Habit of a Noble Lady of Vincentia in 1581

by Thomas Jefferys

This engraving created in 1581 is one of the few representations illustrating the clothing habits and strict class structure of the era. The picture shows the Habit of a Noble Lady of Vincentia, an old town in today's Italy (the modern name is Vicenza).

Fashion in the late 16th century was a true reflection of class hierarchy. The engraving depicts a noblewoman dressed in clothes typical for a woman of this region. The lady is dressed in a voluminous, high-waist dress which could have been made from heavy materials such as brocade or silk. Additionally, she wears a ruff and lace decorations typical for the Venetian aristocracy.

The noblewomen from Vicenza wore clothes in order to highlight their distinction from the middle classes in terms of social status. That is why they tried to underline this with elaborate clothing and the use of expensive materials.