The story I heard was that some Prince of Wales (Edward VII? Edward VIII?) was attending a party at a place called Tuxedo Park. I assumed it was in London, but maybe it was New York. Everyone else dressed formally (white tie and cutaway tailcoat). The prince showed up wearing a black tie and what would later be called a tuxedo jacket. Everyone was scandalized, but within a week, everyone started wearing tuxedos.
Oh, and regarding cummerbunds: Men wear them pleats-up (gentlemen used to use them as pockets to carry their opera tickets). When women wear them (they are a part of some military uniforms), they wear them pleats-down.
By how hard you hit them after they wave you over and ask, “Garcon?” :D:D
I almost jokingly did that to the father of the bride at a wedding reception I went to this weekend. He would’ve appreciated it, but the room was just too busy, and he had his hands full thanking everybody.
Which is a good thing since I can’t stand the thought of me in a bow tie
**
That last sentence was gratuituous. But, I do agree that the sneakers-with-tux schtick should be reserved for Mr. Letterman, since as a subversive gesture it lost all novelty about 30 seconds after its first appearance.
Me, I just assume that 90% of those present are ALSO wearing the damned thing just because somebody said they had to.
JRD
plnnr Loved your discourse on dressing. Having gone to U. Richmond some time ago, and married a Richmond girl(and her family), I can appreciate what you said.
“Creative black-tie,” like military-intelligence, is an oxymoron. If the soiree’ is special enough to warrant wearing a tuxedo, get into the spirit of things and actually wear a tuxedo. All the poor shlubs that show up in tux jackets and cut-off jeans or some silly variant thereof will take one look at you in your understated and classic elegance and wish their wives had talked them out of wearing whatever costume their in.
This site seems to have the most complete information on the origin of the suit and the name. The short jacket was invented by the future Edward VII (and we all thought he was a useless drunk). A useless (and maybe drunk) rich Yank named Griswold Lorillard (of the tobacco Lorillards) got the idea from him, wore one to a party at the family estate in Tuxedo Park, NY, and became the hit of that whole social circle of useless rich drunks. The practicality of not having to sweep long tails aside before sitting surely contributed to its acceptance.
Further useless trivia: The first gold record was awarded to Glenn Miller for “Tuxedo Junction”, named after the train station (nas a good beat, hard to dance to, but fun to listen to anyway). Don’t flame me about Caruso’s “Vesti la Giubba” being the first million-selling album. I said the first gold record, OK?
WAG about why this is: since the fasteners on women’s clothing are on the opposite side from men’s, a woman confronted with a standard cummerbund fastened it upside down.
