Now on display as part of our exhibition Waistcoats: A Tailored History, this stylish piece comes from the mid-1800s. Its pattern is made with voided silk velvet, creating soft swirls of climbing fern shapes and twisting vines. These leafy designs were all the rage at the time — not just on clothes, but in homes, gardens and even science books.
Back then, people were obsessed with nature. Houseplants were in, collecting ferns was a proper hobby, and the giant glass Palm House at Kew Gardens had just opened. This waistcoat shows how fashion and science were closely linked — even in what you wore.
A Brief History of the Waistcoat
Waistcoats have been part of British fashion since the 1600s. King Charles II even tried to make them the next big thing. Over time, they changed shape and style — from long and formal to short and smart. They became canvases for embroidery, velvet, silk and shiny buttons.
This one, from around 1845–1850, mixes fashion with the natural world — turning leaves into luxury.
The Bedales Connection
This waistcoat is part of the Bedales Historic Dress Collection, a group of over 1,000 pieces donated to the museum by Bedales School, just outside Petersfield. The collection began in the 1940s, when the school started collecting real historic clothes for students to wear in their drama productions.
The idea was simple but brilliant: if you wear a real 18th or 19th century outfit on stage, you’ll better understand the person you're pretending to be. As a result, the school gathered everything from ballgowns to bonnets — and lots of waistcoats too.
In 2007, they gave this incredible collection to the museum, and it now makes up a major part of our Fashion and Textiles Collection.
Why It Matters
The waistcoat might seem like a small thing, but it tells a big story. It's about what people valued, how they expressed themselves, and what they thought looked good. It's also a great example of how fashion can be influenced by science, nature and even school plays.
So next time you’re getting dressed, think about this: what might your outfit say about the world you live in?