Véstia

A piece of men’s clothing, the vestia was worn over the shirt and under the coat, the latter always being longer and more decorated. Whether they were the same color or different colors, the coat and garment completed each other.

This garment is cinched, closed at the front by golden buttons with relief decoration (of which, unfortunately, there are few left) placed in two parallel rows, with only buttonholes on one side. It has long sleeves, pockets with a flap that partially hides 3 buttons identical to the rest. It is embroidered with silk threads, in cream and green colors, fulfilling a stylized plant-inspired design.

Note that the embroidery, perhaps due to the shine of the support or the silk threads, gives an initial illusion of being golden. However, the golden metallic thread does not take part in this decoration.

This model, with its variants, was in vogue in the 19th century. XVIII, when men’s clothing was designed, just like women’s – and without owing anything to the latter, whether in refinement, luxury, or even extravagance – for a permanent “party”, in accordance with the mentality of the time , and following fashion, dictated mainly by the French court of Versailles.