History and Evolution of the Tuxedo

A tuxedo is sometimes referred to as a penguin suit or sometimes a tux. But you may be surprised to discover that there's a story behind how this formal suit came into existence, and how it became part of a man's must-have wardrobe for formal or special occasions. Historians speculate on many possibilities regarding the creation of the first original tuxedo, but most credit a man by the name of Pierre Lorillard IV.

Lorillard lived in the 19th century and was a famed tobacco magnate with enormous wealth. They lived in Tuxedo Park which, at that time, was located about 45 miles from New York City. The name of the park may seem strange, but it was named such to follow the Indian name, P'tauk-seet-tough, that the Algonquin Indian tribe called the area before they lost the land.

Pierre Lorillard and his family were considered upper crust society members. The man helped establish the colony as a hunting location. Homes in the area were magnificent, artfully crafted by skilled Italian artisans who were responsible for building most of the homes in the walled area of the colony. As a location for some of the most rich and famous families, you can be sure that there was also an aristocratic social scene. The social scene became known as the Tuxedo Club.

The newly formed club's first party was organized in autumn of 1886. Men were expected to wear a white tie with long tail-coat to be considered properly dressed for such a prestigious event. Lorillard went against the grain and hired a tailor to create a black jacket without a tail to wear to the ball. No one knows why he did this at first. Some say he was inspired by a jacket crafted and designed by the tailor of King Edward VII. Others believe he used his own imagination and created a jacket in the style of the red colored jackets typically worn on fox hunts.

His different clothing choice caught the eye of the party elite. No doubt there was probably a great deal of gossip among the fashionable ladies at the Tuxedo Club's first annual Autumn Ball that October. But it seems that the style stuck. Although the change in jacket style was actually quite small, it was a style that resonated with the rich and elite. And the style stuck. The formal suit that we now know as the tuxedo stuck and men all over the world wear tuxes to formal occasions such as weddings and proms.

If you find that you need to wear a tuxedo, it's important to make sure you take the time to get the right one for your body type and the level of formality of the occasion. While tuxedos traditionally look classy, it's too easy to look poorly groomed if you make a mistake with your selection. Skilled sales associates are usually able to help you with your tuxedo decision. But you can never go wrong with a traditional tuxedo for your wedding or a formal occasion.