French Overcoats – 1818

Central to this illustration for Petit Courrier des Dames is an overcoat for men, circa 1818, France. Shown from the back, this dark blue overcoat has tucks at the back waist falling in loose folds to the ankle. At the collar is a waist-length cape over the body of the coat. The collar is high and half sleeves can be seen below the cape. The cape, coat, and collar are all lined in red. He wears a black top hat, black jacket, and black boots or shows. Behind him is another gentleman wearing a similar coat, showing the front view of the garment. The coat has three buttons at the center front above the waist. The gentleman’s trousers are strapped over the foot. At the left of the plate is a woman in a similar overcoat in a bright red and black plaid, lined in white and also seen from the back. The woman wears a blue dress, a tall-crowned, wide-brimmed pale blue hat with long yellow ribbons and black feathers.

Credit: The Claremont Colleges