SMITHSONIAN
Grey Synthetic Fiber Formal Tail Coat
1990s · 1990s · American
Production
ready-to-wear
Material
synthetic fiber
Culture
American
Movement
Supermodel Era
Influences
19th-century formal tailcoat · traditional evening wear
A formal tail coat in light grey synthetic fabric featuring the traditional swallow-tail silhouette with long back panels extending below the knee. The jacket displays peaked lapels, a fitted waist with side vents, and appears to have decorative buttons on the sleeves. The construction shows sharp, structured tailoring typical of formal menswear with clean lines and precise seaming. The synthetic material gives the garment a smooth, uniform appearance while maintaining the classic proportions of traditional evening tailcoat design. This represents a modern interpretation of 19th-century formal wear adapted for 1990s performance contexts.
coattight fithip length
Connected To
Worn with·formal shirtWorn with·formal trousersFunction·formal-evening
SHAREDcross-culture · cross-category
The sinuous curves of that 1950s bow tie and the razor-sharp tailoring of the '90s tailcoat represent two poles of formal menswear's eternal tension between softness and structure. Where the silk tie flows like liquid ribbon, designed to be knotted into organic curves that complement the human neck, the synthetic tailcoat cuts an unforgiving silhouette with its peaked lapels and geometric lines—a product of the decade that gave us shoulder pads and power dressing.
Pull the Thread→
Follow this garment wherever the graph leads
