Habit of a Lady of Indostan

by Thomas Jefferys

Transport yourself back to the mid-18th century with this stunning hand-colored engraving entitled "Habit of a Lady of Indostan." This engraving, dating from around 1757 and published in London by Thomas Jefferys, is featured within his seminal A Collection of the Dresses of Different Nations, providing a revealing European interpretation of Indian fashion in its early colonial phase.

This illustration provides insight into the complex layering of clothing worn by Indian women, highlighting the fine fabrics and elaborate ornaments which were characteristic of the "Indostan" style. Thomas Jefferys, the Geographer to King George III, was known for his exactitude. Not only does this engraving function as artwork, but it also holds primary importance in terms of ethnographic and costume history studies from the 18th century.