Unique A man's waistcoat with round neckline, curving fronts and skirts reaching to the top of the thigh. Each front has a pocket and a shaped pocket flap. The fronts and back skirts are made of blue satin; the back of blue glazed worsted twill. The waistcoat is lined with unbleached linen. The fronts are faced and the front skirts lined with blue silk sarsenet. The front neck, fronts, hems, pockets and pocket flaps are edged with a 2 cm-wide woven lace (braid) of silver thread and silver-gilt strip. There are 12 worked buttonholes along the left front and 12 corresponding buttons covered with silver strip and purl on the right front. The waistcoat was altered for size, probably during the lifetime of the wearer. The back seam allowance of the side seams has been let out. A man's waistcoat, 1775-1780, British; blue satin, silver braid trim A modest silver lace (braid) adorns this waistcoat of plain blue silk satin. In the 18th century the term lace applied to the fine linen variety that we are familiar with, as well as what we now call braid. In this example, silk, silver thread and silver-gilt strip have been woven in a simple geometric pattern. Like many metal laces of this period, the silver has tarnished and only a faint glimmer of the gilt remains. Skilful mitring and gathering allows the 2 cm-wide lace to be fitted around the corners and curved lines of the pocket and pocket flap. The short skirt of the waistcoat is typical of the 1770s.