tailcoat
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tailcoat
A very formal black evening suit for men, whose jacket is short at the front and extends into two long, swallowtail-like tails at the back. It is typically worn with a white bow tie.
Zum Opernball erschien er standesgemäß im Frack.
He appeared at the opera ball appropriately dressed in a tailcoat.
A 'Frack' (tailcoat) is the most formal evening wear for men. It is worn only on very exclusive occasions where the dress code is 'großer Gesellschaftsanzug' or, internationally, 'White Tie.'
Der Dirigent betrat die Bühne im Frack.
The conductor stepped onto the stage in a tailcoat.
A tailcoat is traditionally worn with a white waistcoat and a white bow tie. The trousers have no belt loops and are held up with suspenders.
Er musste noch lernen, wie man die weiße Fliege zum Frack richtig bindet.
He still had to learn how to tie the white bow tie properly with the tailcoat.
The combination 'Frack und Zylinder' (tailcoat and top hat) is proverbial for extremely elegant, almost overly formal clothing. It can also be used ironically.
Zur Party musst du nicht gleich in Frack und Zylinder kommen.
You don't have to come to the party in a tailcoat and top hat.
suit
'der Anzug' and 'der Frack' both refer to formal men's clothing. An 'Anzug', however, is much more general and fits many official situations, for example a wedding, an appointment, or a celebration. A 'Frack' is much more specific and very formal. It is worn only at especially formal evening events, often with a white bow tie. The words can be confused because a 'Frack' is also a type of formal suit. In everyday life, 'Anzug' is usually the right word. 'Frack' only fits when you mean exactly this very elegant clothing with the special long tails at the back.
Für den Ball braucht der Musiker einen Frack und eine weiße Fliege.
For the ball, the musician needs a tailcoat and a white bow tie.
Zum Termin bei der Bank zieht Paul einen grauen Anzug an.
Paul puts on a gray suit for his appointment at the bank.