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In the 1700's the shirt was worn as an undergarment. Made of linen,
the shirt did not open all the way down the front was pulled over the head.
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Although a man's shirt collar often had buttons and button holes,
it might be left to fold open while working. The front opening of the shirt had no button closure.
A square linen, cotton or silk neck cloth folded several times on the diagonal and wrapped around
the neck tied generally in a small bow or secured by a ribbon with the end of the neck cloth
hanging down, formed a cravat.
When the neck cloth was pleated or gathered into a band and provided with a buckle to attach it
in the back it was called a stock. The stock might only show the pleated band of the cloth or
might have an attached bow at the front.
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Some form of knee breeches had been worn in European dress since the mid 1600's. In the 1760's and 1770's, breeches were worn fairly full in the legs and the seat, fastened snuggly at the knee. The breeches could be tightened at the back of the waistband with laces or a buckle to make the waistband tight enough to rest on the hips. Thigh length waistcoats concealed the waistline of the breeches.
Trousers with loose legs and no knee band were known in the 1780's as sailor's or laborer's clothing. Sometimes farmers or teamsters would wear trousers as overalls to cover their breeches while working.
Neither breeches nor torusers closed with a fly front. A vertical opening was used in the early 1700's but was not re-introduced until the nineteenth century when it was considered rather risque. Instead the front opening was formed by a flap or fall of cloth which buttoned to the waistband with three buttons.
For ordinary wear, breeches were made of lenen or tow cloth in the summer and wool for cold weather. Fashionable breeches might have been wool braodcloth or silk satin, they fastedn at the knee with decorative buckles The breeches sometimes were made to match the coat but contrasting white breeches were also popular.
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| This vest-type garment had no sleeves or collar. In the early part of the 18th century waiscoats were worn thigh length. During the Revolutionary war the waistcoat was hip length. Because shirts were thought of as an undergarment, the waistcoat was essential to apearing fully dressed. The waistcoat might have been made of the same cloth as the rest of the suit, or made to accent the rest of the outfit. Fashionable waistcoats were made of striped or patterned material or could have been elaborately embroidered. |
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| The styles of coats changed many times during the eighteenth century. Generally they were long and loosely fitting. They had many buttons and sleeves with large cuffs. Coats were usually made of wool, but some very fashionable suits were made of silk. Buttons, braiding and brocade were used for decoration.
Banyans were loose gowns made of patterned silk, worn inside the home in warm weather.
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| A man's frock was a working garment worn over the shirt, waistcoat and breeches to keep clothing clean and provide warmth in winter. It was cut like and oversized shirtwith a partial front opening and pulled over the head. The frock was usually made of heavier weight of linen or wool that the shirt.
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| Stockings were an important part of a man's outfit. Fashionable men wore white or gtey silk stockings wheras working men wore more durable and less expensive stockings of linen or wool. The shapliness of a man's calves, appearing below the tight knee band of the breeches was a desirable trait. Stockings were designed to show off shapely calves. Padding was sometimes added to accentuate an man's leg.
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| Cocked hats were made of felt and came in brown or black.The tricorn was a three cornered cocked hat. Farmers often wore practical un cocked felt hats that had a wide brim and a low crown. At home men often wore soft caps or turbans. |
