Civil Partnership Suit thumbnail 1
Civil Partnership Suit thumbnail 2
Not on display

Civil Partnership Suit

early 2006 (made), 18 August 2006 (worn)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

A single breasted dark grey ground jacket and matching trousers which is flecked with small sky blue and white stitches giving the appearance of dots. A sky blue and white shirt completes the outfit.

The jacket has a flat collar and revers extending to a single button fastening centre front. There are flapped pockets at hip level that extend to the side seam. A welted pocket is found on the LH breast along with two vertical seams. There is padding at the shoulder seam, the sleeves are cut on the circular and have four black plastic buttons at the cuff. The rear of the jacket is constructed from two vertical panels with a seam running down the CB. The lower part of the jacket opens out to a flap. The jacket is lined with sky blue silk, cut in a curvilinear pattern with white piping.

The trousers have have inset pockets at the side seams. There is a zipper fly and waist tab with two hook and eyes and an inner button of black mother of pearl. There are three mother of pearl buttons on both the RH and LH side seams of the waistband. The button to the rear of the waistband is attached to a semi-circular tab.

The sky blue and white shirt fastens with six cream mother of pearl buttons. It has a collar and plackets from each single-button cuff.

Object details

Categories
Object type
Parts
This object consists of 3 parts.

  • Jacket
  • Trousers
  • Shirt
Materials and techniques
Tailored wool lined in silk; cotton
Brief description
Man's suit ensemble, two-piece suit, Kilgour, with Jasper Conran shirt, 2006
Physical description
A single breasted dark grey ground jacket and matching trousers which is flecked with small sky blue and white stitches giving the appearance of dots. A sky blue and white shirt completes the outfit.

The jacket has a flat collar and revers extending to a single button fastening centre front. There are flapped pockets at hip level that extend to the side seam. A welted pocket is found on the LH breast along with two vertical seams. There is padding at the shoulder seam, the sleeves are cut on the circular and have four black plastic buttons at the cuff. The rear of the jacket is constructed from two vertical panels with a seam running down the CB. The lower part of the jacket opens out to a flap. The jacket is lined with sky blue silk, cut in a curvilinear pattern with white piping.

The trousers have have inset pockets at the side seams. There is a zipper fly and waist tab with two hook and eyes and an inner button of black mother of pearl. There are three mother of pearl buttons on both the RH and LH side seams of the waistband. The button to the rear of the waistband is attached to a semi-circular tab.

The sky blue and white shirt fastens with six cream mother of pearl buttons. It has a collar and plackets from each single-button cuff.
Marks and inscriptions
  • Kilgour, Savile Row, London (Label in jacket)
  • By professional dry cleaning only. 36 (Label in jacket and trousers.)
  • Jasper Conran, London. 15", 38cm (Label in shirt)
Gallery label
(2011)
Civil partnership suit
Kilgour
London, 2006
Shirt: Jasper Conran (b.1959)

Following the enactment of the 2004 Civil Partnership Act, civil partnership ceremonies were introduced in Britain. They raised the question of what same-sex couples should wear. Some male couples follow the traditional wedding pattern and wear morning coats. Others choose lounge suits or more casual outfits.

Suit: wool, lined with silk
Shirt: cotton
Given by Christopher Breward and James Brook
V&A: T.371:1 to 3-2009
Credit line
Given by Christopher Breward
Object history
Worn by Christopher Breward for his civil partnership ceremony with James Brook, 18 August 2006. The suit, which is from Kilgour's ready to wear range, was purchased in the Kilgour shop on Savile Row, London
Collection
Accession number
T.371:1 to 3-2009

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Record createdDecember 3, 2009
Record URL
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