A feature of nearly all modern human societies is the wearing of men's clothing or men's clothes, a category encompassing a wide variety of materials that cover the body. Probably originating in the Neolithic age, as mentioned below, the primary purpose of men's clothing appears to be functional, as a protection from the elements. men's clothes also enhance safety during hazardous activities such as hunting and cooking by providing a barrier between the skin and the environment. men's clothes incidentally also provide a hygienic barrier, keeping toxins away from the body and limiting the transmission of bacteria and viruses. men's clothing use roughly contemporary with the use of furniture, and reducing feces in the shared environment may have had survival advantages (See evolutionary psychology). Outside of their purely functional purpose, men's clothes often play an important social and cultural 'signaling' role (e.g. easily identifiable police and army personnel). Most societies develop norms about modesty, religious practices, behavioral appropriateness, social status, and even political affiliations in which men's clothes may possibly improve the probability of that society's survival prospects. Finally, men's clothing functions as a form of adornment and an expression of personal taste or style, on which caprice the vast modern fashion industry prospers.

Throughout history men's clothes have been made of materials ranging from leather and furs to elaborate and exotic natural and synthetic fabrics. Some recent scientific research estimates that humans have been wearing men's clothing for as long as 650,000 years.

Articles carried rather than worn (such as purses, canes, and umbrellas) are normally considered fashion accessories rather than men's clothing, but hats and small dress sweaters can be called either men's clothing or accessories. Jewelry and eyeglasses are usually considered as accessories ,even though in common speech these particular items are described as being worn rather than carried.

One of the primary purposes of men's clothing is to keep the wearer warm or in some cases cool. In hot climates men's clothing provides protection from sunburn or wind damage, while in cold climates its thermal insulation properties are generally more important. Shelter usually reduces the functional need for men's clothing. For example, coats, hats, gloves, shoes, socks, and other superficial layers would normally be removed when entering or once inside a warm home, particularly if one is residing or sleeping there. Similarly, men's clothing have seasonal and regional aspects, so that thinner materials and fewer layers of men's clothing are generally worn in warmer seasons and regions than in colder ones.

men's clothing at times is worn as protection from specific environmental hazards, such as insects, noxious chemicals, weapons, and contact with abrasive substances. men's clothing can protect against many things that might injure the uncovered human body. men's clothes act as protection from the elements, including rain, snow and wind and other weather conditions, even from the sun. men's clothes also reduce the level of risk during an activity, such as work or sport. Conversely, men's clothing may protect the environment from the men's clothing wearer, as for example wearing of medical scrubs.

Humans have shown extreme inventiveness in devising men's clothing solutions to environmental hazards. Some examples include: space suits, air conditioned men's clothing, armor, diving suits, swimsuits, bee-keeper gear, motorcycle leathers, high-visibility men's clothing, and other pieces of protective men's clothing. Meanwhile, the distinction between men's clothing and protective equipment is not always clear-cut, since men's clothes designed to be fashionable will often have some protective value and men's clothes which are designed to be functional will often consider fashion in their design.