AA-2026-006BB2
On the image
A young man stands in a shimmering metallic tuxedo, a popular choice in the 1970s for any occasion that demanded one appear both formal and slightly space-age. The wide lapels suggest he committed fully to the era's sartorial expectations.
He wears a boutonnière, a small floral accessory signifying a brief period of importance, likely before a school dance or similar rite of passage. This entire presentation was designed for a moment of heightened social significance, captured for posterity against a beige textured wall.
His expression is the universally acknowledged "this is my important photo" face, an attempt at adult gravitas that would become mildly embarrassing approximately five years later.
The historian's note
This portrait captures a young man in typical formal attire from the 1970s, likely for a high school prom or another significant social event. The metallic or iridescent fabric of the tuxedo jacket, often silver, gold, or light blue, was a fashionable choice during this decade, reflecting the era's distinctive aesthetic trends.
The wide lapels and the black bow tie were characteristic elements of men's formal wear of the period. The boutonnière, a small flower worn on the lapel, was a common accessory for such occasions, particularly when attending with a date.
Such photographs were often taken at home before attendees left for the event, serving as a personal record of a significant milestone in adolescent social life.
Subjects & keywords — each links to a search
Visually related — by likeness
Metallic Tuxedo Portrait, 1970s. 1970–1979. Archive & Atlas, Historical Image Library, AA-2026-006BB2. https://thearchive.archiveandatlas.com/library/metallic-tuxedo-portrait-1970s.
@misc{aaAA2026006BB2,
title = {Metallic Tuxedo Portrait, 1970s},
year = {1970–1979},
howpublished = {Archive \& Atlas, Historical Image Library},
note = {Accession AA-2026-006BB2},
url = {https://thearchive.archiveandatlas.com/library/metallic-tuxedo-portrait-1970s}
}TY - ART TI - Metallic Tuxedo Portrait, 1970s PY - 1970–1979 PB - Archive & Atlas, Historical Image Library AN - AA-2026-006BB2 UR - https://thearchive.archiveandatlas.com/library/metallic-tuxedo-portrait-1970s ER -
From the community
Identifications, corrections, and discussion from readers — reviewed by a librarian before appearing here.
Sign in to add an identification, correction, or comment.
No notes yet — be the first to add what you know about this image.