18th Century

Styles of the 18th century, reflected the increasing European trade with the Far East. Specific clothing were men’s dressing gowns and the mantua-cut for women’s dresses. Some of the textiles were oriental silk, brocades, damasks, and Indian Chintz, Calico, and muslin fabrics. The last quarter of the century, English styles for both men and women had an impact on Parisian fashion. As seen on vogue for simpler styles were women’s clothes were redingotes, a coat-dress that came from English men’s riding coats. The costume for men in the Early 18th century consisted of undergarments, a shirt, waistcoat, an outer coat, knee-length breeches, hose, and shoes. Hats and wigs were worn on appropriate occasions. Drawers were worn next to the skin beneath breeches, closed at the waist with drawstrings or buttons, made of white cotton or wool, ending at the knee. The shirts had a ruffled frill at the front of the neck and the sleeves. Undervests or under waistcoats worn during cold weather, worn over a shirt, sometimes made with a collar that was visible. Others were only utilitarian and hidden from view. Collars and cravat were generally made of white cotton or linen. The first half of the century the collar gathered at the neck band with neck cloths or cavarts wound around the neck and knotted under the chin, concealing the collar. The second half of the century, the neck bands lengthened, evolving into a collar that was sewn to the shirt. Costume components for Men were dress coats, breeches, and waistcoats were made from less decorative fabrics full dress garments were made of brocades and trimmed with handsome embroidery and lace. The coats had extra fullness that was added to the straighter cut ending at the knee, coats buttoned to the hem until 1720, and to the waist after 1720. The sleeves end in a large full attached cuffs that either closed all arpound or open at the back. Cuffs that reached the elbow were called boot cuffs. Edged with flaps and scallop edges,