Woman's brown and green tweed suit; c.1900

A woman's brown and green tweed suit of Norfolk style jacket with gathered shoulders, lined in striped silk and ankle length a-line skirt, with horizontal bands of stitching at the hem. Tailor made suits were smart, practical and versatile outfits. They were made by male tailors and introduced into the female wardrobe in the late 1870s. The style was adapted from the man's suit but its silhouette reflected female fashions. The warm, durable tweed from which this suit is made suggests that it was worn for country walks and travelling.