Cutaway coat

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

The narrow silhouette of the late 18th century is portrayed brilliantly in this court coat. Although this would have been worn with a coordinating breeches and a waistcoat originally, the extant coat alone shows the importance attached to complex and visually intriguing surface decoration provided by embroidery, appliqué and unique textiles.

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