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Waistcoat & breeches

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possibly made in Britain

Waistcoat & breeches
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This man's silk brocade sleeved waistcoat and breeches dates from between around 1705 and 1710. It was possibly made in Britain.

The silk has faded from its original pink to a pale beige. The brocading (raised design) is of an exotic leaf and flower pattern. The waistcoat, although lacking the large cuffs of the jacket, does have the same buttons, buttonholes and style of pocket flap which the jacket would have had.

The outfit that represented the basis of the three-piece suit was introduced by Charles II in 1666. It consisted of a long, narrow knee-length vest, an outer coat and a pair of breeches. For the rest of the 17th century, this new coat outfit remained fairly loose and comfortable. By the turn of the century, however, the skirts were becoming fuller and eventually required padding or stiffening.

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