Dean Martin once said, “In a tuxedo, I’m a star. In regular clothes, I’m a nobody.”
You know that it makes guys instantly look suave, but there’s a whole tuxedo history out there that you might be unaware of. Keep reading to learn more.
Where’d it Come From?
It’s controversial to when the tuxedo actually came into existence, but it’s mostly confirmed that it was in 1865, made popular by Edward VII, Prince of Wales.
A tailoring company by the name of Henry Poole & Co. was commissioned to outfit the Prince in an outfit that was more formal than a standard lounge suit, but also with the trims of a tailcoat. The tuxedo was born. But back then it was still called a “dinner jacket,” which is where the Prince would mainly wear it.
Tuxedo History Through the Ages
The tuxedo took off from there. In 1886, the tuxedo made its way to America. Millionaires James and Cora brown took a trip to Wales and visited the Prince. They were impressed by the style and later Potter wore it to the Autumn Ball in New York at Tuxedo Park.
That’s how the dinner jacket turned into the tuxedo. After that, the style was widespread. It dipped in popularity during the recession, but in the 1930s, it was roaring with popularity.
The double-breasted tuxedo jacket also rose in the style ranks, and the white tuxedo jacket became a popular alternative for formal outdoor events.
When World War II rolled around, America leaned on a more informal way of living and tuxedos were tucked away for suits. But the tuxedo wasn’t going anywhere. It was ramping up and getting a facelift.
The jackets became more fitted and shorter and were also made out of new materials like polyester. John F. Kennedy wore a tuxedo to his inaugural ball.
Getting Funky
In the 1970s and 1980s, disco style reigned supreme. There was less of an emphasis on formal wear, but the silhouette of the tuxedo remained in many of the funky suits of the 70s.
Tuxedo history from then onward is full of rollercoaster moments, as people stopped placing as much emphasis on formal wear and turned to more casual looks at formal events. The suit jacket began to trump the tuxedo. Yet we still see it at events like the Emmys and the Oscars from time to time.
A nostalgia for old styles and the crisp look of the past can also be attributed to how the tuxedo has remained in our fashion world.
Where Is It Now?
We can give some thanks to period pieces such as “Mad Men” for the tuxedo still remaining alive and well in our current time period. The tuxedo will continue to go through re-imaginings in the style world, but will never fully fade.
Now we’re the ones making tuxedo history. You can wear it to a formal event like a fancy wedding or a quinceanera. But first, you’ll need to own one.
Tuxedos can be expensive, which is why renting a tuxedo can be a great idea.