something for the gentleman

With the Royal Wedding still on the brain (and some sacred quiet time while my daughter is napping) I thought something for the fellas would be appropriate.  I was completely unaware of the history of the tuxedo and during my research discovered the story behind its creation from London's bespoke tailor Henry Poole. 

In 1860, Henry Poole made a short evening or smoking jacket for the Prince of Wales to wear at informal dinner parties at Sandringham. In 1886, a Mr. James Potter of Tuxedo Park, New York visited London and subsequently was invited by the Prince to spend a weekend at Sandringham. He was also advised that he could have a smoking jacket made by the Prince’s tailors, Henry Poole & Co.
When the Potters returned to New York, Mr. Potter proudly wore his new smoking jacket at the Tuxedo Park Club and fellow members soon started having copies made for themselves which they adopted as their informal uniform for club “stag” dinners. As a result, the dinner jacket became known as the Tuxedo.  http://www.henrypoole.com/

Henry Poole