Man's Waistcoat

Clothing and Dress

Man's Waistcoat

ca. 1850s

Length: 23 inches from collar to front point. (58.4 cm)
Waist: 18.5 inches from side seam to side seam at widest point. (47 cm)

The front of the vest is made of an ivory-colored silk woven in a comples pile pattern. The back of the vest and the lining are made of a plain weave, white cotton. The vest has a shawl collar and two small pockets. There are five small 7/16 inch (1 cm) self-covered buttons down the front of the vest. The collar and front edges are piped. The vest is entirely hand sewn. Four ties on the lower back of the vest were used to adjust the size.

The vest is in good condition for its age, with a few stains throughout. Men’s fashion in the 1850s started off with closely-cut sleeves and trousers, but by the middle of the decade the silhouette began to relax. The 1850s saw a trend toward less restrictive, more comfortable clothing. The invention of the sewing machine at the end of the 1840s led to an increase in ready-made garments for men. Men wore dark, solid colors, especially black. Vests tended to follow this trend but could be made of more colorful or elaborate fabrics for special occasions. White vests in particular were popular for evening wear. Based on the fashion trends of the 1850s, this vest from the Collection is most likely designed for evening wear.

References

Franklin, Harper. “1850-1859.” Fashion History Timeline. Retrieved December 29, 2022 from: https://fashionhistory.fitnyc.edu/1850-1859/

Donor: Mrs. T. J. Foster

URI 1979.04.27

Arianna Gutierrez