Description: This cream silk waistcoat is richly embroidererd with trailing flowers and oak leaves. The embroidery is focused down the front of the waistcoat, where an open coat would show off the colourful embroidery work. During the 19th century, men who were members of the aristocracy, the armed forces or the Cabinet could attend the royal court by invitation, either to be presented themselves to the king or queen, or to attend the presentations of wives and daughters.
There was a strict dress code for such occasions. Men attending court wore either their military uniform or a court suit, consisting of coat with tails, knee breeches, cream silk waistcoat with coloured embroidery, silk stockings, a bicorn hat and a sword. This stylised code, based on outmoded 18th century fashions, remained unchanged for court dress during most of the 19th century. This waistcoat has no lapels, and has points at the front, as stipulated by the codes of formal court dress.