The redingote is a men's coat with a collar worn from the 18th to the 20th century. It was especially popular in the 19th century, particularly in Victorian England. It is characterized by an overcoat that goes down to the knees, buttoned up to the waist, and which drapes over the lower half of the body.
Who wears the frock coat?
The frock coat is often worn by men adopting the steampunk style. This piece, which evokes the elegance and refinement of the Victorian era, is a popular choice among retro-futuristic dandies. It can be paired with a jabot shirt, an embroidered waistcoat and pleated trousers for a look that is both elegant and original.
What is the origin of the word redingote?
The origin of the word "redingote" is quite interesting. It comes from the English "riding coat", which literally means "coat for riding a horse". This term was taken up and Frenchified as "redingote" in the 18th century. Originally, the redingote was therefore a garment worn for horse riding, but it gradually evolved to become an essential element of the male wardrobe, and later female, with stylistic variations over the ages.
The name for a tasteful man's garment
Fashion offers a concise definition of such items as the frock coat, defining it as: "A man's coat reaching to the knee, buttoned up to the waist, and with full skirts."
Steampunk fashion designers, such as Kit Stolen , also define the frock coat simply as: "A low-cut overcoat that fell to the knees, popular in Victorian England ."
In an interview, he discusses in more detail the characteristics and options of garments such as the Victorian dress or frock coat, referring to the era when it was most popular: "It is an 18th-century tailored coat, looser and shorter than city coats. Single or double-breasted, it buttoned up to the waist. In the early days, it had a full skirt, flap pockets and a slit in the back with two buttons at the waist, as well as a flat, turned-down collar, without lapels."
The Redingote, name used for a riding and hunting jacket
It might be added that initially considered suitable for country wear, it was accepted after 1770 for more formal wear. Less popular during the period of the Empire, the frock coat was important from 1816 until the end of the 19th century, after which it was worn by dignitaries and older men for outdoor activities.
The French liked to use it for horseback riding, the rider liked it for its practical shape, like the tailcoat . The specific straight or fitted cut varied according to the fashionable silhouette in Paris. The 19th century frock coat was fitted at the waist, attached by a seam to a knee-length skirt that fell straight and met in the center of the front, more practical for horseback riding.
We know, for example, that Napoleon loved his grey redingote, as can be seen in paintings or on his famous statues, such as the one in Place Vendôme, where he proudly wears his military redingote like an aristocrat.
The Regingote Men's Jacket of yesteryear, our timeless best-selling item!
Another description from a National Geographic documentary on the fashion of the time
"This men's collared coat worn from the eighteenth century to the twentieth century is the result of an evolution over several generations. The 18th century frock coat was identifiable in the circles of dandies and aristocrats from the 1720s until the best days of Queen Victoria's British Empire .
It was a single-breasted coat, adapted from the worker's garment, made of woolen fabric with a small turn-down collar and small cuffs or slit sleeve ends. The models of the time were skirted and collarless; the frock coat collar and its slender silhouette, with fewer pleats on the sides, indicate its informal character.
An essential garment for all period costumes
As mentioned earlier, the frock coat was often worn in the countryside and for sporting activities, usually with breeches and boots made of light cloth or buckskin. By the 1750s, the frock coat was widely accepted as everyday wear.
The frock coat had become more elegant and its cut changed with fashion, but it remained a comfortable garment to wear. At this time, frock coats were also made of materials other than wool, including linen and cotton for summer.
In the 1770s, there was a French modification of the frock coat, which was even more elegant, as it was better fitted and could be embroidered, and thus became permissible for most formal occasions as part of a costume.
By the 1780s, large buttons and tight sleeves with round cuffs were prominent on solid-coloured frock coats, which were usually worn with a contrasting waistcoat and breeches; skirts were now much reduced and more like tailcoats. By the very end of the century and the beginning of the 19th century, the frock coat was losing ground to the tailcoat.
An often modified garment that remains timeless
The frock coat was brought back into fashion several times, even though for short periods it was out of fashion, during the revolution for example. After 1815, very different from the frock coats of the previous century, the frock coats of the 19th century were characterized by full skirts overlapping in the middle of the front. The frock coat had a turn-down collar and could be single- or double-breasted.
In the 1830s, the skirts of the frock coat were indeed very loose, creating a silhouette that echoed women's fashion. The frock coat was the standard jacket for evening wear in the second half of the century and up until the Belle Époque . Dark colours, usually navy or black, were preferred for balladry, as was the origin of the riding coat.
The frock coat and its evolution
By the early 19th century, the coat was completely cut off at the front, offering little protection or warmth. A new style of coat - the redingote, was introduced between 1815 and 1820. It had a knee-length skirt and was buttoned down the front.
It was influenced by the style of the greatcoat (overcoat), but was more fitted in shape. First worn as informal daywear, the frock coat quickly became the formal day jacket of the 19th century. The weight of the skirts of the new frock coat made it difficult to cut the fronts in one piece, so a waist seam was introduced in the 1820s."
Another description from the post-war dictionary :
"A sporty, informal coat that appeared in fashionable circles in the 1720s. This version had a small turn-down collar and sleeves with narrow cuffs or slits. By the last quarter of the 18th century it had become acceptable evening wear. It became a formal, fitted, tailored coat, initially single-breasted with a rolled or Prussian collar and no lapels, buttoned at the waist.
It had a full skirt hanging vertically in front, back, side pleats, and hip buttons. From 1823 it acquired a waist seam, a collar and lapels, and hip pockets under flaps. With minor variations, this style remained the basic style for the rest of the century."
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