GENERAL DESCRIPTION*
Sailors of the mid to late 18th century had a very specific set of clothing that was adapted for use aboard ship. The Short Jacket or sailor jacket was a sleeved waistcoat that stopped at or a little below the waist for easy movement. It was worn before the Revolution by sailors and laborers, and remained in common use through the early 19th century. The sailor’s slops or trousers were specifically design for greater movement and for protection. Most of the time, these pants were worn over standard knee breeches to protect them from getting dirty. Underneath these items, the standard checked workshirt was popular. Sailors wore many types of hats, but knitted caps were very popular. Long cottons stockings and shoes completed the sailor’s wardrobe kit.
* This information is intended to serve only as a general recommendation. If you belong to a reenacting group or work for an historic site, we strongly recommend you check with your group first before purchasing this outfit.
HAT
Pictured: MC-216 Monmouth Cap.
Alternatives: WC-923 Work Cap, also H-2401 Fur-Felt, HL-913 Heavy Wool-Felt, or HL-902 Standard Wool-Felt Hat Blanks with brims trimmed to 2-3” to form a round hat, or any of our Tricorn Hats worn forward or backward.
SHIRT
Pictured: CK-124 Blue-Checked Cotton Workshirt.
Alternatives: RS-124 Red-Checked Cotton Workshirt,
SH-124 Cotton Workshirt (pictured right), LH-124 Linen Workshirt, or our OH-124 Cotton Osnaburg Workshirt.
NECKWEAR
Pictured: SC-369 Black Silk Cravat.
Alternatives: Any of the Cravats or Neck Stocks we offer will work, though we would recommend you avoid the RS-373 Ruffled Neck Stock for this persona.
WAISTCOAT
Pictured: WJ-155 Woolen Short Jacket.
BREECHES
Pictured: DT-107 Cotton Canvas Sailor Slops (also available in linen).
Also, not pictured: Fall-Front Breeches in any fabric option (pictured left).
STOCKINGS
Pictured: SP-754 Cotton Stockings of any color.
Alternatives: Any Cotton or Wool Stocking.
SHOES
Pictured: CS-925 Men’s Straight-Last Shoes.
BUCKLES
Pictured: SB-929 Shoe Buckles.
Alternatives: Any of our men’s shoes buckles, or the tabs on our Straight-Last Shoes can be folded back or trimmed, then punched with two holes on each side for lacing.