Silk Vest Rendered by Florence Earl (artist), c. 1938 watercolor, graphite, and colored pencil on paperboard overall: 46.9 x 37.2 cm (18 7/16 x 14 5/8 in.) Index of American Design 1943.8.1603 |
Object 6 of 26
By the middle of the eighteenth century, men's waistcoats were becoming shorter and more open at the center front. This one, dated from about 1775 to 1780, is an example of the shorter-style garment. By 1790, waistcoats would be shortened to waist length, and the skirt or "peplum," seen here, would disappear. The scale and type of decoration also changed, becoming smaller and more delicate. Floral patterns and narrow stripes were also common in the fabrics for women's clothing during the 1770s.
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