The age of black tie being a stuffy, strict dress code has really disappeared recently. As tastes have lent themselves more towards the kitschy, quirky and alternative, the tuxedo has moved with it.
These days, unless the dress code is marked as formal or strict black tie – or the bride and groom specify – you can have a bit more fun with the Tuxedo. Perhaps it’s a vintage do, calling for velvets and paisleys, or something a little more modern and sharp, calling for slim fits and sharp lapels.
The Tuxedo has a long, illustrious history, stemming back to the 1860s and the fashionable Prince of Wales – later King Edward the 7th. He had a strong interest in clothes, and, being in such public eye, set some of the biggest trends in menswear.
No sooner had he swaggered up with those peak lapels and a deep, navy blue satin jacket – with, unusually for the time, no tails – than the entire country flocked to follow. And that’s right – it was dark blue, not black at all.
