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| Hugh Bonneville as Lord Grantham in Season Two. |
Be it a gentleman or a penguin, the tuxedo is the ultimate in dressing for an occasion in today's society. Ironic then, that it was considered second to a tail coat when the fashion was introduced in Victorian times. It wasn't until after WWI that it became a fashionable option to be spotted in, and did not become the go-to accessory for formal events as it is today until the 1940s. Pre-WWII, the tuxedo was considered semi-formal, but apparently when all of the men came home from that war it became the formal wear it is today instead of standard evening wear.
Fascinating that Lord Grantham believes that he will only be able to wear his tuxedo around the house for family dinners (rather the equivalent of today's sweat pant fashion, non?). I would say it was a smart investment.
