The tuxedo is perhaps the most elegant form of fashion for a man. It can be semi, or full-on formal as with black tie events, and is a favorite way to dress for millions of men worldwide. A traditional tuxedo jacket is woolen and single-breasted.

The jacket has peaked, shawl, notch, or trick lapels, traditionally covered with satin, and modern styles are trimmed in grosgrain or wool. The tuxedo is worn when black tie attire is specified. In recent years, the American tuxedo has distanced itself from the English dinner jacket and other black tie conventions.

Various styles of tuxedos exist now, and they're popular among men from all walks of life. The easy-to-make style ensures that a tux will be available for any size, and in any fashion.

A man dressing up for formal affairs is nothing new. In fact, the European opera houses of the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries wouldn't let a man in unless he was appropriately dressed.

It was called the “dress circle” and no one was above it. No matter class, if you weren't properly dressed, you were denied entry. However, the notion of wearing black for evening wear was not introduced until the nineteenth century by British writer Edward Bulwer-Lytton, who utilized it as a romantic gesture to show that he was a ‘blighted being' and very melancholy.

For years the white tie and tails were the traditional style of formal wear, the introduction of the dinner jacket added another practical option form which the well-dressed gentlemen could choose. The original dinner jacket was a hybrid of sorts.

It was an adaptation of the “Cowes” jacket, which was a compromise between a mess jacket, a smoking jacket, and a dress coat. The story of the dinner jacket starts when a tailor invented the jacket for King Edward VII, when he was still the Prince of Wales. Henry Poole & Co. created the jacket, much to the Prince's delight, and all guests of the party were intrigued by this new form of attire.

There are six different tuxedo lengths that are used today. The first is a Tail Coat, and is the most formal evening design, ending abruptly in the front at waist length, and stretching roughly to the back of the knee in the rear.

The second is the Cutaway, the most formal day-design that slowly cuts away from the button, to the back of the knee, taking a slight curve. Third is the Waistcoat, ending its full length at the waist. Fourth is the Dinner Coat, a traditional length that ends at mid thigh.

Fifth is the Fashion Length, a modern jacket which ends 1-6 inches longer than the dinner coat. The sixth and final style is the 3/4 length, a very modern style, ending just below the knee.

Though the majority of tuxedos are black, you can find various colors of tuxedo fabric, button colors, etc. The more popular way to “customize” a tuxedo is to shop for custom accessories. Many colors and styles of undershirts and cufflinks are available. You can also shop a large variety of bowties and hats, etc.