The tuxedo has a long history that dates back to the 19th century.
The tuxedo is the preferred formal wear for any special or formal occasion. It is worn at weddings, proms and formal dinner parties. The tuxedo dates back to a 19th-century tobacco magnate named Pierre Lorillard, who came up with the idea for a short-tailed version of the formal long tailcoat. His estate was located 40 miles outside what is now Tuxedo Park, New York. He helped to establish the Tuxedo Club, a prominent fishing and hunting club.
The Long Tailcoat
Before the tuxedo was the long tailcoat. Formal evenings required dressing in a long tailcoat and matching trousers that came up to the waist. This formal jacket was cut above the waist in the front and cut long in the back, creating tails. The double-breasted front did not button, and the lapels had a facing on them. The long tailcoat was worn with a white wing-collared shirt, a white bowtie, a top hat and patent leather shoes. This style is still worn today at white tie affairs.
In the Beginning
In preparation for the first annual Autumn Ball held at Tuxedo Club, Lorillard commissioned a tailor to fashion a modified jacket that consisted of no tails. Many presumed the design was inspired by the royal dinner jacket of the Prince of Wales or the formal red fox hunting jackets. Although Lorillard himself did not wear the jacket, his son Griswold, along with several friends, did wear the jacket, and it became an immediate success.
The Classic Tuxedo
The classic tuxedo is a variation of the long tailcoat as inspired by Lorillard, and comes in both single-breasted and double-breasted models, though the single-breasted model is more formal. The single-breasted model is designed to be worn unbuttoned and should be worn with either a cummerbund or a waistcoat to cover the waistband of the trousers. The double-breasted model is designed to be worn buttoned. The lapel may be cut in a peaked lapel, which is considered the most formal, or in a shawl collar, which is considered less formal because it is derived from the smoking jacket.
The Contemporary Tuxedo
Today's tuxedo is more modern than Lorillard's, but it still has the same old-fashioned elegance. Single-breasted jackets may be two-button or three-button models, while the double-breasted jacket has six buttons. The three-button, single-breasted model is considered inappropriate for formal gatherings because of the short lapel and the extra button. A notched lapel liked that commonly found on a business suit is also a common addition to the contemporary tuxedo.
Tags: long tailcoat, single-breasted model, dates back, designed worn, long tailcoat
