Beautiful was in the West, and Soviet men were not fashionable, but were always cleanly shaved, in winter they wore fur hats made of karakul and cigeika.

The middle of the twentieth century was a time of hope for the Soviet people. Behind us were decades filled with war, destruction and unprecedented social upheaval. Tired of fighting for survival, people finally took a full breath and remembered that clothes can be not only practical, but also beautiful. And while men’s fashion has always been more conservative than women’s, it is also worthy of being remembered today. Heavy drap coats, double-breasted jackets and wide trousers with cuffs: we tell how men dressed in the USSR.

Russia, Moscow, 1950s: Discovery of GUM / GettyImages Trousers with cuffs A characteristic feature of the fashion of the 50s - wide trousers with folds at the waist and cuffs at the bottom. Now it is difficult to determine the origins of this trend. Perhaps it was the sailors with their claws. Or maybe it came with a delay in 20 years echoes of American fashion of the 30s.

In the postwar period, the country's economy made a huge leap forward. But light industry in the USSR, unfortunately, was not given as much attention as mechanical engineering. Not everyone had the money to buy new clothes.

Therefore, up to the early 60s on the streets of Soviet cities it was often possible to meet men in overcoats, gymnasts, caps and boots.

1954. A boy in school uniform on Red Square / GettyImages Under becoming an adult dressed and children. School uniforms in the post-war USSR resembled those in the Russian Empire and included a gymnast with a wide belt and a cap.

The men wore double-breasted jackets with lining shoulders from Boston, Cheviot, tights, caverkot. The choice of clothing in the trade was still very limited. Therefore, costumes were often ordered in the studio.

Kiev region, 1950s: judges wait for finalists GettyImages, who had no money, wore the suits of fathers or brothers, even if they were not very suitable in size.

Coats were worn as outer clothing. They were sewn from thick drap, usually black or gray, with a large collar and insulated with cotton cotton, so the coats were very heavy.

It is only in the 60s that the male silhouette loses heavy forms.

Around 1960: people in the Moscow metro / GettyImages In fashion include a half coat, light synthetic cloaks with a belt, shortened jackets with lightning and overhead pockets on the chest.

After the war, almost all men wore military-style hats or caps. At the same time, caps were combined with costumes, and with cloaks, and with winter coats.

Tyumen region, 1950s / GettyImages In the 50s, hats with fields began to come into use, which later became a necessary addition to business and elegant style. In winter, it became fashionable to wear hats made of scribble or cegeika.

In summer, shoes were most often worn with sail shoes, which were rubbed with chalk or tooth powder to give them whiteness, and sandals on the barefoot. The chrome and yarn boots were popular.

In severe frosts, they put on boots or burkas (boots with felt shin), which cost much more. They were flaunted by the chairmen of collective farms, policemen, foresters and hunters. Loved these shoes and actor Evgeny Morgunov, as can be seen from the frames of the wonderful comedy Leonid Gaidai “Operation “Y” and other adventures of Shurik”.

The article and the preview used photos.