Habit of a Lady of Quality in England in 1640

by Thomas Jefferys

This beautiful engraving by Thomas Jeffreys shows the pinnacle of Stuart elegance. The "Lady of Quality in England" before the austere regime of the Protectorate was characterized by the evolution of her dress from the stiff Elizabethan styles to the more fluid lines preferred by the court of Charles I.

The image includes some of the characteristic clothing of the decade, including the high waistline on the bodice, the puffy "virago" sleeves tied with ribbons of silk, and the fine Flemish lace falling collar. More than just an examination of fashion, this is a portrait of social standing in the form of costly fabrics and elaborate embroidery.