Thursday, 6 October 2011
Smoking Jacket Power
One of the staples of life in Oxford was the profusion of black-tie events, of which there are literally dozens every year, making owning one's own dinner jacket, studded shirt, and formal trousers a social necessity. A luxurious alternative to the dinner jacket (known Stateside as the tuxedo) is the smoking jacket—indeed, a tailored velvet smoking jacket is perhaps the most luxurious article of clothing a man can own. I recently debuted my own at a black tie dinner at Blenheim palace (the residence of the Duke of Marlborough and birthplace of Winston Churchill), a commensurately opulent location, where it was well received. (My favourite compliment was, "Craven, you look like you own this place!")
Here then is what the smoking jacket looks like. Mine is the more traditional double-breasted version, with frog closures—if one is going to go for a smoking jacket, there is no reason not to go whole hog. As this is a new acquisition, the sleeves wear over-long, but should settle to a proper length as the crease builds in the arms.
Unfortunately, this photo truly does not do the garment justice. Indeed, no photo can capture what wearing one of these feels like. If I had to try, however, I would submit that the following is a crude approximation. (Click to enlarge, or click here to see the original opus, for those who do not recognise the allusion. Or those who merely desire the appropriate musical accompaniment!).
