Unique Man’s coat and waistcoat About 1760–80 A fashionable man would have worn these garments in the city during the day, perhaps when shopping. He would have bought the fine wool from a draper and taken it to a tailor to be made into a bespoke three-piece suit with breeches. The eye-catching red cloth is set off by a subtly revealed sky-blue lining and silver spangled buttons. Probably France Wool; silk twill and linen lining Buttons: foiled metal, embroidered with silver spangles and thread [09/12/2015] Man's red woollen coat (broadcloth/draps fin) and waistcoat lined with pale-blue silk twill (serge de soie). A small running stitch outlines the edge of the coat, waistcoat and their pocket flaps. Buttons covered in red foil and embroidered with silver spangles and silver thread. The button band is strengthened with some kind of stiffening which is sewn down about 4.5cm from the outer edge with a similarly expert running stitch which is nearly invisible. A suit of this type would have been appropriate for smart day wear for a man-about-town, its buttons adding a little sparkle to an otherwise plain ensemble, its contrasting lining providing a hint of sumptuousness as the man promenaded or visited the most fashionable venues. It is likely that the cloth was purchased from a specialist woollen draper (marchand drapier) who acquired stocks of different qualities and colours of wool to sell to prospective clients. Once the cloth had been selected, the customer would have had his tailor make up his suit to measure. Sometimes tailors purchased the fabrics on behalf of their customers. Man's red woollen coat and waistcoat lined with blue silk, ca.1770, Cloth covered buttons decorated with foil. Possibly made in France or the Netherlands. This coat and waistcoat probably originally belonged to a three piece suit, of which the breeches are mssing. It is a high class garment, beautifully made to measure, and probably appropriate for use in an urban or country house setting.