Figure 1.--The jacket here looks to be a boy's suit jacket from the 18th century, although we can not confirm that. We are not sure how to describe this suit jacket stylistically other than an 18th century suit jacket. It would have presumably been worn with mastching knee breeches. Click on the image dor a close up of the sleeve treatment.

Vintage American 18th Century Suit

Textiles are perhishable materials. Thus the further back in history one goes the less likely it is to find clothing items. We have been able to find very few items from the 18th century. Items from the 18th century are readily available in museum collections, but relatively few are in private collections. The jacket here looks to be a boy's suit jacket from the 18th century, although we can not confirm that. We are not sure how to describe this suit jacket stylistically other than an 18th century suit jacket. Atleast we thought at first was a jacket. On closer examinatioin we are less sure. Notice that there is a collar and that there are no lapels. It would have presumably been worn with matching knee breeches. Perhaps readers who are more familiar with the period wil know more. Notice the fabric-covered buttons. Also the embroidered detailing. It was probanly worn with knee breeches. We have no information about the origins of the garment. It is all wool child's jacket. It was dark green with black trim. (The image looks blue with red trom.) Shoulder to shoulder it was 10 inches. The bust is 28 inches and the waist is 26 inches. The length is 21 inches. Tailored and lined with silk. A Canadian reader writes, "It could have been worn with a skirt. I saw something like that in a museum in Montreal." Another reader writes, "It looks to me similar to the clothes Marcel Proust and his brother wore as klittle boys, full-lenght jackets with skirts. This color was unusual before 1890, perhaps during the Civil War. The color seems American. Normally, this coat was more silky. Just a guess becuse I am not a specialist. The styling looks very French to me."






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Created: 6:05 PM 2/9/2006
Last updated: 6:05 PM 2/9/2006