Three-piece Men's Suit - Habit de Ville

This simple suit of iridescent silk velvet shows the colour scheme popular in the late 1780s, bottle-green and bronze. Its stylish cut with high, upright collar, deeply drawn neckline and far set tails shows it to be a so-called half suit, habit de ville. The sleeves are set high. It fastens on the chest only for a moment with two fabric-covered buttons. Cream-coloured silk braid outlines all edges to great effect. The fashionably tight breeches fasten à pont. The curved front portion offers a view of the waistcoat worn beneath with a straight cut, a gilet. Fine embroidery of multi-coloured silk ribbons adorns the front portions: vertically oval flower wreaths alternate with short bars of silk ribbon or metal sequins. The gilet is fastened with eleven small fabric-covered, embroidered buttons.