Waistcoat

Art Historical Context

Step into the elegant world of 1840s America with this charming cotton waistcoat from the Costume Institute at The Metropolitan Museum of Art. to around 1840 and crafted by an unknown American artist, this garment exemplifies the refined menswear of the antebellum era. Waistcoats like this were a staple of a gentleman's wardrobe, worn under a frock coat for formal occasions, business, or social calls, reflecting the growing sophistication of American fashion influenced by British and European trends. Made entirely of cotton—a fabric that revolutionized clothing during the Industrial Revolutio...