Mess jacket: Difference between revisions

Content deleted Content added

Inline

Revision as of 23:19, 26 January 2014

The mess jacket is a type of formal jacket that ends at the waist. It features either a non-fastening double breast cut or a single-breasted version that fastens.^[1] The jackets have shawl or peak lapels. Used in military mess dress, during the 1930s it became a popular alternative to the white dinner jacket in hot and tropical weather for black tie occasions. It also was prominently used, in single-breasted form, as part of the uniform for underclassmen at Eton College, leading to the alternate name Eton jacket.^[1] A female version of it, called a spencer, was popular during the Regency period.

History

The waist-length style of jacket first appeared in the 1790s when George Spencer, 2nd Earl Spencer (who was actually an Old Harrovian) removed the tails from his tailcoat.^[1] Spencer, it was thought, singed the tails of his tailcoat while standing beside a fire and then cut off the ends, unwittingly starting a new fashion.^[2] Other stories say Spencer—frustrated by his tails catching on brambles—tore the tails off his coat when hunting one day.^[3] It was adopted as part of mess dress, the military formal eveningwear equivalent for the civilian white tie. In 1820, Eton College adopted it for first year students' uniforms. Civilians first adopted a white mess jacket in 1933 to wear in the hot and tropical weather of Palm Beach.^[1]

The mess jacket soon fell out of fashion for two main reasons. One is that the jacket only worked well with an athletic and slim fit. The other reason is that the mess jacket had gone on to be worn by bellhops and waiters, leading the fashion conscious of the era to abandon the garment.^[1] Today, the jacket continues to be used as part of military mess dress and in service industries.

References

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e Entry at blacktieguide.com Accessed August 4, 2012].
^ Regency Fashion History. 1800s Costume History, by Pauline Weston Thomas for Fashion-Era.com
^ Making a Man's Tailcoat, by J. Gottfred.

[Black_Tie_Guide-1] Entry at blacktieguide.com Accessed August 4, 2012].

[Weston-2] Regency Fashion History. 1800s Costume History, by Pauline Weston Thomas for Fashion-Era.com

[3] Making a Man's Tailcoat, by J. Gottfred.

[1]

[2]

[3]

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-The '''mess jacket''' is a type of formal jacket that ends at the waist. It features either a non-fastening double breast cut or a single-breasted version that fastens.<ref name="Black Tie Guide">[http://www.blacktieguide.com/Contemporary/Contemp_Alternatives.htm Entry at blacktieguide.com] Accessed August 4, 2012].</ref> The jackets have shawl or peak [[lapel]]s. Used in military [[mess dress]], during the 1930s it became a popular alternative to the white dinner jacket in hot and tropical weather for [[black tie]] occasions. It also was prominently used, in single-breasted form, as part of the uniform for underclassmen at [[Eton College]], leading to the alternate name '''eton jacket'''.<ref name="Black Tie Guide"/> A female version of it, called a [[spencer (clothing)|spencer]], was popular during the [[Regency period]].
+The '''mess jacket''' is a type of formal jacket that ends at the waist. It features either a non-fastening double breast cut or a single-breasted version that fastens.<ref name="Black Tie Guide">[http://www.blacktieguide.com/Contemporary/Contemp_Alternatives.htm Entry at blacktieguide.com] Accessed August 4, 2012].</ref> The jackets have shawl or peak [[lapel]]s. Used in military [[mess dress]], during the 1930s it became a popular alternative to the white dinner jacket in hot and tropical weather for [[black tie]] occasions. It also was prominently used, in single-breasted form, as part of the uniform for underclassmen at [[Eton College]], leading to the alternate name '''Eton jacket'''.<ref name="Black Tie Guide"/> A female version of it, called a [[spencer (clothing)|spencer]], was popular during the [[Regency period]].
 ==History==
-The waist-length style of jacket first appeared in the 1790s when [[George Spencer, 2nd Earl Spencer]] removed the tails from his [[tailcoat]].<ref name="Black Tie Guide"/> Spencer, it was thought, singed the tails of his tailcoat while standing beside a fire and then cut off the ends, unwittingly starting a new fashion.<ref name="Weston">[http://www.fashion-era.com/regency_fashion.htm#Earl%20Spencer%20And%20The%20Short%20Spencer%20Jacket%201795 Regency Fashion History. 1800s Costume History], by Pauline Weston Thomas for Fashion-Era.com</ref> Other stories say Spencer—frustrated by his tails catching on [[bramble]]s—tore the tails off his coat when hunting one day.<ref>[http://www.northwestjournal.ca/VIII11.htm Making a Man's Tailcoat], by J. Gottfred.</ref> It was adopted as part of mess dress, the military formal eveningwear equivalent for the civilian [[white tie]]. In 1820, Eton College adopted it for first year students' uniforms. Civilians first adopted a white mess jacket in 1933 to wear in the hot and tropical weather of Palm Beach.<ref name="Black Tie Guide"/>
+The waist-length style of jacket first appeared in the 1790s when [[George Spencer, 2nd Earl Spencer]] (who was actually an [[Old Harrovians|Old Harrovian]]) removed the tails from his [[tailcoat]].<ref name="Black Tie Guide"/> Spencer, it was thought, singed the tails of his tailcoat while standing beside a fire and then cut off the ends, unwittingly starting a new fashion.<ref name="Weston">[http://www.fashion-era.com/regency_fashion.htm#Earl%20Spencer%20And%20The%20Short%20Spencer%20Jacket%201795 Regency Fashion History. 1800s Costume History], by Pauline Weston Thomas for Fashion-Era.com</ref> Other stories say Spencer—frustrated by his tails catching on [[bramble]]s—tore the tails off his coat when hunting one day.<ref>[http://www.northwestjournal.ca/VIII11.htm Making a Man's Tailcoat], by J. Gottfred.</ref> It was adopted as part of mess dress, the military formal eveningwear equivalent for the civilian [[white tie]]. In 1820, Eton College adopted it for first year students' uniforms. Civilians first adopted a white mess jacket in 1933 to wear in the hot and tropical weather of Palm Beach.<ref name="Black Tie Guide"/>
 The mess jacket soon fell out of fashion for two main reasons. One is that the jacket only worked well with an athletic and slim fit. The other reason is that the mess jacket had gone on to be worn by bellhops and waiters, leading the fashion conscious of the era to abandon the garment.<ref name="Black Tie Guide"/> Today, the jacket continues to be used as part of military mess dress and in service industries.