I f you look at men’s suits from the 1870’s, men’s jackets had two small buttons on the bck of the jacket. You can still see these on the formal “Morning” suit. So when did these ornaments finally disappear?
The buttons date from when suit jackets almost always had tails. The buttons were used to tie up the tails for riding. I’m guessing that the introduction of the tuxedo (not tie and tails, but the tailless dinner jacket) in (according to the legend) 1886 was the beginning of the end for the back buttons on (tailless) suit coats. That’s just a WAG, though.
If I may ask another men’s fashion question, what do you call those awesome-looking coats that are longer than your average suit jacket but shorter than a long coat (such as a trench coat)? They are typically worn by the wealthy and stylish, usually as part of a suit (instead of the traditional length suit jacket).
For what it’s worth, John Glover wears these a lot on Smallville, playing the billionaire Lionel Luthor, and I’ve seen similar coats worn in Westerns, where “dandies” are out gambling in saloons. It’s definitely an older (MUCH older) style that seems to have come back a bit, but you’re not going to see lawyers wearing these in court, or young guys out at clubs sporting this look. It screams “I have a lot of money and style to spare, and I’m a badass!”
Dusters?
Hmm. I’m not sure what you mean. Could you mean an overcoat?
Mourning coat? I like these, but sadly you really only ever see them at crappy tux rental places at the mall.
Ah, also known as a cutaway. Is this one on the right what you mean, Lou?
Kinda sorta. Similar length, but not quite what I had in mind. But probably close enough.
I knew it wasn’t a duster – my dad has a black duster with the little cape and everything, and he calls it his “hitman coat.” I have my gray double-breasted trench coat, but I really wish I had held out for a similar black one. Needless to say, I like these styles a lot, but we live in Florida so you can only wear such things a few days out of the year.
Frock coat? Less likely, but could you mean Reverend coat?
Nah, more like the mourning coat, but just very fashionable and swanky-looking.
The frock coat was worn for mourning in the Victorian and Edwardian period… 
Mourning does not equal morning! :smack:
Look over that Wikipedia article anyway, there is an image on it that is probably almost exactly what you mean, of a frock/morning coat.
Lionel Luther definitely wears a shortish frock coat on a few occasions.
…and I was going to add, the frock coat is definitely the coat of Western dandies. Also, check out the Firefly episode Shindig?
The “reverend coat” is properly called a cassock and is certainly longer than BBVL indicates.
Thanks, everybody!
“O’Brien! Lay out my ‘having a word with him’ suit!”
(a silver florin to whoever can tell me where that’s from)
(okay, not really, but guess for funzies anyway)
OMG When I read this I heard it in a Simpsons character voice. Is it Dr. Nick who says “Hey, everybody!” ??
If you mean this, then I think it’s just a very nice quality overcoat, nothing more.
Brooks Brothers calls it a long town coat.