Description
Students on this course will get the chance to participate in the cut and construction of this 1681 ensemble which consisted originally of a coat, waistcoat and breeches. Essentially this is an early version of the three-piece suit. The white satin waistcoat does not survive but the tailor’s bill for all three garments does, so we are making the waistcoat, coat and breeches as described by George Crump the tailor.
We are publishing the patterns of the coat and the breeches in our upcoming book Patterns of Fashion 7: the content, cut, construction and context of European menswear c.1620-1710.
Both the waistcoat and the breeches are described as being ‘Richly Laced with gold and Silver Lace and knots of Ribbon Round the knees’ on July the 2nd 1681. We will be adding interpretations of all this sumptuous ribbon and lace to our reconstruction so, unlike the V&A museum images of the breeches as they are today, ours will hopefully give people an impression of how spectacularly decorated they were originally.
Examples of extant 17th century textiles, several mid-17th century tailored items and some accessories worn by both men and women will be available for close examination by students during the course.
TUTORS Jenny Tiramani and colleagues
5-Day Course – MONDAY 31th AUGUST TO FRIDAY 4th SEPTEMBER 2026 – The course is suitable for students who have some experience of hand-stitching.
£250 (This fee is half-price – our normal concession price for 2026 is £100 per day).
10am to 6pm – with a vegetarian lunch and drinks included.
The course will take place at The School of Historical Dress, 52 Lambeth Road, London, SE1 7PP.
Places are non-refundable unless we can re-sell your place. This is the only way we can keep our class sizes small to give each student enough tuition (6 to 8 students per class).
