Office attire.

Men in the 1990s had almost unprecedented freedom when it came to office attire. Dress-down Fridays and casual days loosened dress codes at offices across the United States. Men once accustomed to wearing a dark suit, formal button-down shirt, tie, and wingtips discovered a variety of new styles, both formal and informal. The suit, of course, did not disappear. Men still bought traditional suits, both single- and double-breasted versions, in standard shades of blue, black, and gray. Ties never went out of style, and their widths remained moderate—neither exceedingly narrow nor ostentatiously wide—although their colors and designs became more vibrant. New fashion twists were employed, however. Sport coats came in leather, tailored suits were paired with T-shirts, and denim shirts went with everything.

New options.

While the traditional suit never disappeared, it relinquished its role as the only...