What was the whole purpose of the "butt flaps" on the older suits?

i really don’t think they had any perpose. were they added for effect? were they to show wealth? the image in my head is of a piano player whipping them away before he sits down.

Answer #1

Surely you mean “tails” - it’s called a “tailcoat”.

Actually the coat used to be long all the way around but, eventually, someone had the bright idea to cut away the front to make it easier to ride a horse. The style gave way to formal suits and the tailcoats we still know today.

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