Suit

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

This suit is the epitome of mid-18th century men's wear with its curved jacket front, fitted breeches, narrow sleeves and decorative mid-thigh length waistcoat. Waistcoats of the time were a vehicle for imagination and, in this case, add an ornate aspect to an otherwise conservative ensemble. The unique textile of the waistcoat indicates an interest in the exotic, with a stairway leading up to a pavilion with an overarching natural elements, while still following traditional floral patterning commonly found in waistcoats of the 18th century. Unlike most suits of the period, this suit can be undoubtedly linked through matching buttons on the coat, breeches and waistcoat.

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