Apparel Arts was one of the greatest menswear magazines of all time. Launched in 1931, Apparel Arts was originally created for wholesale buyers and retailers, and most issues featured a page or two devoted specifically to the sartorial needs of the young college student. Eventually, someone calculated that university students in the United States were annually spending 51% more on clothing than the "average man" spent—and Apparel Arts began to publish special "Back to School" issues.
The creation of a stylish wardrobe for young college students was of primary importance in the decades preceding World War II. Apparel Arts devoted many pages of each issue to the subject of collegiate wear. It was necessary for a young, stylish man of means to have a variety of suits, coats, and sports clothes. It was also vital that he own at least one formal ensemble, and preferably two.