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the eighteenth-century gentleman would
balance the fashion for wearing wigs by
being clean-shaven he wore a long linen
nightshirt in bed and a Banyan or
wrapper over it after getting up such a
garment would also serve as an informal
indoor coat and would be worn about the
house over shirt waistcoat and breeches
both types of garment reflect British
interests abroad the wrapper was
Japanese in influence while the Banyan
was based on an Indian gown
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the shirt opened with a small vertical
slit at the neck which was sometimes
disguised with ruffles the shirt was
full with voluminous sleeves and square
shaped gussets under the arms to allow
for ease of movement stockings came up
and over the knee and were held in place
by the knee band on the breeches the
gentleman would select his accessories
according to the occasion selecting shoe
buckles of Steel for everyday wear or
silver perhaps set with precious stones
or glass paste for special occasions the
shirt cuffs were usually fastened with a
pair of cuff buttons linked with a chain
a gentleman might wear linen under
drawers but since the shirt was cut with
long tails so that it would tuck neatly
around the groin for comfort drawers
were not essential the knee breeches
were cut full at the back and were
gathered into the waistband with a laced
vent to allow the wearer to sit or ride
more comfortably they fastened at the
front waist with buttons and the fall
flap performed the function of the
modern fly
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breaches usually had at least one pair
of pockets
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the breaches closed the side of the knee
with buttons and the knee band was
closed with buttons buckles or ties just
beneath the knee suit waistcoats were
made either to match or to contrast with
the coat the top few buttons would be
left undone to allow the shirt ruffles
to show although the pocket buttons were
placed below the pocket flap suggesting
that it was just for show the pockets
were in fact functional the shirt collar
was soft and closed with tapes or
buttons and the gentlemen would wear a
fine linen cravat or stock of it
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men's shoes were buckled across the top
of the foot the stock was made of
pleated linen and fastened at the back
of the neck with a buckle a gentleman
would have owned at least two weeks so
that one could be dressed while the
other was worn but would probably have
had a number of styles to choose from he
would have worn a wrapper to protect his
clothing and a mask to protect his face
while the wig was being dusted wig
powder was made from finely ground
starch scented with orange flower or
lavender it also came in many colors
including grey brown black or white it
was even available in blue it was
applied by the means of puffers shakers
or miniature bellows a black bow would
be tied at the back of the neck to
control the wig tail or q men's formal
dress suits consisted of three garment
breeches waistcoat and coat they could
be made of matching or contrasting
fabrics of silk linen or wool left plain
or decorated with metal braid or
embroidery and sequins a suit of three
identical pieces was known as a ditto
suit a gentleman's coat fitted smoothly
across the chest and back and widened
into a skirt with pleats at the side C
it was usually worn unbuttoned the coats
centre-back vent allowed the skirts to
be swept aside for sitting or riding
the open side vents allowed a ceremonial
sword to emerge
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