don't be afraid to experiment because anything goes as long as you bring your mojo with you.

How to Wear Men's Dungarees

3 - When to Wear Men's Overalls?

Although overalls are versatile enough to be worn in any season , there are specific occasions and events when wearing them is essential:

- Festival/Summer Season: Get ready for summer and festival season by wearing comfortable denim short overalls, colorful vintage overalls or printed denim overalls. Pair them with your favorite plain colored or white tee, a printed button-up shirt, a basic vest or with a hoodie.

- Winter: Stay comfortable while staying fashionable in your slim or comfy fit blue or black denim overalls paired with your favorite hoodie, black sweatshirt or plain white shirt and a gray overcoat.

Men's Overall Shorts

4 - What to Wear with Men's Dungarees?

The dungarees are an original and very trendy garment , it only takes a few things to match it nicely . You can easily combine it with:

- A white tee , you can never go wrong with a basic white tee paired with your overalls because the look you get is always effortlessly cool.

- A white or colored hoodie , one of the easiest ways to enhance your overalls for a daytime winter outing is to wear a light colored sweatshirt.

- A plaid shirt and bucket hat , probably the most popular utilitarian clothing trend, a plaid shirt and matching fisherman beanie gives off a manly yet hip vibe.

- 90s-inspired accessories , such as a chain or an extra large hoodie. If you find your overalls a bit bland, you can wear matching color caps, backpacks, bandanas or sunglasses to instantly up the style factor.

- Canvas high top sneakers , casual shirts and tees always pair perfectly with canvas overalls and sneakers for a boy-next-door look.

- Sneakers , if you are looking for a casual and relaxed look with overalls, thick sneakers are the shoes to be preferred.

- Boots , perfectly suited to the workwear and utilitarian clothing trend, boots definitely add a masculine touch to overalls.

What to wear with men's overalls

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