Habit of an English Nobleman in 1577

by Thomas Jefferys

As rendered by Thomas Jefferys, this impressive engraving represents the epitome of Elizabethan peacockism. For a man to be well dressed in 1577 meant more than just dressing; it meant being part of an architectural hierarchy, one that showed how close one was to the Virgin Queen's court.

The subject is distinguished through the use of the peascod belly: the padded, prominent doublet that took the shape of a pea pod. Above the collared neckline was the famous cartwheel ruff, starched into stiffness (as described by critics as the "devil's liquor"). The entire outfit, from the slashed and lined trunk hose that allowed glimpses of another color underneath to the rakish tilt of the hat, was designed to reflect an attitude of wealth.