Habit of an English Gentleman in 1640

by Thomas Jefferys

This plate by Thomas Jefferys depicts the pinnacle of Caroline fashion right before the strictness of the English Civil War came into play. Departing from the heavy and stuffed doublets of Elizabethan fashion, the man of 1640 embraced a more graceful style.

This image portrays the change to the falling lace collar, which marked a major break from the ruff, along with the famous "lovelock" hair style. This image represents the essence of the upper-class English gentleman.