Tuxedo tails are always the perfect attire for a formal event. Tuxedo tails are also referred to as tail
tuxedos or tailed tuxedos so as not to be confused when you see these terms. Tuxedo tails traditionally come
in black and white but are also available in other colors as well.
Most of the men are aware of the tuxedo as the most formal outfit among the menswear. This is partially true
but there is another attire that is more formal than the tuxedo look. This is the rarest formal type of
menswear seen in daily life. Most of the men around the world would have never seen people wearing this
attire in real life. Yes we are talking about the tailcoat tuxedos. Standing as a symbol of sophistication
and refined elegance, the tuxedo tail has consistently been favored by gentlemen for black tie events,
weddings, galas, and other upscale occasions.
Fashion designers and celebrities have increasingly embraced the tuxedo tail, reimagining it in new and
exciting ways. From vibrant colored tails to innovative fabric choices, the boundaries of traditional
formalwear have been pushed, allowing men to express their individuality and make a statement at any event.
tuxedo tails embody a sense of classic elegance that has stood the test of time. From their humble
beginnings to their modern transformations, these garments have remained a staple of formal attire. Whether
you opt for the traditional tailcoat or the contemporary tailless tuxedo, wearing a tuxedo tail allows men
to exude confidence, sophistication, and unparalleled style.
Variations of Tailcoats:
There are different variations of tailcoats, each with its own distinct style. The most common types include:
1. Morning Coat: Also known as a cutaway coat, the morning coat is a less formal version of the traditional
tailcoat. It is typically worn for morning or daytime weddings. The front of the coat is cut away, creating
a sloping line towards the back, where the tails are still present.
2. Frock Coat: The frock coat, also referred to as a Prince Albert coat, is another variant of the tailcoat.
It features a knee-length skirt at the front, which gives it a slightly less formal appearance. Frock coats
were popular during the Victorian era and are still occasionally worn at historical or period-themed events.
3. Stroller Coat: The stroller coat, sometimes called a Stresemann, is a modern take on the traditional
tailcoat. It is less formal than the classic tailcoat, making it a suitable choice for semi-formal events or
daytime weddings. The stroller coat usually has a one-button or two-button closure and does not have the
traditional tails.
The tux with tails are characterized by the
knee length coat with the rear portion like a skirt with its front portion cut away. This is called as the
tail and thus the name tailcoat. This distinctive design element adds a touch of grandeur and formality to
the ensemble, making it the ultimate choice for formal occasions. If you are a North American you may know
it simply as a tailcoat but this garment is properly known as an evening tailcoat or dress coat so as to not
confuse it with formal day tailcoat.
While tailcoats are primarily associated with formal events, they can be styled in different ways to suit
various occasions. For a timeless and classic look, pair your tailcoat with a wingtip collar shirt, a white
bowtie, formal trousers, and patent leather shoes. If you want to add a touch of individuality, you can opt
for a colored or patterned waistcoat and a pocket square that complements your overall color scheme. For a
more modern and relaxed approach, you can wear a tailcoat with a contrasting pair of slim-fit pants or even
dark jeans for a contemporary twist. However, keep in mind that this styling choice might not be appropriate
for traditional black-tie events but can work well for less formal occasions.
The difference between the morning tailcoat and the evening one is in the details. The morning coat also
known as cutaway is a single breasted model which has its skirt tapering gradually with self faced lapels
but in the case of evening coat they are a double breasted model which is characterized by a cut away skirt
and lapels which are silk faced.
To delve more about the characteristics of the evening tux with tails,
these coats should fit the wearer's body perfectly since they are cut in a way that they cannot be closed or
buttoned.Thus the coat should be designed in a way so that it contours to the body of the wearer perfectly. Therefore
if you are thinking of getting a tux with tails it may be best for you to find a tailor who can do the job
perfectly. Off the rack
long tail tuxedo are available but for a
proper look it may be imperative to get it custom made. Tux with tails are the most formal type of outfit
and hence you are only going to wear it for the most important events and hence it may always be a smart
choice to get it tailored according to your physique.
But if you are on budget shopping take some extra time to get the fit at least good if not perfect. This tux
with tails outfit has a reputation of greatly aiding the wearer's look regardless of their body shape or
structure. It does not matter if the man is short, lanky or fat the outfit aacentuates all the good points
and hides the drawbacks, provided the fit of the garment is perfect.
To elaborate on the subject the tailcoats design is such that it is particularly designed to add stature to the men who are short. This is
because of the fact that the garment visually elevate the waistline and thus in turn makes the short men
look taller.This is like any other tailored jacket such that the tailcoats waistline lies on the natural waist one if the
wearer but the provision that is not in other jackets is the coat front and the white waistcoat that you
wear with the
red waistcoat. The black trousers and the white waistcoat create a
dividing line between the upper torso and the lower torso. What we do is to purposefully raise this visual
dividing line and thus in turn create an illusion of longer legs. In earlier times people used to have this
waistline raised dramatically high to create the longer legs look and this was greatly favoured by the
English around the 1930s.
All these details of the dress code for the tux with tails are the ones that are being the norm since they
were described in the 1913 issue of the Vanity Fair. The front of the
tuxedo for men is mostly to be left open thus exposing considerable
amount of the shirt material and with the lapels rolling to the length a little below the top button of the
waistcoat and then it slants away to the edge and then again goes upward and rounds into the skirt. As for
the main charcateristic of the outfit, the tails it is the norm that there shouldn't be a single crease in
the back of the tails. Though it seems practically impossible you get the gist of it.
