Skip to content
  • ENJOY FREE DUTY PAID US DELIVERY ON ALL ORDERS & FREE RETURNS WITHIN 60 DAYS OF PURCHASE

The History of Eveningwear

Posted 18.09.18  - Style

Before the dinner jacket became popular, men wore tailcoats in the evening, an outïŹt now referred to as white tie.


It was in 1865 that the then Prince of Wales and future King Edward VII asked his tailor to make for him a ‘celestial blue evening coat’ to wear at Sandringham, his country home. With this move he is credited with inventing the dinner jacket, a style that didn’t really supersede the tailcoat in London circles until the 1920s. Since then the tenor of eveningwear has been set less by the monarchy and more by actors, musicians and celebrities. Even now in an era where the rules of dressing are less strict than ever, the relevance of eveningwear remains undimmed.


The dinner jacket can be worn interchangeably with velvet smoking jackets like the ones in Turnbull & Asser’s collection, because ïŹ‚amboyance is back after a four-decade absence. With dress codes universally relaxed, men are free to pick jackets made from colourful velvet or patterned jacquard fabrics; shawl collars, quilted lapels and frogging are also popular, as are cream dinner jackets.



Traditionalists remain sure that whether the jacket is ïŹ‚amboyant or sober, it’s still best worn with elegant black trousers and well-polished black shoes but for many men, an open-necked white shirt, slim designer jeans and velvet slippers will do just ïŹne for private parties. The dinner jacket’s future may paradoxically be more secure given the decline in popularity of the regular suit, as eveningwear offers men an opportunity to dress up rather than merely to conform to what’s regarded as a work uniform.


As it retains its place in a gentleman’s wardrobe – thanks to the innovations of brands such as Turnbull & Asser and the sartorial inïŹ‚uence of modern dandies such as Pharrell Williams, Donald Glover and Eddie Redmayne – the question that remains is how the art of dressing for the evening will continue to evolve.

Other Articles You May Enjoy

  • Watch Men: Kristian Haagen
    03.03.23

    Watch Men: Kristian Haagen

      They say a man’s best friend is his dog, but strike up a conversation with any chap a...

    Read more
  • Watch Men: Toby Bateman
    15.11.22

    Watch Men: Toby Bateman

    For some watch aficionados it’s escapements and tourbillions that get their pulse racin...

    Read more
  • Watch Men: Justin Hast
    31.10.22

    Watch Men: Justin Hast

    At Turnbull & Asser, we know the merits of a well-curated wardrobe and that behind ...

    Read more

Return
to top