This year, Revival Vintage are proud to be sponsoring the Mr Vintage UK 2025 competition at Twinwood Festival.

The Competition Lowdown:

• Entry: Individuals must be over 18, a UK resident, and available to attend the live final at Twinwood Festival. 

• Entrants submit a single, high-quality image of themselves in their best vintage look, along with their name, age, and location. They also need permission from the photographer.

• A panel of judges reviews the submissions and selects finalists. 

• The selected finalists attend the Twinwood Festival for the final competition. 

• The judges then select a winner from the finalists. 

• Mr & Miss Vintage each receive a trophy, £300 cash prize, gift vouchers and tickets to the festival for the following year. Our sponsorship is for the Mr Vintage prize so we will be awarding Revival Vintage gift vouchers which can be redeemed at the festival, online at revivalvintage.com or at our Yorkshire showroom.

Revival Vintage Take Away The Guess Work

Each year we work behind the scenes to help make choosing festival outfits a breeze by curating complete looks for key nostalgia events. This year we have five ensembles for men and five for women. They take away the strain of working out what to wear, particularly for new attendees who are not already embodied in the scene. We promote them digitally on our website and socials but visitors to our Huddersfield showroom will also benefit from beautiful glossy magazines showcasing the outfits.

Twinwood celebrates the fashion and music from the 1920s through 50s. A significant focus is placed on the 1940s due to the airfield's history during World War II which is great news for Revival Vintage as that’s our era of specialism.

We believe all our curated festival outfits are prize-worthy but let’s concentrate on those minor details that will impress the judges:

1. Understand The Historical Context

To dress the part, it helps to understand the backdrop for your selected decade’s attire.  For example (1939–1945) World War II dramatically influenced men's fashion. Fabric rationing led to simplified suits, shorter jacket lengths, and minimal embellishment. If you favour the fifties post war, styles became more relaxed and expressive, with fuller cuts and bolder patterns.

The key takeaway? Early '40s styles are more utilitarian and reserved, while late '40s fashion allows for more flair.

2. The Suit: Your Foundation Piece

A 1940s suit typically featured a broad-shouldered, nipped-waist silhouette - sometimes referred to as the "V" shape. Suits were often made of wool or wool blends. Colours were subdued during the war - navy, grey, brown. Post-war suits introduced pinstripes, checks, and richer tones.

Details to look for:

• Single-breasted or double-breasted jackets with wide peak lapels.
• Padded shoulders.
• High-waisted, pleated trousers with wide legs and cuffs.
• Matching waistcoats or vests, three-piece suits were still common.
• A true mid century look means avoiding modern slim fits or low-rise trousers.

3. Shirts: Simple But Smart

1940s shirts were typically white or pale-coloured with subtle stripes or checks. 

Key features included:

• Long soft spear collars, collar stays were reserved for the most formal events.
• Button cuffs or French cuffs for more formal wear.
• No chest pockets, a detail that often gives away a modern shirt.
• Godets for extra comfort and movement at the hem.
• Cotton or cotton-blend fabrics were standard. Shirts were tucked in, always.

4. Ties: Patterns, Widths & Knots 

During the 1940s, ties were typically shorter and wider than modern ties, often around 10cm at the widest point. You can read more about how styles evolved in our Gentlemen’s Ties Through The Years guide, which explores the changing shapes, fabrics, and patterns across the decades.

Popular tie styles included:

• Muted, conservative designs during wartime.
• Stripes or polka dots.
• Bold geometric or abstract patterns, especially post-war.
• Ties were knotted with a four-in-hand or half-Windsor knot and sat just above the belt line.

5. Footwear: Sturdy & Polished

Your vintage style shoes should reflect the utilitarian yet polished aesthetic of the era:

• Cap-toe or plain-toe Oxfords in black or brown leather
• Wingtips or brogues for more flair
• Two tone Spectator shoes are another option but strictly speaking they were more popular in the 1920s and 30s.
• Leather soles (rubber was more common in workwear, not dress shoes)
• Socks were generally calf-length, in solid or subtly patterned styles.

6. Accessories: Those Important Finishing Touches

Accessories can make or break your vintage look. Here are a few essentials:

• Fedoras or wide-brim hats. These mens vintage style hats were made from wool felt and worn slightly tilted
• Trouser braces or suspenders were worn with high-waisted trousers instead of belts.
• Narrow leather belts look great with 1950s peg style trousers.
• 1940s shirts were often worn with collar bars or pins to keep them in place and elevate the tie knot.
• Cufflinks were another popular accessory, often reflecting personal style, hobbies, or patriotism. Read our Cufflinks Through The Midcentury guide to discover their historical journey!
• St. George elasticated armbands were sometimes used to hold shirt sleeves in place.
• Pocket squares were usually white or subtly patterned.
• Slim, military-style wristwatches with leather straps were common during the war.
• Cigarette case or lighter (for authenticity, though we definitely don’t recommend starting smoking to improve your chances, that would be taking the competition a step too far!)
• Avoid modern-looking sunglasses, small round or clubmaster styles will work best.

7. Grooming & Hair

The 1940s look isn’t complete without period-appropriate grooming:

• Haircuts were short on the sides, with more length on top, slicked back or side parting.
• Pomade or hair tonic provided the shine and hold.
• Facial hair was rare. Clean-shaven was the standard.

Final Tips For Authenticity

Hide the tech accessories. Use a leather messenger bag or small leather case to carry your snacks etc. instead of a plastic bag for life - you get the idea.

Layer properly. A shirt, tie, waistcoat, and jacket should sit comfortably without bulk.

Tailor if necessary. Vintage or reproduction garments may need adjustment to fit correctly.

High-quality reproduction brands such as our men's Socialite range offer the right look with modern durability.

Dressing in period accurate menswear isn’t just about putting on a costume. It’s about capturing the era with dignity and style. With attention to detail and an understanding of the time, you can step into the competition lineup with confidence and class. Good luck!