Waistcoat
C.W.Waddington Ltd.
Category
Costume
Date
Unknown
Materials
Wool
Measurements
600 x 460 mm
Place of origin
Rotherham
Order this imageCollection
Mr Straw's House, Nottinghamshire
NT 744280
Caption
First considered part of 'correct' dress by King Charles II, waistcoats were a fashion statement by the 1670s. Over time, they moved from the longer garments inspired by those from Persia and India to the more simple and functional style which would be recognised by William Jr and Walter. Cut to emphasise the waist, the waistcoat was also a cover for braces, the standard way to hold up trousers before belts became more popular. Knitted waistcoats and cardigans gained popularity through cloth rationing during the second World War, as the yarn was more freely avliable than fabric. The brothers continued to wear their woven wollen waistcoats regularly as part of their Sunday best, but at home it is likely that they wore their softer, more forgiving knitted waistcoats.
Summary
Mustard wool waistcoat with black, green and mustard diagonal pattern. Label 'C.W.Waddington Ltd Worksop and Rotherham by Cox Moore'.
Provenance
Straw collection bequeathed to the National Trust on the death in 1990 of William Straw.
Marks and inscriptions
C.M.Waddington Ltd Worksop and Rotherham by Cox Moore
Makers and roles
C.W.Waddington Ltd., tailor