TUXEDO PARK NEW YORK. The 1880s. James Potter. It is upon a Transatlantic visit abroad that the American millionaire brings back an informal dinner jacket from England. The jacket, originally made of black wool and cut provocatively shorter than the traditional tailcoats of the day, was a less ostentatious alternative to the tailcoat for casual dinner parties.

Potter and his friend, the renowned tastemaker, Griswold Lorillard wore the novel style to the Tuxedo Club’s Autumn Ball in 1886. The striking contrast between the tuxedo jacket and the conventional tailcoats drew widespread attention, and the jacket's appeal spread beyond Tuxedo Park. The moniker "tuxedo" sticks.

As the tuxedo gained popularity, it underwent various modifications and adaptations to suit evolving fashion trends and formal occasions. By the turn of the 20th century, the tuxedo had firmly established itself as a staple of formal evening wear, and its iconic design, with satin lapels and a matching stripe down the trousers, had become the formal uniform of the day.

The tuxedo remains a quintessential part of a man’s wardrobe, a refined and timeless look for a wide range of formal events, maintaining its status as a symbol of sartorial excellence. Ours is cut in English mohair wool with a deep reverence for classic design…with a wink. If you only have one tuxedo in your closet, this is it.