Spencer (clothing)
Encyclopedia
The Spencer, dating from the 1790s, was originally a woolen outer tail-coat with the tails cut-off. It was worn as a short waist-length, double-breasted, man's jacket
over a long-tailed coat as extra covering. In its most authentic and fashionable form it would have been decorated with military medals in a manner after its name-sake George Spencer, 2nd Earl Spencer
(1758-1834). Spencer, it was thought, singed the tails of his tail-coat while standing beside a fire and then cut off the ends, unwittingly starting a new fashion.. Other stories say Spencer—frustrated by his tails catching on bramble
s—tore the tails off his coat when hunting one day.
It was soon adopted as a popular women's fashion on both sides of the Atlantic during the 1790-1820 Regency style period
(picture, picture). The Spencer was worn as a cardigan
is worn today, as a short form of jacket to just above waist level cut on identical lines to the dress.
The use of the term spencer continued well into the 19th century to mean more generally any type of short jacket or coat. In Australia the term is sometimes used to refer to thermal underwear.
Coat (clothing)
A coat is a long garment worn by both men and women, for warmth or fashion. Coats typically have long sleeves and are open down the front, closing by means of buttons, zippers, hook-and-loop fasteners, toggles, a belt, or a combination of some of these...
over a long-tailed coat as extra covering. In its most authentic and fashionable form it would have been decorated with military medals in a manner after its name-sake George Spencer, 2nd Earl Spencer
George Spencer, 2nd Earl Spencer
George John Spencer, 2nd Earl Spencer KG PC FRS FSA , styled Viscount Althorp from 1765 to 1783, was a British Whig politician...
(1758-1834). Spencer, it was thought, singed the tails of his tail-coat while standing beside a fire and then cut off the ends, unwittingly starting a new fashion.. Other stories say Spencer—frustrated by his tails catching on bramble
Bramble
Brambles are thorny plants of the genus Rubus, in the rose family . Bramble fruit is the fruit of any such plant, including the blackberry and raspberry. The word comes from Germanic *bram-bezi, whence also German Brombeere , Dutch Braam and French framboise...
s—tore the tails off his coat when hunting one day.
It was soon adopted as a popular women's fashion on both sides of the Atlantic during the 1790-1820 Regency style period
Regency architecture
The Regency style of architecture refers primarily to buildings built in Britain during the period in the early 19th century when George IV was Prince Regent, and also to later buildings following the same style...
(picture, picture). The Spencer was worn as a cardigan
Cardigan (sweater)
A cardigan is a type of machine- or hand-knitted sweater that ties, buttons or zips down the front; by contrast, a pullover does not open in front but must be "pulled over" the head to be worn. The cardigan was named after James Brudenell, 7th Earl of Cardigan, a British military commander,...
is worn today, as a short form of jacket to just above waist level cut on identical lines to the dress.
The use of the term spencer continued well into the 19th century to mean more generally any type of short jacket or coat. In Australia the term is sometimes used to refer to thermal underwear.