Re: Jacket construction question
John,
I would agree. It comes down to understanding fashion and material culture beyond just types of cloth and number of stitches. Padding the front panels of jackets and frocks was done with a very specific purpose...to create a sillouette that enhanced the wearer's chest, while narrowing the torso toward the waist...very martial even to this day. As you said, a zouave jacket, by design is to be worn closed at the neck while falling naturally toward the bottom of the jacket. Now of course there were variations to the rule, but these strayed from traditional zouave dress while retaining some of the "flair."
I have to agree that the jacket, more than likely was unpadded.
Chris
Originally posted by Yellowhammer
I would agree. It comes down to understanding fashion and material culture beyond just types of cloth and number of stitches. Padding the front panels of jackets and frocks was done with a very specific purpose...to create a sillouette that enhanced the wearer's chest, while narrowing the torso toward the waist...very martial even to this day. As you said, a zouave jacket, by design is to be worn closed at the neck while falling naturally toward the bottom of the jacket. Now of course there were variations to the rule, but these strayed from traditional zouave dress while retaining some of the "flair."
I have to agree that the jacket, more than likely was unpadded.
Chris
Comment