Although by the late 19^th Century men’s waistcoats had become more sombre in appearance than their mid century counterparts they still presented an opportunity for the use of embroidery and handwork as decoration. The fronts of this waistcoat are made of loosely woven deep cream silk with vertical bands of horizontal ribs. Each of the stripes is bordered with running stitches in dark green thread, and the ground between them is embroidered in zig-zag stripes of small green stitches and dark cream sprigs. The inner facings have been left unembroidered. The waistcoat is lined and backed in cream cotton, with a brass buckle to the strap stamped ‘W’ and ‘Paris’.