Frock Coat

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

Another English influence on European fashions was the adoption of the frac, or frock coat. It had a rolled collar, narrow sleeves with small cuffs, and a short waistline with cutaway tails. A late version, like this example from the 1790s, was cut almost to the middle of the chest to show a good portion of the waistcoat when it was buttoned; the frac was worn with contrasting breeches. The fine muslin stock worn with this jacket was wrapped around the neck several times and tied in a large knot under the chin.

The Costume Institute

An exhibit at Metropolitan Museum of Art

The Costume Institute's collection of more than thirty-three thousand objects represents seven centuries of fashionable dress and accessories for men, women, and children, from the fifteenth century to the present.

Metropolitan Museum of Art