Habit of the Sultaness in 1749

by Thomas Jefferys

The print "Habit of the Sultaness" from 1749 by Thomas Jefferys is an excellent illustration of how an ethnographic depiction would be in the mid-eighteenth century and shows all the splendor of the rich Ottoman fashion style.

Allows one to look inside the Seraglio and see the clothing of a high-status woman from the Sultan's palace. The works of Jefferys are especially famous for the detailed depiction of a special trend of the time known as "Turquerie" which means the fascination with Oriental cultures.

In this print, we see the Sultaness in a set of clothes including the traditional outer robe called caftan with long sleeves over the fine chemise and şalvar – wide trousers. The costume is accentuated with the luxurious jeweled belt while her headgear represents silk and jewel combinations which emphasize strict but elegant hierarchy of the royal family.