Why do men across the world—from interns to CEOs—dress so alike? When the American Revolution transformed global ideas about governance, it also sparked an upheaval in style. As the new nation distanced itself from European royals, its leaders rejected the ornate fashions of the aristocracy in favor of sober, streamlined suits. These styles would become the foundation of menswear for the next 250 years, explains Chloe Chapin, a historian who also was a costume designer on Broadway.
Tracing the evolution of the modern suit, Chapin explores what it has meant to the men who created it, the women who later adopted it, and those who rebelled against it. From statesmen in the early American republic to contemporary cultural icons, she reveals how this seemingly simple style has shaped identity, authority, and self-expression.
Chapin’s new book, Suitable: The Sartorial Revolution and the Fashioning of Modern Men (Oxford University Press), is available for purchase.
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