suit

Summary

Pinkish mauve silk coat, waistcoat and breeches in alternating diagonal weave, figured with flowers in blue, white and indigo. Coat : lined cream twilled silk except back to waist, lined alpaca, and sleeves, lined white cotton front fastening with thirteen silk covered buttons and buttonholes (the lower two uncut) to 2ins from round neck with narrow band, tapering to front; hook and eye at neck; pocket, white linen, with shaped flap, each side at waist; four buttons below flap; skirt curving away slightly to sides in front; back in two sections; skirt flared and pleated at sides; open seam caught at hem and halfway up; button at top and bottom of seam, two more between; two centre back sections of skirt seamed at waist, centre back skirt seam open, pleat at side back seam; long sleeves in two sections, wrist lined cream twilled silk; turn-back cuff trimmed four buttons; pleat in lining at left front edge behind buttonholes. Breeches : shaped waistband lined white linen except at left of centre front, lined mauve cloth almost matching suit 1954.958/3, and centre back lined white twilled linen and cotton; centre back lacing white linen tape over cream twilled silk gusset, centre front fastening with three buttons and buttonholes; small slit pocket in lining of waistband to left of centre front; front flap lined cream twilled silk, fastening two smaller buttons, pocket, chamois leather, each side, flap lined cream twilled silk fastening with button over each hip; back gathered into waistband; seamed centre back and at inner and outer leg; knee fastening with four buttons and buttonholes, opening lined cream twilled silk and white linen; buttonhole in kneeband. Waistcoat : pinkish-mauve silk in alternating diagonal weave, figured with flowers in blue, white and indigo silk; back of pink, yellow, white and black chequered glazed cotton; skirt lining and front edge facing cream twilled silk; rest of lining white twilled cotton and linen front fastening 1in from round neck with fourteen silk covered buttons and buttonholes; skirt cut away in front and flared at sides; side seams open with slight overlap; pocket, white linen, at waist each side, with shaped flap with ornamental vertical buttonhole each end and four buttons below; back in two sections, centre back seam open below waist Worn by Thomas Carill-Worsley (1739-1808), who lived at Platt Hall 1764-1808

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.