suit

Summary

Purple silk coat and breeches, with green uncut velvet stripe. coat: lined cream twilled silk high standing collar, fronts curving away to sides with ten buttons and three buttonholes, cut in one piece with skirt; pocket, white linen, with shaped flap, each side; back in two shaped sections continuing to form centre back of skirt, open below waist with overlap; open and pleated from waist each side of back, caught at hem with button and stitching and with stitching in two places above; long fitting sleeves in two sections, with cuffs; three buttons below each pocket-flap, one at top of each side-back slit, three on each cuff. breeches: wide waistband lined white cotton, fastening in front with three buttons; white cotton gusset at back fastening with strap lined white cotton and tab with buttonhole; front flap lined cream twilled silk with short slit near top in central seam, fastening with two buttons; pocket, white cotton, each side extending from front to side, fastening towards back with one button; small deep slit pocket (white cotton) in waistband each side of centre front; knee fastening lined white cotton and cream twilled silk with five buttons; one buttonhole in kneeband. Worn by Sir John Thomas Stanley of Alderley (6th bt 1735 = 1807)

Display Label

The eighteenth century monied male was often a peacock, eager to display his taste and wealth, and fond of lavishly decorated or patterned fabrics, and bright striking colours. The usual outfit remained the three piece suit of coat, waistcoat and breeches until 1800, when trousers began to replace breeches. Fashionable suits were usually plain woollen facecloth for practical urban or rural wear; woven silks for more formal evening occasions; and highly trimmed and embroidered silk satins and velvets for court wear. Waistcoats were sleeved until the 1740s, then sleeveless as today, and they were often embroidered to match the coat. Looser banyans or gowns were worn for relaxing in the home, when the wig would be replaced by a comfortable "nightcap". Working men wore jackets and waistcoats of hard-wearing fustian (cotton and linen mix) or wool, with breeches of leather or later cheap cotton corduroy, "thicksett" or velveret.