Riding Coat and Breeches thumbnail 1
Not currently on display at the V&A

Riding Coat and Breeches

1975 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Savile Row tailor and equestrian specialist Bernhard Weatherill continues the historical tradition for men’s hunting dress. Changing little since the 19th century, the sartorial requirements remain scarlet coats, top hats and breeches. Bernard Weatherill is one of the few remaining companies who still make hand-made bespoke breeches. The elegant riding boots are hand-worked by internationally renowned bootmaker, Schnieder. Bernard Weatherill added Olympic buttons to mark the fact that the company made the riding coats for Britain’s equestrian teams at the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta. This type of coat is worn only by the master of the hunt. Dressage top hats have largely been replaced by the more protective hunting cap. Patey (London) Ltd, the maker of the hat shown here, are one of the few companies using traditional methods to make exclusive top hats and riding caps.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Parts
This object consists of 2 parts.

  • Riding Coat
  • Breeches
Materials and techniques
Wool twill, cotton cord and metal
Brief description
Woollen riding coat and cotton cord breeches, Bernard Weatherill, London, 1975
Physical description
Scarlet wool cavalry twill riding coat and cream Bedford cotton cord breeches.
Gallery label
Bernard Weatherill added Olympic buttons to mark the fact that the company made the riding coats for Britian's equestrian teams at the 1996 games in Atlanta. This type of coat can only be worn by the master of the hunt. Dressage top hats have largely been re-placed by the more protective hunting cap. Patey (London) Ltd are one of the few companies using traditional methods to make exclusive top hats and riding caps.(1997)
Credit line
Given by the maker
Object history
Part of a riding/hunting outfit T.17:1 to 6-1997, and top hat T.44-1997.

Registered File 1996/2001.
Summary
Savile Row tailor and equestrian specialist Bernhard Weatherill continues the historical tradition for men’s hunting dress. Changing little since the 19th century, the sartorial requirements remain scarlet coats, top hats and breeches. Bernard Weatherill is one of the few remaining companies who still make hand-made bespoke breeches. The elegant riding boots are hand-worked by internationally renowned bootmaker, Schnieder. Bernard Weatherill added Olympic buttons to mark the fact that the company made the riding coats for Britain’s equestrian teams at the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta. This type of coat is worn only by the master of the hunt. Dressage top hats have largely been replaced by the more protective hunting cap. Patey (London) Ltd, the maker of the hat shown here, are one of the few companies using traditional methods to make exclusive top hats and riding caps.
Bibliographic reference
De La Haye, Amy, ed. The Cutting Edge: 50 Years of British Fashion 1947-1997. London: V&A Publications, 1997.
Collection
Accession number
T.17:1, 2-1997

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Record createdAugust 26, 2003
Record URL
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