The Bing Crosby Denim Tuxedo is Back

In 1948, Bing Crosby dominated over half of all the 800,000 hours of radio music played that year. Yet three years later, when the legend walked into a Canadian hotel, he was denied entry because he was dressed from head to toe in denim. After a few of what we imagine were the most mellifluous sounding DO-YOU-KNOW-WHO-I-AMs ever, Bing was let in. (Side note: people clearly saw him, and a serious trend was born.) Despite the lack of Internet, word of this encounter reached the Levi's headquarters in San Francisco, where work immediately began on the Bing Crosby Denim Tuxedo, now available again thanks to Levi's Vintage Clothing.

Inside the Crosby tux jacket, Levi's included a "Notice To Hotel Men Everywhere," in no uncertain terms:  "This label entitles the wearer to be duly received and registered with cordial hospitality at anytime and under any conditions." 

Levi's presented Bing with the triumphant garment at an event in Elko, Nevada, a city where Bing happened to be honorary mayor. To our knowledge, he was never denied entry into a hotel again.

To contrast the blue collar and deep indigo, Levi's added a rosette made of their red tabs, giving the tux a built in boutonnière. Naturally, the center is secured by rivets.

The reissue (right) faithfully follows every design detail of the original version, which can still be found on eBay.