Men's Justaucorps Costume

Men's Baroque Justaucorps Costume from Cotton Duvetyn

Historical Attire of the French Nobility

The historical model for this magnificent garment originates from the High Baroque period, specifically the turn of the 17th and 18th centuries. During this era, the French royal court, led by King Louis XIV, dictated fashion trends across Europe. The ensemble consisting of a long coat, known as a justaucorps, a waistcoat, and knee-length breeches became the absolute standard for the formal dress of the aristocracy and wealthy bourgeoisie during this time. The costume was designed to emphasise the status of its wearer at courtly festivals and audiences.

This ensemble is sewn from high-quality duvetyn, which is 100% cotton with a specially treated surface. The huge advantage of this material is that it faithfully imitates luxurious and heavy period velvet, yet it offers much better breathability and is very pleasant to the touch. The tricorn hat is made of firm felt, also 100% cotton, which holds its typical shape perfectly.

The core of the outfit consists of a black buttoned waistcoat that reaches exactly to the waist. Over it is worn the outer justaucorps featuring rich silver trim and long sleeves finished with wide cuffs. The collar is adorned with a sumptuous white jabot made of fine lace. The narrow breeches reach the mid-calf, where they are traditionally fastened over stockings. The overall aristocratic appearance is completed by a period tricorn hat trimmed with silver ribbon and decorated with feathers.

Upon request, the product is also made in other colours according to these fabric swatches. You simply need to note the desired colour in the comment field of your order, stating the swatch number, letter, and colour name. This model is available in standard sizes according to this chart, but we will also tailor it exactly to your measurements without any surcharge once you fill out the measurement chart. Please note that the depicted white stockings and leather shoes are not included in the delivery.

Technical Specifications of the Costume

Care and Maintenance Instructions

To ensure this magnificent Baroque garment serves you as long as possible, we recommend that you give it proper care. Although cotton duvetyn is relatively durable, due to the rich lace jabot and silver trim, we recommend using the services of a professional dry cleaner. If home maintenance is necessary, the costume can be washed very gently by hand in lukewarm water using a detergent for delicate fabrics. Never wring the garment by twisting; only gently press the water out and dry it flat to prevent it from sagging and losing its shape. Ironing is only possible on the reverse side at a very low temperature setting. You can find more details in the cleaning and maintenance instructions.

Recommended Period Accessories

To achieve a completely authentic appearance of an 18th-century Baroque nobleman, we recommend that you complement the costume with classic tall white knee socks or stockings for men and period leather shoes fitted with a prominent metal buckle. Formal social attire of this era was also inherently paired with an ornate walking cane or an elegant French smallsword suspended on a leather baldric.