It’s easy to forget that not all that long ago, the suit as we know it today was viewed as casualwear. When the frock coat, which was the uniform of 18th century gentleman, fell out of favour thanks to the French revolution and the sartorial smarts of one Beau Brummell, tailors first created the morning suit, then eventually ditched the tails of the jacket, cutting it much shorter to the hips and designed to be worn with trousers cut from the very same cloth.
One would never wear it for smart occasions, or even in the relaxed company of friends.