Cheap formal wear?

[Alan H]

A white dinner jacket. Wow. Our band leader for the 1920's-style society orchestra always wore one when we played while people were eating. After dinner he put on a black tuxedo jacket....same trousers. The guy made a very good living and had no children, the band was more of an out-of-control hobby than an actual profession for him, and he always wore very nice clothes to gigs.

However, I think that may be the ONLY time in my 50 years on the planet that I've seen anyone wear a white dinner jacket, in person.

BTW, there's a significant difference between a really cheap canvas waiters, or parking attendants jacket...

like this:

http://www.caysondesigns.com/products10.html

or even this:
http://blazerdepot.com/pages/formal/eton_3btn.html

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And this:
http://www.glendinnings.com.au/index...tml&lang=en-gb

...in either black or white...made in polyester vicose and costing about $100 without all the Uniform options

or this article, which is informative:

http://www.uniformmarket.com/magazin...6/webster.html

[cavscout]

I agree Alan. Waiter and Bellman uniforms are based on military uniforms just as marching band uniforms are. Why? I have no idea.

Since you mention a white jacket, I think a White Jacket on black kilt al Humphrey Bogart ( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gGXEwI1S11A ) would look awesome, I just can't justify the investment.

[fluter]

A white dinner jacket. Wow. Our band leader for the 1920's-style society orchestra always wore one when we played while people were eating. After dinner he put on a black tuxedo jacket....same trousers. The guy made a very good living and had no children, the band was more of an out-of-control hobby than an actual profession for him, and he always wore very nice clothes to gigs.

However, I think that may be the ONLY time in my 50 years on the planet that I've seen anyone wear a white dinner jacket, in person.

Chef or others with direct knowledge, please correct me...

FWIW, in the UK a tux jacket is also a "dinner jacket." I believe that the white jacket at dinner/black one afterward was the custom.

I'm looking at a picture of myself (in a concert) in white dinner jacket. I still have a pink one; which I use (locally) as a threat, in the event that discussions of formal wear get out of hand.

[Chef]

FWIW, in the UK a tux jacket is also a "dinner jacket."

You are correct the "proper" term for what is know in the US as the Tuxedo is the Dinner Jacket. Interestingly while the term Tuxedo is commonly accepted you never see it listed on invitations. They will always refer to "Black Tie" or Dinner Jackets.

If you re interested in the history of the "Tuxedo" there are several versions but here is a good synopsis of the most common one. Tuxedo History

I believe that the white jacket at dinner/black one afterward was the custom.

Not by strict convention. Strict convention holds that the White Dinner Jacket is used in the summer where ever the Memorial Day to Labour Day idea of white clothing is held, or all year round in the "tropics".

The idea of White Dinner Jackets early and Black Jackets after is somewhat unusual and limited. (And as with most of these histories there are several histories or myths) The idea, as I understand it, came from certain clubs that did not allow white Dinner Jackets in the members only areas of the club. So members who were attending a function (i.e. wedding) in one of the public spaces might be wearing white during dinner (if it was a summer wedding) but then might retire to the Members only area afterwards with black jackets. There are other versions of why this was done but as I said it is unusual. For the most part it is perfectly acceptable to wear your White Dinner Jacket all evening as long as it is the right time of year or you are at the right latitude.

I am one of the few who actually owns a White Dinner Jacket. It probably gets worn 4 or 5 times a year and I actually prefer it to the Black jacket. I used to have a white mess dress jacket that I used in the summer with a kilt and it looked great. unfortunately I outgrew it and I haven't as yet replaced it.