Dressed to Kill, Dressed to Till
Made of homespun linen woven in with an alternating raised cord pattern, this pair of men’s breeches can be roughly dated to the period 1755-1765, based on its cut, which includes a low rise to the front (approx. 8-9 inches inclusive of waistband) and a wide fall. The waistband panels are four in. wide at front, closing with three buttonholes and three self-covered buttons, each 7/8 in. dia., while there are two 5/8 in., self-covered buttons for the fall flap. Each 15 inch-long waistband panel is 2 inches wide in back, where there are two worked grommet holes for an adjusting lace, now missing. The waistband in lined with a coarse plainweave linen, as is a pocket bag on the right side, the 5 inch slit opening originally at the bottom of the waistband, but now closed by overcast stitching to the right front panel. Inseam is 17 ¼ inches, incl. 1 inch-wide kneeband, while the outseam is approx. 23 inches from top of waistband to bottom of kneeband. The right back panel is pieced. Found in New England.
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