As many outsiders have done before him, the American James Brown Potter asked a local British friend what was appropriate dress for a British Party. His friend, the fashion forward Prince of Wales, gave creative advice. The Prince described a short jacket used in place of a tailcoat. When Potter returned to his New York based Tuxedo Park club, he adopted this new look and other members soon followed suit.

One night the Tuxedo Club group went to Delmonico’s wearing their new outfits. (The group may have decided on Delmonico’s because it was the only restaurant that would let them in without coat-tails).

Observers soon started calling the new garments “tuxedos” after the men who first wore them in the U.S. – the men from Tuxedo Park.

Fact Credit: Dressing The Man, Alan Flusser, p. 303

Image Credit: jlindeberg.com