Men's Regency Tailcoats

The Regency tailcoat can be made with one of the patterns below and the Kannicks Korner waistcoat pattern is perfect for those wanting historical accuracy.

       

   

Aylwen & John Gardiner-Garden, December 2011

Suzi Clarke wrote an excellent article To Cut a Regency Coat where she goes in-depth on the inner workings of the regency tailcoat. Other books that I use regularly for making men's outfits from this period are Federalist & Regency Costume 1790-1819 and The Cut of Men's Clothes 1600-1900. Another book that is often a help, but a bit late for this period is Men's Garments 1830-1900 .
These tailcoats are less tailored than the formal jackets of today, and the construction requires you to work differently to what you expect.

Below are some pictures Aylwen has been collecting over the years to show clients who wish to have a coat custom sewn. These will help you work out what colour wool you want, plus to start thinking about buttons, trims, waistcoat colours and so on.

Aylwen is now taking orders for custom hand-sewn mens hats at http://www.historichats.com

1812 Regency Tailcoat, December 2011

I originally planned to diary the making of this 1812 Tailcoat. I started with the best of intentions in May 2011, but life intervened - in the name of overseas travel. 

I must say that this coat is the most international garment in my collection. It started life in my Yarralumla studio, and then proceeded to be completely handsewn across the US, Canada, England and Denmark. Starting a new job as soon as I returned from my travels delayed its completion until December 2011.

So I apologise that I do not have the "makings" of this coat - but I do have the memories of sewing it in wonderful locations, surrounded by friendly dancing folk across the world.

To read my research into men's regency garments, please follow the "DPP2011" tag.

John wearing the blue wool 1812 tailcoat in December 2011. 

First toile

Adjusting the shoulder seams.

Ready, set, go!

Starting pad stitching

Silk-lined sleeves

       

   

Toiles and tailcoats

We spent the weekend preparing our Country Wives (new) regency tailcoat toiles - it takes time but is worth it. The sense of satisfaction when you get to make that first cut into your wool is so good, though a bit scary after all the effort that has led up to it.

Tracing out the pattern

Cutting out the pieces

Adjust pattern pieces

Adjusting on dummy set to size before catching husband

Now that we've done our toiles we're moving on to the pad stitching. When you pad stitch you sew INTO but not THROUGH the outer layer. Using a fine silk thread you need to keep the stitches small and close together or you will end up with dimples showing on the outside. The stitches should not go all the way through the outer fabric. This video shows the technique perfectly.

       

   

A Regency Gentleman's Breeches

A new tailcoat means new breeches. Whilst yellow breeches would go perfectly with the blue wool I've purchased, the store had some lovely sturdy cream canvas that I'll use instead. Because John often gets too hot to wear a tailcoat dancing for four hours plus, I'm using a Scandinavian pattern instead that does not have as a baggy a bottom as Regency-period breeches. As he does not ride a horse, it makes me wonder, did Regency gentlemen ALL wear baggy-bottoms or would a dressmaker have erred on the less-baggy side for a dancing master? I do know that I want to add in pockets, and especially at least one fob pocket in the waistband for a pocketwatch with decorative fob.


I've been reading Norah Waugh's book on men's costume to see when breeches were replaced by pantaloons. I think a man looks so elegant in breeches at a ball.


Breeches were the correct wear with the evening dress coat until c. 1810, and were often worn during the day with tail coats until c. 1830, and always with Court dress. They continued to be worn by the unfashionable until well in the century [...]

Pantaloons were very generally worn until the middle of the nineteenth century ad replaced breeches for formal wear. [...] Until 1817 pantaloons were calf length, and then, they extended to the ankles [...] Straps under the instep kept them taught, but for evening wear the stockings had to be visible. [...]

Trousers appeared very early in the century for informal day wear, and were accepted for informal evening wear from 1817. By 1825 they were in general use, though pantaloons were still considered correct evening wear until the middle of the century. [...]

[...] wider-cut trousers [...] the 'Cossacks' which were inspired by the Czar's visit to London in 1814. They were cut very full and gathered into the waistband and also round the ankles.

Men's tailcoat from the inside out

I recently explored one of the tailcoats on display at Colonial Williamsburg made by head tailor Mark Hutter. Hopefully the photos will help those with questions on how it is put together.