Jacket (suo) and trousers (nagabakama)

Art Historical Context

This elegant 19th-century Japanese, consisting of a *suo* jacket and *nagabakama* trousers, offers a glimpse into traditional attire from the late Edo or early Meiji period. Crafted for comfort in Japan's humid summers, the *suo*—a lightweight, unlined jacket—and flowing *nagabakama* wide trousers were likely worn by nobility, performers, or during ceremonial occasions. Now housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Art Department, this gift from John B. Elliott through the Mercer Trust highlights the refined craftsmanship of anonymous artisans. The garments are made from hemp and ramie, dura...