A traditional tailored outfit where the jacket, waistcoat, and trousers are all cut from the same bolt of cloth. In classic tailoring, men frequently mixed fabrics, wearing a contrasting waistcoat or trousers. When all three pieces were identical, it was called a suit of dittoes, laying the foundation for the standard business suit.
Heard on the job
The museum acquired a beautifully preserved suit of dittoes in brown broadcloth.
Insider tip
The term ditto literally meant the same, signaling to the tailor that the fabric choice for the coat applied to the rest of the garments.