Label Type
Cultural/Historical ContextLabel
A tailcoat like this, worn with a pair of matching trousers, a white vest, and either a black or white tie, had become the official dress for formal evening occasions by the early 20th century. Unlike morning coats, which are single-breasted, evening tailcoats are double-breasted and do not actually close at the front; they are always worn open, in order to expose the white vest underneath. According to the label inside the coat, it is a product of “Lord Rochester Styling,” a trademark of Michaels-Stern and Company. Based in Rochester, New York, Michaels-Stern was a manufacturer of men's tailored suits and apparel that marketed their products through local clothing stores around the country; this coat was sold by the Fred Rowe Company of Saco, “the store that satisfies.”
