Chesterfield coat

A 1901 fashion plate of the new Chesterfield

The Chesterfield is a long, tailored overcoat named after George Stanhope, 6th Earl of Chesterfield, a leader of British fashion in the 1830s and 1840s.[1] [2]

History

The Chesterfield coat arose around 1840,[2] along with the lounge suit, as an alternative to the highly shaped coats it replaced, such as the frock overcoat with its heavy waist suppression using a waist seam.

Design details

The Chesterfield has no horizontal seam or sidebodies, but can still be somewhat shaped using the side seams and darts. It can be single- or double-breasted, and has been popular in a wide variety of fabrics, typically heavier weight tweeds, or charcoal and navy, and even the camel hair classic. It has often been made with a velvet collar.[2] These variations make it extremely versatile, so it can be worn with a city suit or even semi-formal dress, as well as casual sports jackets. It was a staple of smartly dressed men's wardrobes from the 1920s to 1960s, and has become a classic style for both men and women.[2]

George Philip Cecil Arthur Stanhope, 7th Earl of Chesterfield, circa 1860, wearing an early example of a Chesterfield Coat

See also

References

  1. ↑ "A Man's Guide to Overcoats". artofmanliness.com. December 11, 2012. Retrieved 2013-11-03.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Cumming, Valerie; Cunnington, C. W.; Cunnington, P. E. (2010-11-15). The Dictionary of Fashion History. Oxford ; New York: Bloomsbury Academic. p. 46. ISBN 9781847885333.


This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.