Habit of a Lady in the Highlands of Scotland in 1745

by Thomas Jefferys

Revisit an important time in Scotland’s past through this beautiful copper plate reproduction from renowned mapmaker and “Geographer to King George III,” Thomas Jefferys. Republished from his famed book of the 18th century, A Collection of the Dresses of Different Nations, this stunning work depicts the traditional costume of a noble woman from the Scottish Highlands during the significant year of 1745—the apex of the Jacobite Rebellion.

Though many may be familiar with tales of the Highlander clansmen, this fascinating cultural study provides insight into the style, pride, and subtle resistance of upper-class women from that period. It presents the traditional earasaid—a form of dress for women in the Highlands and Isle of Scotland—and the distinct styling common to Gaelic civilization prior to the Dress Act of 1746.