The Canadian Tuxedo

INTRODUCING THE UNIFORM OF THE NATION

In honour of Canada Day, we’re shining a spotlight on our very own uniform as a country - the denim suit, or as many like to call it, the Canadian Tuxedo.

THE EARLY YEARS OF THE DENIM SUIT

Fashion forecasters were not just pulling our leg when they said fashion comes full circle. Classic styles we once owned are finding their way back into our closets once again, and admit it - next to your plaid blazer and monochrome turtlenecks, you probably own at least one jean jacket.

For those of you being introduced to the denim suit for the first time, the ensemble traditionally consists of a jean jacket with matching jean bottoms. Previously paired with matching shades, the most popular denim suits once consisted of a mid-wash blue (picture Tia and Tamera Mowry circa their Sister, Sister days). Flashback to the 90's, and if you're old enough, you probably remember teenage girls living in denim suits with matching decorative trims on the hems and cuffs. Of course, traditional denim at that time predominately came in tougher fabrics, with a higher cotton content. Now with new technologies available, we’ve seen wider variations in color washes and new cotton/spandex fabric compositions made possible.

TODAY'S DENIM ON DENIM LOOK

As a beloved style that has run it’s course before, we’re seeing the denim on denim suit come back a bit differently than before. In the modern day, we see a revival of the matching denim pant suit, now with modest variations. Now, you'll typically see mis-matched denims paired together to avoid being 'tacky', vastly differing from what was once deemed 'stylish'. However, as our society shifts towards an emphasis on individuality and freedom of expression, we'll probably see more people venture to the matching denim look, without the pressure to follow a trend.

Of course, we've recently seen a gravitation towards distressed denim styles, now giving this traditional look a more edgy vibe overall, complete with unfinished hems, ripped knees and the occasional patch work. Embroidery has also become a big addition to denim jackets recently as well, now decorated with brand names, or pop culture references on the back. In terms of selection, variations in denim washes are now widely available, with solid black or darker washes seen less often, and preference given to baby blue tones and acid washes.

The concept of the Canadian Tuxedo that was primarily built on the idea that denim can be more than just a working class uniform. Fast forward to 2020, and denim has now become a universal, unisex piece of style and comfort around the world. Denim continues to break barriers in the professional world, as we see more employers allowing dark wash denims in the workplace, and adopting the implementation of ‘Casual Fridays’.

Now it’s your turn! With Canada’s national holiday here again, we encourage you to wear your own Canadian Tuxedo loud and proud while you celebrate this Canada Day!

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Photo by Daniela Dávila on Unsplash