Who wore the first dinner jacket which later became popular in America?
The first DINNER JACKET was worn by Grisold Lorilland on the occasion of the Autumn Ball held at the Tuxedo Park Country Club, New York on 10 October 1886. Lorillard’s ‘tuxedo’, as it came to be known in America, consisted of a short black coat with satin lapels, and was modelled on the English smoking-jacket then in vogue. His temerity in appearing before mixed company in such a garment doubtless raised some eyebrows, for prior to World War I, dinner jackets were generally regarded as informal evening wear to be worn only in the absence of ladies.
In Britain, introduced as the ‘dress lounge’ in 1888 the term ‘dinner jacket’ did not come into currency till 10 years later.
