Breeches made in the 18th century have a distinctive cut. The legs are widely splayed, and the back of the breeches are much deeper than the front. This follows the cut of breeches made for horseback riding. Even though a pair made of fine silk, such as these, would never have been worn when sitting on a horse, the style is the same, illustrating the conservative nature of the tailoring trade. The cut of breeches changed little during the 18th century. Some guidelines for dating them are the more streamlined style of the latter half of the century, compared to the baggier fit of the period 1700-1750. As the waistcoat shortened through the century, the front closing of the breeches changed from the fly-front of the first half of the century to a more modest fall-front opening of the period 1750-1800.