In different eras, a variety of clothes were popular, and fashion was followed not only by women, but also by men. As for the complete submission to fashion trends, today it is not necessary. Although it is still worth being aware in order not to be shocked by the news that some models of evening dresses can be worn with sneakers, and short jeans are not a mistake, but quite a fashionable thing. We will talk about such a wardrobe item as a men's frock coat, very popular in the XVIII-XIX centuries.
What is a frock coat?
Classic costumes are quite popular among the male population of different countries. If you do not delve into history, then these things have become a kind of symbol of the seriousness and position in society of their owner. Despite the fact that photos of a man's frock coat are most often presented to Internet users as models of past centuries, this item and its derivatives are still popular.
Such clothing for men is an elongated jacket, most often reaching to the knee. Buttons were one of the identification marks of the product in the 18th century. In front they were at waist level, and at the back at the same level they were fastened in the form of decorativeitems.
A bit of history
With the development of civilization, people increasingly attached importance to their appearance. The faster a person developed, the more frames were imposed on his appearance. Men's suits replaced shirts and belts. The frock coat successfully replaced raincoats and vests, becoming an integral part of the wardrobe of the upper and middle strata of the population.
This type of clothing came to Russia from Europe almost immediately after its appearance. The appearance of the frock coat has changed under the influence of fashion and time. Such indicators as the waist level, length, width and general structure of the men's suit were revised. But invariably the upper part of the men's suit - the frock coat was at the peak of popularity. In addition, uniform suits were introduced, the basis of which was also this particular wardrobe detail.
What did they sew from?
The material used in the tailoring of the men's frock coat could vary in quality and price and depended on the financial condition of the future owner, the season and the occasion for which, in fact, the frock coat was sewn. At the end of the 18th century, fabrics such as camlot, chalon and casenet were popular. Let's talk about them in order:
- Casinet is a one-color fabric, which is cotton, made using the twill weave method.
- Chalon - a fabric that obviously has a pattern in the form of diagonal stripes, is made using a technology that completely erases the differences between the front and back sides. The material for it is wool, but, nevertheless, itit turns out quite easy and practical.
- Camlot - an expensive treat for the middle class of the early 19th century, made from camel or Angora wool, which has an admixture of silk in the fibers. The fabric felt soft to the touch and had a loose texture. It was because of the high cost of such material for tailoring that a cheaper analogue of camlot was invented, consisting entirely of cotton fibers.
Gradually new fashion forced this wardrobe item out of use, but its derivatives remained - a jacket, tailcoat, tuxedo and other types of outerwear. In the modern world, the choice of fabrics and styles is more than ever, so in stores you can find not only men's leather frock coats, but also women's woolen or silk ones, most often used as part of a fancy dress.
Color
Rigid frames can be seen not only in terms of styles, but also in terms of colors. For example, in the first half of the 19th century, bright colors - green, burgundy and crimson - were very popular, but over time the fashion has changed.
The second half of the century was marked by a change in color shades towards simplicity and conservatism. Gray and black colors have become fashionable. Also, for more festive occasions, silver-blue, white and beige frock coats were provided.
Now it is difficult to find a person who wears a frock coat as everyday clothes. Even on holidays, it is more popular to wear jackets of various lengths and styles. In some cases, you can also see a tailcoat, but it already belongs to the clothes of those whoregularly attends high society parties. And yet, the men's frock coat is often used in theatrical productions dedicated to the period from the middle of the 18th to the middle of the 19th century, which adds to their authenticity and liveliness.
