Suit (Habit à la française)
(1780s)
- Medium
- silk (faille, thread), linen and metal (fastenings)
- Measurements
- (a) 104.0 cm (centre back) 66.0 cm (sleevle length) (coat)
(b) 64.0 cm (centre back) 34.0 cm (waist, flat) (waistcoat)
(c) 34.0 cm (waist, flat) 63.5 cm (outer leg) (breeches) - Place/s of Execution
- France
- Department
- International Fashion and Textiles
- Credit Line
- Gift of Krystyna Campbell-Pretty AM and Family through the Australian Government’s Cultural Gift Program, 2024
- Gallery location
- 18th Century Decorative Arts & Paintings Gallery
Level 2, NGV International - About this work
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This lavishly embroidered silk suit is known as a habit a la française. The height of fashion in mid to late eighteenth century France, it was favoured as court or formal dress. These suits comprised a matching frock coat and breeches, and a waistcoat in contrasting fabric. Crowned by a small stand collar, the linear cut elongated the torso. Decorative embroidery also characterised the habit, and men’s suits featuring profusions of floral sprigs were standard. Both men’s and women’s costumes were decorated with small blooms, sprigs, buds and leaves in the late Rococo period, reflecting the widespread interest in botany.