"Host Coat"???

[JLibourel]

Perusing an old (1969) book of mine put out by Esquire on grooming and style, I ran across this term. I was unfamiliar with it. From the context, I assume that it is a sort of tuxedo alternative, something on the order of a smoking jacket. Anyway, can some knowledgeable sartorialist give me a precise definition of the term? A web search proved fruitless.

 

[rssmsvc]

I had a RLPL jacket that had a velvet collar and cashmere body with hacking pockets with that name but I have no other info.

 

[yachtie]

A "host coat" is a smoking jacket that's either red or bottle green and used to distinguish the host of a black tie party from the guests ( who'd be wearing black). There's an AA illustration floating around somewhere- I think Will posted it on his blog IIRC.

 

[grimslade]

They're usually worn with free, special-order spectators, especially in photographs. If you know what I mean.

 

[tricota]

Originally Posted by grimslade

They're usually worn with free, special-order spectators, especially in photographs. If you know what I mean.

Eh...No...

 

[JLibourel]

Originally Posted by tricota

Eh...No...

You're too new to the forum to get the allusion: Last summer J launched a petition to Allen-Edmonds to name a shoe style after me because I had championed their shoes so often in the men's clothing fora, both here and on AAAC (back when I was still active on AAAC). I suggested that it be a spectator in chestnut and white suede. Well, A-E never named a shoe style after me, but almost exactly a year ago they sent me precisely such a pair of spectators as a token of their appreciation. I profusely thanked A-E, J and the forum members who made it happen. Members naturally wanted to see pictures. I don't have a digital camera. My stepson took some digital photos, but was unable to post them. Thus the images of the spectators have yet to appear here, a year later. It has become sort of a running gag.

 

[LabelKing]

I imagine it is something like those fancy dinner jackets one sometimes sees in mid-century illustrations, or what Ralph Lauren puts out.