The Tailcoat tuxedo is worn for the most formal dress code: White Tie.
Ralph Lauren offers this beautiful, full dress tuxedo with notch satin lapel and three button front. The most formal way to wear this tuxedo is with a white backless vest, white bow tie, black pants and black patent leather shoes.
Just a few years ago, this full evening dress consisted of a white pique shirt, white pique bow tie and a white pique vest. Pique is a cotton fabric with a pattern that makes it appear quilted. However, lately we are finding that designers in the formal wear industry are moving away from pique and substituting white satin bib or backless vest, a white satin bow tie and a Swiss pleated shirt.
A Swiss pleated shirt has more of a ribbed texture to the front of it and on the cuffs, rather than traditional folded pleats. This author really thinks a Swiss pleated shirt is very classy and wears one even with a standard length tuxedo jacket.
“Tails” as they are colloquially called, are used for the most formal of events and often in the evening. At Darianna® Bridal & Tuxedo, we have seen these tuxedos rented for Debutante balls, the Philadelphia Academy Ball (raising funds for the Philadelphia orchestra for over 150 years), and some very formal weddings.
As a side note, the Academy Ball is now called the The Great Stages Gala and benefits the Philadelphia Orchestra, the Kimmel Center, and the Miller Theater.
We also had several wedding parties set a 1920s theme to their weddings and everyone dressed in tailcoats as they did in the roaring 20s. A very fun theme!
If you are looking for a even more formal look, we suggest choosing our other Ralph Lauren tailcoat tuxedo called “Ritz”. Historically, coat tails had peak lapels and the Ritz replicates that same satin peak for a more traditional formal look.
However, if you need a formal tailcoat tuxedo, the Ralph Lauren Chaps tuxedo is perfectly appropriate for your event.