How 15 Celebrities Modernized the Timeless Canadian Tuxedo

Plenty of funny-sounding fashion terms—I'm looking at you, Coastal Grandmas—come and go, depending on the season. However, one peculiarly dubbed fashion style has withstood the test of time to become a style go-to for many celebrities, and that is, of course, the Canadian Tuxedo. The colloquial term originated after crooner Bing Crosby was reportedly refused entry to a hotel in 1951 because he was wearing a denim top and denim pants, which prompted Levi Strauss & Co. to design a custom tuxedo made of head-to-toe denim in response to the news for Crosby to wear as a cheeky publicity stunt.

The Crosby conundrum has been credited as denim's evolutionary catalyst going from blue-collar utilitarian wear into a fashion staple; however, the popularity of the full "Canadian tuxedo" trend has always been polarizing, being accepted as effortlessly chic by some, and an uninspired faux pas by others. In 2021, Canadian Tuxedos gained red carpet notoriety when Britney Spears wore a denim patchwork gown from Kurt and Burt to the American Music Awards and was accompanied by Justin Timberlake, who matched the pop diva in a light-wash Canadian tuxedo and denim cowboy hat. To this day, the duo remains at the forefront of historical red carpet moments for daring to be decked out in head-to-toe denim.

While naysayers may wag their fingers at denim-on-denim ensembles, the fact that stylish stars, such as Rihanna, Bella Hadid, and Julia Fox, have found new and exciting ways to update the Canadian tuxedo, from swapping out jeans with maxi skirts or cinched-in corsets for button-downs, proves not only its versatility but longevity as well.

Ahead, see how some of our favorite celebrities have modernized the Canadian tuxedo throughout recent years.