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History Of The Tuxedo

The modern tuxedo may very well be attributed to Pierre Lorillard IV, who's fortune was derived from the tobacco industry in the 19th century. He lived in an upper class community called Tuxedo Park, 40 miles northwest of New York City, which was located on land first belonging to the Algonquin Indian Tribe. The land was originally named by the chief and was known as P'tauk-seet-tough which meant "home of the bear". The founders of the community named it Tuxedo Park, in keeping with phonetics of the Algonquin name.

Pierre Lorillard IV was among society's elite, and as such, helped promote Tuxedo Park to others of his station. Fine homes were built by a skilled Italian work force, and Tuxedo Park became a destination for the world's rich and famous. Eventually, the wealthy Tuxedo Park residents formed their own Tuxedo Club.

In October, 1886, the Tuxedo club held it's first annual ball, and at that time, the long tailcoat had been in vogue for many years as men's traditional formal wear. Pierre commissioned a tailless version to wear to the ball. It is thought by some that he was first inspired by the design of England's Prince Edward of Wales who later became King Edward VII, who reportedly wore a similar, short style. Others felt the jacket design was styled after the short, red coats worn on fox hunts.

Pierre didn't wear his new coat to the ball as he had planned, but his son, Griswold Lorillard, and several friends did. The short jacket was admired, copied, and they became accepted formal attire as gentleman began wearing the tuxedo to the Metropolitan Opera in New York in 1889. The wealthy commissioned their tailors to fit them with the new style, but by the early twentieth century, with the development of the ready-to-wear industry, tuxedos became widely available to the general population.

Learn more about this author, Pat Sumpter.
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