The intimate spotlight exhibition Suit Yourself presents the exuberant finery worn by flamboyant Dutch men in the 18th and 19th centuries, made with striped velvet, floral embroidery and rich silk fabrics.

Clothes make the man Men’s fashions in the 18th century were by no means understated, and the influence of the ‘macaroni’ from 1760 to 1780 soon caught on in the Netherlands. Worn mostly by wealthy men, the style was all about vivid colours and contrasting fabrics. Clothing also reflected the beauty ideal of that era: a blue waistcoat decorated with intricate embroidery, for example, incorporates a cardboard band that accentuates the length of the torso.