Styles that Stick: the Canadian Tuxedo
Filed under: Clothing, Vintage and Retro, Jeans, Celebrities with Style
Remember 2001?
The world sure was a different place back then, wasn't it? Different problems, different music, different international diplomatic strategies, different minimum wage -- I could go on and on, but I won't.
What I'm here to talk about is what hasn't changed since 2001: the baffling popularity of the Canadian Tuxedo. (See exhibit a)
Also known as the denim suit and the JOJO (Jean-on-Jean-Offense), the Canadian Tuxedo crops up every year, usually in the fall, when the temperatures are ideal for jeans paired with jean jackets.
I once had a former boss-lady editor who rocked the Canadian Tuxedo with some regularity, so I've given some thought to both the pros and the cons of wearing head-to-toe denim. Here's what I've come up with:
Pros: lots of cotton; lots of pockets; moderately wind resistant; denim hides dirt; denim matches everything.
Cons: uh, you look stupid.
I know It sounds reductive, but let's consider the case of Justin Timberlake.
Back in 2001, Justin was B-list celebrity. He was in the boy band NSYNC; he looked like a overgrown eight-year-old with creepy facial hair; he dated Britney Spears. Most importantly, he wore the Canadian Tuxedo to the 2001 American Music Awards. (See exhibit b)
These days JT is one of the best-dressed celebrities. He's also an awarding winning musician and performer. He's dating Jessica Biel. He even has his own clothing company; but most importantly -- he wouldn't be caught dead wearing Canadian Tuxedo. (See exhibit c)
A simple coincidence? I think not.
