Written by The Strategy

2017 marks Canada’s 150th birthday, and it’s a big deal for us Canucks. To celebrate this week, we’re talking about all the Canadian things we love. First up, the (maybe-not-so) Canadian Tuxedo.

It shouldn’t come as a surprise that denim is all the rage this summer. Shorts, dresses, shirts, hats…it’s all about the denim. It’s one of the most popular fabrics in the world, and one of the easiest to mix and match. Jeans and a white cotton shirt, a denim dress with canvas sneakers, and of course, our favourite combo: Denim on denim. The Canadian Tuxedo.

While we Canadian’s like to lay claim to the invention of this look, legend has it that the first inception of a Canadian Tuxedo came about when Bing Crosby was denied entry to a hotel in British Colombia in the early 1950s, because he was wearing jeans. Denim creator Levi Strauss responded by designing a denim tuxedo for Crosby which he proudly wore repeatedly. And, in the process, coined the term Canadian Tuxedo.

For us, whether we’re wearing it to the movies, the office, or a night out, denim on denim is the easiest ensemble to throw together. Thankfully, it’s also a timeless trend, popular since those early days in the 50s, thanks to Bing Crosby. Nowadays, the look is favoured by the likes of Rihanna, Olivia Palermo and the ever so stylish Hadid sisters.

We just have two rules for putting together a Canadian Tuxedo: Never match your denim (major faux pas), and be conscious of your accessories.  Now go forth and rock that blue denim.