In 1865, the future King Edward VII asked his tailor for a more practical evening garment than the tailcoat. Thus was born the dinner jacket — known in France as the smoking — later introduced to the United States, where it took the name tuxedo, after the town of Tuxedo Park.
This garment follows the codes of evening dress, with a black bow tie. In the 1940s, the waistcoat gave way to the pleated cummerbund. On invitations, the indication ‘black tie’ refers to the tuxedo, while ‘white tie’ refers to the tailcoat.
The preferred fabric remains barathea, a wool and mohair blend with a refined texture.