Habit of a Lady of Paris in 1626

by Thomas Jefferys

This exquisite engraving, produced by Thomas Jefferys, presents an in-depth depiction of the fashions worn by members of the French aristocracy in the early 17th century. Here, one can clearly observe how the fashion trends evolved from the stiff and angular shapes of the Renaissance period into the flowing lines of Baroque fashion. The woman is wearing a high-waisted dress with puffy sleeves and a lace neck decoration.

As part of the extensive effort made by Jefferys to trace the history of dress development across different eras and cultures, the plate in question provides a precious piece of visual documentation invaluable for costume historians as well as ethnographers of Europe.