Contrary to popular belief, the black tie is not a product of modern fashion. The origins of the Black tie date all the way back to the seventeenth century in France. You can thank Louis XII for the trend. However, the idea wasn't originally his. He stole it from Croatian mercenaries he had hired during the Thirty-Year War.
Louis XII only made the black tie compulsory to wear in his courts. It was The Prince of Wales, future King Edward VII, during the 18th century who paired the black tie with a black suit for casual outdoor dining. During that period of time, men were accustomed to wearing tailcoats.
As the Prince dined out more, he desired a more comfortable piece of garment. He and his friend Poole came up with the idea of cutting off tails. The first jacket was tailored at Sandringham, the British Family’s country estate which was worn with a black tie.
Since then, the attire has spread like wildfire all over the world, appearing in the US, France, and other countries. The style took on many forms to the year, evolving to the modern-day black tie suit.