Come to think of it, I wonder whether a DB dinner jacket is a sartorial oxy..., if the origin of the SB dinner jacket is regarded as the civilian countryside morning coat? 8^).
BTW, see the two designs of DB shirts for Black Tie and White Tie under the Marcella Shirts thread, if you wish to explore DB shirts for formal/semi-formal use.
couch wrote:Military rather than formal uniform in its origins, I'd hazard, though manton may correct me. At least as far back as the Napolieonic era, the fitted high-button DB tunic was a military style (think hussars). It influenced civilian dress in Brummel's day and uniforms ever since, including those of marching bands and chefs. I posted a photo of Gen. Geo. A. Custer (7th U.S. cavalry, 3rd quarter 19th century) in the photojournal wearing a DB tunic shirt with turndown collar (though not buttondown as in your sketch). For some reason I can't seem to link to it in this forum. One might stretch a point and call his outfit dashing, but never elegant, at least in alden's sense of the word. Quite a remarkable neckerchief and pin arrangement.