Habit of the Lady Mayoress of London in 1640

by Thomas Jefferys

Take a step back in time to the heyday of the Caroline period with this beautiful reproduction of the renowned work of Thomas Jefferys. This artwork depicts the Lady Mayoress of London dressed as would be typical in the year 1640, representing the movement away from the rigid formality of Elizabethan fashion towards a more graceful silhouette.

Attention has been paid to even the smallest details in this artwork, from the detailed lace design of the falling ruff to the luxurious silk of the virago sleeves, as symbols of both the wealth and social status enjoyed by the wealthy London merchants. The famous collection of costumes produced by Thomas Jefferys allows a glimpse of the social stratification in 17th-century London.