Man’s waistcoat with a 1⅛-inch (2.7 cm) standing collar, straight fronts and straight hem reaching to the hip. The fronts are made of cream silk satin, the back of linen. The waistcoat and pockets are lined with linen; the fronts are faced with cream satin. There are wide bands of applied purple satin along the left front, the top of the right front and along the hem of each front, behind which is a pocket. There is a trompe-l’oeuil revers on each collar. The purple satin is embroidered with silver spangles and pastes and its outlines embroidered with couched black and white silk chenille threads creating a trompe-l’oeuil fringe. There are 8 worked buttonholes along the lower left front with 8 corresponding embroidered buttons on the lower right front.
The waistcoat was altered in the late 19th century, probably for theatre costume. Insertions were made in the centre back and shoulder seams, and eyelets and cotton tape ties added to the back.