Habit of a Lady of Hungary in 1700

by Thomas Jefferys

This stunning artwork created by Thomas Jefferys in the eighteenth century is one of those rare images which gives us an insight into the beauty of clothing worn by the Hungarian nobility around the turn of the century. The image was included in his well-known collection entitled “The Habits of Various Nations Drawn from the Best Authorities.”

It shows the woman wearing the high-waisted, embroidered bodice with long skirts that can be either suba or the fur-trimmed mantle. In addition to this, her attire also features an elaborate headwear and lace decorations. Overall, it reflects the strict class hierarchy that existed in the Kingdom of Hungary together with the luxurious textile traditions of the time.