Cut Velvet Coat Silk Cuffs

This exquisite frock coat is fashioned from a sumptuous cut velvet in a pattern that has vaguely royal emblems. Everything about it is courtly. The oversized cream silk cuffs are a welcome visual relief from the heavy patterning, and they allow the eye to rest in addition to framing out the density of the cut velvet fabric.

Based on the construction, the interior looks to be original. The fortified stitches where all of the pleating comes together gives a nice glimpse into the mechanics of the coat. I wanted to create a movement of the interior of the back pleats with a peek at the exterior pleat in the middle.

The idea being that the expanse of more unadorned fabric relays the luxury of the cut velvet. However, notice the pleats are still sewn out of silk, and it is not until higher up (where the interior won’t be seen) does the fabric switch to a more humble cotton or linen. The gold metallic lace is a nice transition from the body of the coat to the large cuffs and gives a spot to place velvet covered buttons. The overlay of threadbare wear is visual poetry.