Although US President Donald Trump's expansionist ambitions have recently cast a spotlight on Canada, the United States has long harbored a casual disregard for its northern neighbor. That contempt is so entrenched it even surfaces in everyday language. For example, Americans refer to any outfit pairing denim jeans with a denim jacket as a "Canadian tuxedo," implying that Canadians have lower standards of elegance than the rest of the so-called civilized world.
The irony here is twofold. First, it's worth noting that Canadians had nothing at all to do with the origin of the tuxedo that bears their name. According to historians, the look was first popularized by actor and singer Bing Crosby, who showed up one night in 1951 at the doors of a Vancouver hotel dressed head to toe in denim. The outfit was so unconventional that he was actually denied entry to the establishment.
Second, the Canadian tuxedo itself deserves to be redeemed. While denim, designed for hard work, will never be suitable for formal occasions, there is nothing shameful about wearing two pieces of cotton fabric at once – as long as you avoid faux-aged or overly stretchy jackets and jeans. Similarly, pairing black denim with blue denim is such a poor idea that it doesn't even warrant a home attempting it.
Still, the most crucial factor in pulling off a Canadian tuxedo is how the shades of denim are combined. Rather than attempting to perfectly match the colors of the jacket and jeans, it's better to opt for a subtle (but noticeable) contrast. In fact, pairing a lighter jacket with darker pants generally works better than the reverse.
Finally, it's worth remembering that combining two denim pieces – rustic by nature – calls for refined accessories. So, when sporting your Canadian tuxedo, we suggest skipping the pointed boots, mirrored aviator sunglasses, and belt buckles decorated with a lasso spelling out "cowboy." Choose a touch of sophistication instead.
Translation of an original article published in French on lemonde.fr; the publisher may only be liable for the French version.