Coat, frock coat

Jacket from a man's wool suit, c. 1916. Tailored by Hawkes and Company, 14 Piccadilly, London W1.

Thomas Hawkes, whose customers included King George III and his clothes conscious son, the Prince Regent, founded Hawkes and Company in 1771. The company was established at 14 Piccadilly by the 1790s. In 1974 the firm merged with Gieves to become Gieves & Hawkes.

This suit consists of a black wool double-breasted frock coat and waistcoat and pinstriped trousers. It was made for Major A E Beadon. The coat is very fitted. It is cut with a waist seam and the body is shaped with darts. It has silk satin-faced revers and each lapel has two buttonholes. The sleeves have deep cuffs fastening with four small silk covered buttons. The coat is fastened with larger fancy woven silk covered buttons and a further button marks the centre back waist. At the back of the coat a central vent extends from the waist to the hem. On either side of this single vent is a concealed cotton lined pocket.