Clothing trivia
Related Trivia
Names of garment types (cardigan, brogues) and historical fashion trends.
Clothing Mini Quiz
Test your knowledge with these top questions!
What type of leather is known for its smooth and shiny appearance due to a protective layer applied during the finishing process?
Patent leather gets its shiny appearance from a process where a lacquer or resin coating is applied during finishing.
Known in the UK as a dinner jacket, what formal clothing item is curiously referred to as a smoking in France?
The French term "smoking" for a tuxedo derives from 19th-century English smoking jackets, worn in post-dinner lounges for cigars, which evolved into formal wear.
Adopted from British India, what pleated sash is traditionally worn with the folds facing upward to catch crumbs?
The cummerbund, from Hindi "kamarband" meaning waistband, was adopted by British officers in India and worn with tuxedos to catch food crumbs in its upward-facing pleats.
To distinguish it from a business suit, a classic tuxedo jacket features satin or grosgrain facing on what part?
The satin or grosgrain facing on tuxedo lapels originated in the 1880s, inspired by European tailcoating traditions, to add a subtle sheen for evening formalwear.
Appearing blacker than black under artificial light, what color is the primary traditional alternative to a black tuxedo?
Midnight blue tuxedos, a staple since the 1930s, appear darker than black under incandescent lighting because the blue hue absorbs more warm light wavelengths than pure black fabric.
Before the tuxedo became popular in the 1880s, what coat with knee-length rear panels was standard evening wear?
The tailcoat, with its distinctive knee-length rear panels called tails, originated in the 18th century and served as the standard for men's formal evening wear until the tuxedo gained popularity in the 1880s.