There are a few theories about how this special form of dress came into fashion. In the one most commonly cited, Pierre Lorillard was a wealthy tobacco magnate of the 19th century. He and his family lived 40 miles northwest of New York City in a residential colony called Tuxedo Park, founded on land acquired from the Algonquin Indian tribe. The land was originally called P’tauk-seet-tough, named after the tribal chief and meaning “home of the bear.” The town’s founders kept the phonetics of the name and christened the area Tuxedo Park.
The Lorillards circulated among the highest social circles and Pierre Lorillard helped establish Tuxedo Park as an elite hunting and fishing destination. Over time, Tuxedo Park became a high profile residence and resort for the world’s rich and famous. And, as would be expected, an extravagant social scene soon followed. Tuxedo Park’s residents and regular guests even established their own social organization called the Tuxedo Club.
The Tuxedo Club’s first annual Autumn Ball was held in October of 1886. At the time, men’s formal dress consisted of long tailcoat and white tie. However, the dashing Pierre Lorillard commissioned a modified “tailless” black jacket to wear to the ball. Despite his intent, Pierre Lorillard did not go through with his fashion plans for the ball. However, his more rebellious son along with several of his friends, did wear the short jacket to the ball. Due to the lofty social status of the young men, the short jacket was instantly admired as a striking fashion statement rather than condemned as a fashion faux pas. This short jacket, was quickly copied and when gentlemen wearing tuxedos were admitted to the Dress Circle of New York’s Metropolitan Opera in 1889, the success of this new fashion was confirmed. The “tuxedo,” so dubbed after the town of its debut, thus went from fashionable trend to timeless classic.
The tuxedo is a standard in American formal attire and is a ubiquitous symbol of celebration and special occasion for men of any and all levels of society. It is the quintessential men’s attire for formal affairs and an obvious choice for all but the most formal of weddings, galas, balls, formals, and high school proms.
In 1930, Marliss and Max Rudolphker of Philadelphia introduced the first mass market ready to wear tuxedo. The price was $16.00
In 1950, After Six changed the face of formal wear with the comfortable light weight, Tony Martin Tuxedo. The tuxedo was in. Then in 1954 After Six created the 1st wash and wear dinner jacket in dashing white and the formal wear rental market came into it’s own. Now everyone could afford to step out in formal style.
In the 60’s nearly anything went and even formal wear went a little wild.
Today, following trends started in Silicon Valley, many companies have moved to a relaxed dress code at work and our society is generally more casual. That said, for milestone events and special occasions, nothing says tradition and elegance like the tuxedo.
