While a Canadian Tuxedo can be worn with any formal footwear, a Texan Tuxedo is worn with cowboy boots.
A bolo tie, a cord or piece of woven leather threaded through a piece of decorative metal, completes the Texan two-step.
At the Louis Vuitton show, menswear creative director Pharrell paired a heavily embellished denim suit with a ribbon tie but featured bolo ties with denim shirts.
Neither the Canadian nor Texan Tuxedos are related to the Tasmanian Tuxedo which involves puffer jackets, mostly absent from this season’s runways.
Why are denim suits back?
Luxury menswear is increasingly being influenced by womenswear, which partly explains the ruffled denim shirts at Louis Vuitton and Loewe’s pussycat bow denim shirts worn by male models.
Jean genies: Loewe, menswear autumn/winter 2024; Kate Sylvester’s upcoming “Gloria Gloria” collection; Oscar Hunt denim suit, $1795. Credit: Getty, supplied
Haute couture jeans appeared on the Valentino runway in July while denim suits for women were spotted in Australian label Zimmermann’s March show and Jason Wu, Ralph Lauren and Derek Lam’s spring presentations in September.
New Zealand designer Kate Sylvester has included a denim three-piece outfit in her latest collection, available next month, inspired by feminist Gloria Steinem and heiress Gloria Vanderbilt.
“I love a suit and will suit up anything,” Sylvester says. “When I first did it with denim a few seasons ago it was mainly because it made me smile.”
“One day I turned up head to toe at work and I realised putting them together had completely elevated two casual separates into a sophisticated suit.”
The denim revival is also part of the utilitarian trend that has revived cargo pants and workwear plaids. The Timberlake and Spears connection gives it a noughties edge.
How do I wear it?
Rules about having contrasting tones have been thrown out, along with Barbiecore and Gothcore. This time it’s definitely matchy-matchy.
Lighter washes are increasingly popular but steer clear of acid washes or monograms. A denim suit is already a lot for conservative onlookers to contend with on its own.
Baggy blazers with wide-leg jeans give the trend a louche look that won’t be mistaken for your weekend, television-watching attire.
I’m still scared, what can I do?
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Take a leaf out of Brad Pitt and director Wes Anderson’s well-thumbed books and ease yourself into the trend with a denim jacket and matching jeans. Brad Pitt in Once Upon A Time In Hollywood will get you in the ’60s spirit while Rupert Friend in Anderson’s Asteroid City assists with a ’50s approach.
If you’re still scared, try Australian tailor Oscar Hunt’s denim suit. The single-breasted style in soft denim has a formal silhouette with relaxed trousers, complete with ironed creases.
Just leave any accessories, such as a denim hat, behind to steer clear of any “tacky” criticisms of overdoing it.
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