my18thcenturysource:Sleeved WaistcoatsEvery time I read/hear/say that term, can’t help but giggle: s

my18thcenturysource:Sleeved WaistcoatsEvery time I read/hear/say that term, can’t help but giggle: sleeved waistcoat. LOL. Of course, for us nowadays sounds pretty crazy or nonsense, but originally waistcoats had sleeves.The vest was introduced in the 17th century in the court of king Charles II as part of a new kind of dress for court, of course guys were pretty puzzled by it, but it was a key change in menswear (remember that before that the doublet was the key piece for men and that it was reigning for centuries by then) that took the look into the baroque era and the 18th century. It is said that the inspiration was taken from the outfits worn by men who had traveled to Persia like Sir Robert Shirley had at the beginning of the 17th century (here’s Sir Robert Shirley’s portrait from 1622 by Anthony van Dyck):The sleeved waistcoat was a key part of the suit in the second half of the 17th century and the first part of the 18th century. This garment was very much decorated on the parts that should be seen: the front, bottom and cuffs. Usually (as you can see with the examples above, it was made of two fabrics: the main and more expensive one was embroidered and embellished and the other less expensive and simpler fabric was used for the back and sleeves. In few lavish examples the whole garment was made of the main fabric (see the yellow waistcoat above).The sleeves changed shapes while the coats worn above changed too. While the 18th century advanced the coat sleeves became tighter and the waistcoat sleeves disappeared.Images from above:Sleeved waistcoat of brown ribbed silk brocaded in a big floral design, ca. 1734, England, Victoria & Albert Museum.Red sleeved waistcoat, 1720s, MFA Boston.Sleeved waistcoat of blue voided velvet, ca. 1750, France, LiveAuctioners.Sleeved Waistcoat in blue silk with blue embroidery, ca. 1740, China for Western market, LACMA.Green brocade sleeved waistcoat, 1720-1730, England, Colonial Williamsburg Collection.Yellow sleeved waistcoat, 1730-39, France or England, Victoria & Albert Museum.Sleeved waistcoat in blue wool and gilt metal braids (part of a full surviving suit), ca. 1760, England, The Metropolitan Museum of Art.Baby blue sleeved waistcoat, 1747, England, design by Anna Maria Garthwaite, manufactured by Peter Lekeux, The Metropolitan Museum of Art.Sleeved waistcoat of red velvet with gold embroidery, ca. 1730, England, LACMA. -- source link

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