History Of Tuxedo

The Tuxedo or Smoking jacket, as it is known in Europe and Brazil, was created one hundred years ago by Henry Poole, a visionary tailor capable of creating a Dinner jacket that has ruled strong for more than one hundred and fifty years, symbolizing high society, class, and elegance.

This jacket was and somehow still is a social class definer with psychological impact, considering that during the Depression, the Tuxedo was a symbol of hope for better days and empowered women in the 1960s.

Tailcoat in the 30's with Marlene Dietrich and Saint Laurent Tuxedo for women

Yves Saint Laurent retrospective fashion show with his models and muse

There are two different explanations for the dinner jacket designed by Henry Poole, which is traditionally called “Tuxedo” in the United States. The two versions have one thing in common: They all point to the men from The Tuxedo Park Club in New York as the first ones in the United States to wear the English creation.

Gentlemen from Tuxedo Park, N.Y. 1886. Courtesy Tuxedo Historical Society seeing on WSJ

So, the Tuxedo has traveled a long way from Henry Poole’s tailor shop in Savile Row to the world for more than a century. Henry Poole never saw his design cross the Atlantic and be “baptized” with the name Tuxedo; he died in 1876, leaving behind an influential and well-respected business to be run by his cousin, Samuel Cundey.

Today, Henry Poole & Co. is still a family-owned business maintained by Angus Cundey and his son, Simon. It is on the same street that Henry Poole once designed a jacket, inspired by his love for tailoring and desire to produce nothing less than the best. And let's not forget about the women who will always wear it with charm.