1.   A century ago, butlers often wore mismatched trousers with their evening tail coats, to make sure no one ever mistook them for dinner guests.

2.   Ms. James says that with a larger budget, she would have come closer to her wish list, namely custom-tailored tail coats for the men.

3.   She recalls her delight, after experiencing racism as a high school student, in seeing black senators in tail coats governing Haiti.

4.   Women in Empire gowns in tones of blue and gold moved about a ballroom arm in arm with men in tail coats and breeches.

5.   In his black tail coat, white tie and stiff collar, he will seem indistinguishable from the other bewildered new boys starting the fall term at Eton College.