As for the fit of this tux with tails the collar of the coat must be in a way that it fits you snugly at the
neck and also should be high enough so that it covers the shirt collars rear stud and the band if the bow
tie but at the same time it shouldn't completely cover it with the allowance of significant white to still
remain visible.
As for the fabric of the tux with tails the most common fabric that is used is the wool. In the earlier time
that is in the Victorian era worsted wool with understated finish has been the most preferred fabric while
the British men preferred going with Barathea.
This was the practice from the 1850s to the 1920s when the black was the norm for the evening wear. Only by
the 1920s the people started to alter the black with the midnight blue. By the 1950s people resorted to
using mohair and wool blends so as to add a particular sheen to the otherwise dull suit.
Back in the early times black tie and white tie were the two categories of the mens formal evening wear and
these were best to worn in the evening that is after six o clock or after sundown whichever comes first. The
original purpose of these formal wears is that people would change into new clothes so as to leave behind
the dirt and grime of the days works and come fresh in the evening.
This was the practical reason before the introduction of automobiles and after that the distinction between
the morning and evening wear became somewhat hazy. But people still distinguished it based on the aesthetics
as opposed to the practicality as done before.
The
tail coat were the formal type of clothes that was expected of a
man in the evenings and on formal gatherings. This changed after the World War I and by the end of it the
tux with tails were restricted to be used for the formal type of events.
At the end of the World War II the business suit became widely accepted to both casual and formal events that
futhermore restricting the usage of the tux with tails to the most formal type of events that were very rare
to occur even at those times.
Today the tradition has carried on and it is accepted still that tuxedos and tux with tails should never be
seen in broad daylight. But this rule is not very strictly followed with certain relaxations always in due.
This is especially impossible in certain part of the world where some countries which have extreme summers
and where sundown is not defined by 6 O clock.
Only in some countries the usage of tux with tails exists like the United Kingdom, Western Europe and Japan
where the evening rule is still followed. As for the United States the practice of wearing tux with tails
has very much diminished with the people considering the normal tuxedos to be the all purpose formal wear.
But if you are still wondering about the tux with tails attire or you live in the country that still has this
dress code followed then here are some tips on when you can wear it and how to wear it. First of all the
white tie events are the ones that strictly demand the attendee to be in tux with tails.
If you are a person who likes to go through a long list of strict regulations for the dress codes then white
tie events are the perfect ones for you. These are serious events and therefore the fundamentals cannot be
deviated from and there are some strict rules that you have to abide by.
These type of events aren't very common and mostly only happen among the elite classes like the royals or the
Hollywood stars. Now if you are one among the two or a guest invited to the white tie event then make sure
that you are dressed properly for the event and also behave in a proper way all through the event.
First of all if you
see the words " white tie " in your event invitation then it is the irrefutable sign that you should get
ready with your tux with tails. Also if not direct search for indirect indications like full evening dress,
tails or a dress suit since all this refers to the tux with
black and gold tuxedo attire. Also remember that the white tie
events are the most formal type of events there are.
As we said before this may be for a royal wedding, state or livery ceremonies, balls or banquets. The
difference between the black tie and the white tie attire is in the details. The most obvious difference
that you can find is that in the white tie attire is that the waistcoat that you wear should be white and
the tailcoat is definitely required.
As for the other details it is important that you wear a white bow tie and also that it is to be hand tied.
Pre tied bow ties should be avoided in all cases since they look fake and aren't even appropriate to wear by
a teenager to the prom night. There are a lot of tutorials that teach how to tie a bow tie and it is not
even that hard.
As for the jacket it should be an evening tailcoat and never confuse it with the morning tailcoat and this
can be done only if you know the difference ( one that we have described above ). The evening tailcoat
should always be worn unbuttoned and must have peak lapels. The trousers should be high waisted with the two
lines of braid down the outside.
In the earlier times the fit of the trousers were baggy but nowadays the baggy fit is not preferred since it
defects from the overall elegant look of the outfit. As for the shirt it must be a stiff white evening shirt
that can be either plain or pleated. The shirt must have wing collars and folded cuffs. Since it a formal
event cufflinks become a necessity and instead of buttons you can go with the studs that are of mother of
pearl or something lighter.
The last thing is the yellow waistcoat. It should be cut in a
way so that the shirt fabric shows and the bottom of the waistcoat shouldn't stick out of the jacket. This
is a subtle point but one that you should definitely focus on to get a perfect look. As for the accessories,
the top hat was a famous one in the 1920s tailcoat fashion and gloves can be a good choice.
Top hats aren't very common nowadays but wearing gloves is still preferred by some men. Another strange
addition is a dress cane but it may be a good choice to skip it. The shoes can be a pair of black patent
leather shoes with black laces or black ribbon. They should be paired with black evening socks or simply
Palin black ones.
Most of the time a large population men do not attend a white tie event in their lifetime and this does not
mean you should never try out the tailcoat fashion. A lot of people now tend to adopt this tux with tails
fashion for their weddings. Another option for you to try on this tux with tails style is in a costume
party.
For these type of events you can go with colored and fashionable ones like red long tailcoat tuxedo, velvet
trim tuxedo tailcoat, paisley black tail tuxedo, sequin shiny tuxedo tailcoat, gold tailcoat tuxedo, purple
tailcoat tuxedo, off white tailcoat tuxedo, ivory tailcoat tuxedo and many others.