18th Century Men's Outerwear
Sleeveless waistcoat:
#1700M02
Start at $100
Sleeveless waistcoats go under a coat or frock coat. Paul Revere is pictured in his “shirtsleeves,” a shirt and sleeveless waistcoat. This is a form of undress that was appropriate for the home or hard labor, but not for public or social events like meetings, church or formal visiting.
Sleeveless waistcoats usually had dress fabric on the fronts and utilitarian fabric on the backs as the back was covered with another coat or waistcoat. Only the fronts of sleeveless waistcoats were embroidered.
Sleeved waistcoat:
#1700M03
Start at $120
Sleeved waistcoats are informal dress wear worn over a shirt and breeches. They were appropriate for public, and were the most common outer garment for lower and working class men. Upper class men often wore them as part of a three-piece suit, sleeveless waistcoat, sleeved waistcoat and coat.
Knee Breeches:
#1700M04
Fly front or Drop front.
Start at $55 (buttons are extra)
Knee breeches extend a few inches below the knee and button, buckle or tie closed. Stockings can be worn over the knee band to create a more formal look, or under the knee band for an informal look.
*Wearing the socks over the knee band makes breeches appear shorter than they are. Breeches from the 1700's should cover your knees when you sit.
Coat:
#1700M05
Starts at $200
Coats are knee length and full skirted with pleats or vents. Cuffs can be over-sized and turned back. They can be trimmed or left plain. Self-fabric covered buttons were a favorite decoration. Coat styles changed depending on region and year.
Capote:
#1700M06
Starts at $200
Capotes were the favorite blanket coats in North America.
Trappers, traders, native Americans and townspeople wore them. Earlier capotes were cut garments, similar to frock coats. Later versions were ripped with the grain of the fabric and are very simple garments.
Frock Coat:
#1700M07
Starts at $220
Frock coats have a wide, flat collar and are less formal than a coat. There are many different styles of frock coat depending on year and region.
Please note that this is NOT the fringed frock coat used in Rev War reenacting.
Banyon:
#1700M08
cotton, linen, silk, satin, brocade
Starts at $100
A banyon is a dressing gown worn by men in their homes over a shirt, waistcoat and breaches. It was only worn out when a man was going to the barber.
Cloak:
#1700M09
Full length Starts at $200 (thigh - ankle)
½ length Starts at $100 (waist - hips)
Men's cloaks are usually full circle or semi-fitted garments that fall in elegant folds. They can have capes, hoods or collars. Styles change with time period and region
18th Century Men's Outerwear
Sleeveless waistcoat:
#1700M02
Start at $100
Sleeveless waistcoats go under a coat or frock coat. Paul Revere is pictured in his “shirtsleeves,” a shirt and sleeveless waistcoat. This is a form of undress that was appropriate for the home or hard labor, but not for public or social events like meetings, church or formal visiting.
Sleeveless waistcoats usually had dress fabric on the fronts and utilitarian fabric on the backs as the back was covered with another coat or waistcoat. Only the fronts of sleeveless waistcoats were embroidered.
Sleeved waistcoat:
#1700M03
Start at $120
Sleeved waistcoats are informal dress wear worn over a shirt and breeches. They were appropriate for public, and were the most common outer garment for lower and working class men. Upper class men often wore them as part of a three-piece suit, sleeveless waistcoat, sleeved waistcoat and coat.
Knee Breeches:
#1700M04
Fly front or Drop front.
Start at $55 (buttons are extra)
Knee breeches extend a few inches below the knee and button, buckle or tie closed. Stockings can be worn over the knee band to create a more formal look, or under the knee band for an informal look.
*Wearing the socks over the knee band makes breeches appear shorter than they are. Breeches from the 1700's should cover your knees when you sit.
Coat:
#1700M05
Starts at $200
Coats are knee length and full skirted with pleats or vents. Cuffs can be over-sized and turned back. They can be trimmed or left plain. Self-fabric covered buttons were a favorite decoration. Coat styles changed depending on region and year.
Capote:
#1700M06
Starts at $200
Capotes were the favorite blanket coats in North America.
Trappers, traders, native Americans and townspeople wore them. Earlier capotes were cut garments, similar to frock coats. Later versions were ripped with the grain of the fabric and are very simple garments.
Frock Coat:
#1700M07
Starts at $220
Frock coats have a wide, flat collar and are less formal than a coat. There are many different styles of frock coat depending on year and region.
Please note that this is NOT the fringed frock coat used in Rev War reenacting.
Banyon:
#1700M08
cotton, linen, silk, satin, brocade
Starts at $100
A banyon is a dressing gown worn by men in their homes over a shirt, waistcoat and breaches. It was only worn out when a man was going to the barber.
Cloak:
#1700M09
Full length Starts at $200 (thigh - ankle)
½ length Starts at $100 (waist - hips)
Men's cloaks are usually full circle or semi-fitted garments that fall in elegant folds. They can have capes, hoods or collars. Styles change with time period and region