SMITHSONIAN
Navy Blue Wool Military Officer's Coat with Orange Facings
Rococo · 1770s · American
Production
handmade
Material
wool broadcloth
Culture
American
Influences
European military uniform tradition · 18th-century coat construction
A formal military officer's coat featuring a navy blue wool body with contrasting orange facings and cuffs. The coat displays a fitted torso with a flared skirt typical of 18th-century military uniforms, extending to mid-thigh. Orange revers fold back from the chest, creating a distinctive color contrast. The front closure features a double row of metal buttons, likely pewter or silver, arranged in military fashion. Orange cuffs with decorative button details finish the sleeves. The coat's construction shows precise tailoring with structured shoulders and a nipped waist that flares into pleated skirts. This represents colonial American military dress during the Revolutionary War period, combining European military fashion traditions with regional variations in color and trim details.
coatfittedhip length
Connected To
67%
Worn with·breechesWorn with·stockingsWorn with·waistcoat
SHARED50 years · cross-culture
That cascade of silk-covered buttons marching down both coats tells the story of how 18th-century men's fashion moved from court to battlefield without losing its theatrical flair.
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