Journal des Dames et des Modes, Paris, September 15, 1817.
“Habit et pantalon de Drap.”
This dapper gent is wearing a double-breasted tail coat of brown wool, with short lapels, turned over in a lighter shade of brown. As is typical of French jackets and coats, the sleeves are cut long, almost to the knuckles.
The trousers are of a lighter brown or taupe color. By 1817, trousers had become longer, reaching the tops of the shoes, as seen here. They still had straps passing under the foot which were attached to buttons on either side of the bottom of the trousers. In England, Beau Brummel had started the fashion for wearing straps with pantaloons or trousers to give them a straight, smooth line. At this time, a fall opening at the waist was still sometimes used, but much shallower. It is difficult to tell whether these trousers are waisted, or have the shallow fall.
Our gentleman’s shoes are black and laced up. He carries a rustic walking stick, and wears a top hat with a very narrow turned-up brim. He sports long sideburns that had likely evolved from the dog-ears hairstyle of the Incroyables several years earlier.
The print is signed by the artist Horace Vernet, but no signature of the engraver.
