A suit of this type would have been appropriate for smart day wear for a man-about-town, its buttons adding a little sparkle to an otherwise plain ensemble, its contrasting lining providing a hint of sumptuousness as the man promenaded or visited the most fashionable venues.
It is likely that the cloth was purchased from a specialist woollen draper (<i>marchand drapier</i>) who acquired stocks of different qualities and colours of wool to sell to prospective clients. Once the cloth had been selected, the customer would have had his tailor make up his suit to measure. Sometimes tailors purchased the fabrics on behalf of their customers.