18th Century Men’s Waistcoats

This page features a chronological index of men’s waistcoats from the 18th century, linking to surviving garments from museum collections worldwide. Trace the design evolution of the waistcoat, from long-sleeved waistcoats of the early 1700s to the shorter double-breasted styles of the 1780s and 1790s.

In L’Art du Tailleur (1769) Garsault tells you how to measure for a waistcoat (and other garments), the parts of a waistcoat with a diagram, and how to make a waistcoat with a pattern.

Additional Resources

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Tailleur d'habits et tailleur de corps in Encyclopédie ou Dictionnaire raisonné (1771)

An 18th Century Men’s Waistcoat: diagrams and instructions for fitting and constructing a waistcoat based on an embroidered waistcoat c. 1770

Eighteenth Century Men’s Civilian Waistcoats

Waistcoats From the Hopkins Collection c. 1720-1950

What Clothes Reveal: The Language of Clothing in Colonial and Federal America

Patterns for waistcoats from LACMA: a sleeved waistcoat, c. 1740, made in China for the Western market, and a waistcoat, c. 1750 made in France

Patterns by JP Ryan, Mill Farm (for men and boys)

Embroidery Patterns for Waistcoats

A pattern for embroidering an 18th century waistcoat

Elegant Pattern of a Waistcoat for the Tambour Embroidery &c.
(The Lady’s Magazine, January 1771)

A shaded pattern for embroidering the front of an 18th century waistcoat

An Elegant Tambour Pattern for a A Waistcoat Shaded properly for Working
(The Lady’s Magazine, April 1772)

A pattern of spangles and embroidered flowers for an 18th century waistcoat

An Elegant Pattern for Working a Waistcoat
(The Lady’s Magazine, March 1775)

A pattern for embroidering the border and pocket of an 18th century waistcoat

A New Pattern for Working a Waistcoat
(The Lady’s Magazine, October 1785)

18th Century Sleeved Waistcoats

Most sleeved waistcoats were produced in the first half of the 18th century. Some men’s jackets have a similar construction.

Met 1975.34.1, British, early 18th century

Manchester 1961.275, fawn silk brocade with bizarre design, 1705-1715

V&A T.200-1984, silk damask lined with fustian and silk, 1710-1720

Manchester 1953.455, cream satin waistcoat with chenille floral embroidery, 1720-1730

Manchester 2003.169, ribbed silk with metal thread embroidery, 1730-1740

V&A T.72-1951, brocaded silk, England, c. 1734

LACMA M.63.54.2, linen with silk embroidery, England, c. 1720-1755

Met 23.170.4, silk with metal thread embroidery, Britain, c. 1725-1750

LACMA M.2007.211.811, silk faille with silk embroidery, made in China for the western market, c. 1740

Met 1985.140.9, British, c. 1742

V&A T.94-1931, cream satin, embroidered with silk and silver threads, Britain, c. 1745

Manchester 1969.175, cord-quilted linen, 1745-1750

Met C.I.66.14.2, porcelain blue silk brocaded with silver-gilt foliate and appliquéd with polychrome silk, London, 1747

Man's embroidered vest, England

Meg Andrews 8635, light blue silk French damask, Friesland, c. 1750

V&A T.434-1967, figured silk damask, made in England c. 1750-1760

Christie’s Lot 3253 / Sale 4981, a fine waistcoat of white cotton with three-quarter sleeves and elaborate embroidery to the lapels and pockets

LACMA M.67.8.6, embroidered silk taffeta, France, c. 1760-1770

Manchester 1953.103, white twilled cotton with green silk embroidery, 1760-1780

Meg Andrews 8690, quilted waistcoat, c. 1770-1775