Habit of a Lady of Syria in 1568

by Thomas Jefferys

This captivating copperplate engraving, which was later made popular by the famous cartographer and geographer Thomas Jefferys, provides an interesting glimpse of the fashion of a Syrian lady of high birth from the 16th century. Created in 1568, this engraving represents the beautiful combination of traditional Levantine and Turkish fashion.

The figure wears a long, high-waisted garment, which was a precursor to the contemporary kaftan, with elaborate embroidery that suggests the famous textile traditions of Damascus and Aleppo. The costume she wears includes layers of silk fabrics and an interesting headdress that denotes her social position since such costumes indicated high family standing.