Suit, c.1770-80 (wool, linen & velvet)

Mauve wool, matching 3-piece suit, trimmed with silver braid. coat: lined cream glazed twilled wool, sleeves lined brown linen fronts in one section, fastening from 18.8 cm below round neck with nine bone buttons, covered silver with filigree decoration; high collar lined fawn velvet, to be worn either standing or turned down, and fastening with two smaller silver covered bone buttons; pocket (fawn cotton) below waist each side with shaped flap with four vertical buttonholes the outer two fastening to button beneath, the inner two uncut, with corresponding button below flap; back in two shaped sections, centre seam open from waist with overlap, skirt flared and pleated at open side seams, caught at intervals, with button at top and bottom and two between; long fitting sleves in two sections with turn-back cuff; pocket, brown cotton, in lining above waist at left side; pleat in lining behind buttonholes at front edge; all buttonholes outlined in silver braid; double line of silver braid round collar and cuffs, single line of silver braid round front, pocket and skirt back and side back edges breeches: lined white linen and cotton wide, slightly shaped, waistband of paler material than rest of suit, open at centre back with two holes each side for lacing, laced with faded mauve silk ribbon, centre front fastening with two silver covered bone buttons; front flap, lined cream glazed twilled wool, fastening with smaller button each side; pocket, chamois leather, each side, wool lined flap fastening with four silver covered buttons, front edge of opening lined wool, kneeband fastening with mauve silk ribbon drawstring; silver braid round buttonholes except on waistband; knee fastening edged silver braid. waistcoat: mauve cloth lined white linen and cotton; skirt lining and front edge facing cream glazed twilled wool; sleeves lined linen and cotton, and cream wool fronts fastening to 3.8 cm below high round neck with eleven silver covered bone buttons with silver filigree decoration; skirt front flared at sides, seam open with slight overlap; pocket, fawn cotton, at waist each side with shaped flap with four vertical buttonholes, the outer two fastening to button beneath, inner two uncut, with buttons below flap; back in two sections, open from wrist halfway to elbow, rounded at corners; neck, front edges, pocket flaps and surrounds outlined silver braid. Worn by Thomas Carill-Worsley (1739-1808), who lived at Platt Hall 1759-1808. The eighteenth century monied male was often a peacock, eager to display his taste and wealth, and fond of lavishly decorated or patterned fabrics, and bright striking colours. The usual outfit remained the three piece suit of coat, waistcoat and breeches until 1800, when trousers began to replace breeches. Fashionable suits were usually plain woollen facecloth for practical urban or rural wear; woven silks for more formal evening occasions; and highly trimmed and embroidered silk satins and velvets for court wear. Waistcoats were sleeved until the 1740s, then sleeveless as today, and they were often embroidered to match the coat. Looser banyans or gowns were worn for relaxing in the home, when the wig would be replaced by a comfortable "nightcap". Working men wore jackets and waistcoats of hard-wearing fustian (cotton and linen mix) or wool, with breeches of leather or later cheap cotton corduroy, "thicksett" or velveret.