A Study on Men’s Attire in the Home: Focusing in the 1960s

Abstract

  In the 1960s, the idea of owning a home was widely discussed, and emphasizing family life became a priority, including for men. This paper examines the proposed home wear for men during this period and discusses how changing lifestyles and the role of men were reflected. The primary research sources include instructional articles on home dressmaking published in the Asahi Shimbun and Yomiuri Shimbun, and women's magazines from the same period. Relaxing and leisure attire was suggested for men's home wear. Men's home wear was designed from women's perspectives, and men were expected to wear it. Women also considered men's home wear with an eye toward third-party evaluation. The proposals for men's domestic attire at that time can be seen as a manifestation of female domestic ideology, with the evolution of home wear embodying the concept of home ownership.