Officer's mess waistcoat : Infantry, Victorian Colonial Military Forces

Scarlet superfine, closed fronted waistcoat with short stand collar and pointed fronts. Collar and fronts decorated with gold lace. Welt pocket on each front trimmed with gold Russia braid that forms a crowsfoot and eye at each corner and a crowsfoot above and below. Left front has a row of small pointed gilt studs and the waistcoat is fastened with alternate brass hooks and eyes on each front. The right front is lined with a crimson ribbed silk beneath a facing of superfine to prevent contact between the shirt and the metal buttons and fastenings. Back of waistcoat is a fine scarlet silk twill with back straps of the same fabric and brass buckle stamped 'PARIS SOLIDE'. Side panels of a ribbed scarlet silk have been inserted and at each back armhole a small triangle of the fine scarlet silk twill has been added. Waistcoat fully lined with cream cotton twill, the inserted side panels with a finely striped white cotton twill.

Waistcoat worn beneath mess jacket.