Figure 1.-Vests were very common with suits in the 19h century. This includes cut-away jackets at least in the early period. This CDV portrait is undated but was probably taken in the late-1860s. The very early-70s is also possible. The vests matched the jacket. the studio here was George Gregory in Manchester.

We see many younger boys wearing cut-away jackets with vests. Vests (waistcoats) were common, with these jackets, but not compulsory. (The term 'vest' has a different meaning in England.) We are not sure just how common they were. Quite a few portraits show the boys wearing vests with these jackets. This was especially the case during the early period (1860s-70s). The vests we see matched the jackets and pnts. The boy on the previous page has a vest in the 1860s. So do the Watson boys in 1863. Our archive is building, but still too limited, however, to make any definitive assments at this time. We see a lot of vests in the 1860s and 70s. The primary change was in the 1880s, especialy by the mid-80s when Fauntleroy suits became popular and the idea was to display fancy blouses. A vest would have covered up all the ruffles and lace on the blouse whuch of course would have defeated the whole purpose of wearing an expenmsive blouse. Here we see three brthers with Eton collars and plain vests (figure 1). By the late-19th century we see far fewer vests.

Created: 10:02 PM 8/24/2022
Last updated: 10:02 PM 8/24/2022