The suit comprises a coat, vest and breeches. It is of claret-colored, corded silk, lined with linen. All the buttons are self-covered, and flat. There is a wide pocket on each side, with a pointed flap covering it, and three buttons placed beneath it on the body of the coat. The right front of the jacket is ornamented by ten buttonholes; a button was originally sewn beside each, but several are missing. The left front of the jacket has eight buttonholes, and no buttons. The cuffs are deep, with three buttons placed along the upper edge as ornaments. The rear skirt of the coat has a deep, pleated gore behind each pocket, with a single button at the top. The vest has a wide pocket on each side, with a deep covering flap. The right front edge of the vest has ten surviving buttons. A gore (or placket) at the back is capable of being opened or closed by a buckle (and tab?) to alter the width at the waist. The fly is buttoned. A pocket is set beneath the waistband at each side of the front, closed by a buttoned flap. Each leg is closed by five buttons at the kneee, with a buckle and tab closing the leg.

According to the suit's later owner, Elkanah Watson, it was worn by Franklin in Paris in 1778. On the inside lining of the vest is the ink inscription, "Clothes worn by Dr. Franklin when he signed the Treaty of Amity & Commerce at Paris. Presented by Elkanah Watson, Albany 1803." Watson himself had written, on a tag attached to the clothes, a somewhat different history (see Provenance).

An image can be found here.

Clothing worn by Franklin