Get an in-depth look at four costumes that are similar to garments worn by George and Martha Washington, as well as others who lived at Mount Vernon.
Mount Vernon and other historical costumers recreated these outfits by referencing original artifacts, documents, and portraits to accurately represent how the garments would have appeared in the 18th century.
George Washington’s Inaugural Suit
George Washington’s inaugural suit was more than attire; it was a statement of national identity. Worn during his inaugural oath in New York, the suit not only conveyed Washington’s pride in American industry but also sent a symbolic message of unity and self-sufficiency for the new nation.
The original suit included a frock coat, waistcoat, and breeches, combining essential elements of an 18th-century gentleman’s formal wear.
In 2023, Mount Vernon historical costumer Kathrin Breitt Brown began recreating George Washington’s inaugural suit. She collaborated with Colonial Williamsburg Foundation’s master tailor, Mark Hutter, to embark on the complex and highly detailed endeavor.
The suit’s original pattern, preserved through conservation studies, provided a road map. Years of additional documentation, including Washington’s original letters, offered historical breadcrumbs to ensure their reproduction was as close to the original as possible.
The suit's color, known as “London Brown” in England, became “Congress Brown” in the United States—a rebranding that resonated with Washington’s intent to support American-made materials.
See Reproductions On Display at Mount Vernon in 2026
Next year, visit Mount Vernon to see this suit and one additional suit recreation at a new exhibit opening in the Donald W. Reynolds Museum and Education Center.
Martha Washington’s Purple Redingote
This purple woolen redingote is a recreation of a garment that once belonged to Martha Washington. A redingote, or riding coat, was a type of outerwear women wore for travel.
It's well documented that she wore a woolen travel dress from Mount Vernon to New York in May 1789. The woolen cloth for her ensemble came from the same American woolen manufactory as George Washington's inaugural suit.
The style choices for this garment were inspired by a silk redingote believed to be Mrs. Washington’s. The original redingote is currently at Tudor Place, where six generations of Mrs. Washington's descendants lived in Washington, D.C. The style lines of the original influenced some of the style choices for this recreation.
Colonial Williamsburg Foundation’s master tailor, Mark Hutter, drafted the redingote, and Mount Vernon’s historical costumer Kathrin Breitt Brown handled the sewing.
Green Silk Short Sacque
The sacque, sack back, or French style of gown reigned in popularity from the early to the third quarter of the 18th century. By the 1780s, a short sack had become fashionable daywear for upper-class women.
Sacks are characterized by the open back pleats starting at the shoulder and flowing to the hem, with a matching skirt.
This ensemble represents what Eleanor Custis Calvert, George and Martha Washington's daughter-in-law, might have worn during daytime hours when visiting with guests at her home in Arlington, Virginia.
Brooke Welborn, Dressmaker at Adventures in Mantua-making, led a team in creating this ensemble. Mount Vernon’s historical costumer Kathrin Breitt Brown assisted, and a team of volunteers from the Mount Vernon sewing circle hemmed yards and yards of silk adornments.
Child’s White Frock
Boys and girls of middle and upper classes typically wore “frocks” in their early years. Once boys were “breeched” (toilet trained), they began wearing attire similar to adult men.
While girls may have worn frocks longer than boys, they eventually transitioned into gowns similar to those worn by their mothers, aunts, and other adult women.
White was a common color for frocks—in part because it could easily be boiled to maintain cleanliness and brightness—but printed cottons and linens are also evident in surviving garments.
Any or all of Eleanor Calvert Custis’s children—George and Martha Washington’s grandchildren—may have worn an ensemble like this while at home or visiting family at Mount Vernon.
This child’s frock was created by Brooke Welborn, Dressmaker at Adventures in Mantua-making, from white cotton dimity. The sash is blue shot silk taffeta.
