Habit of a Lady of Quality of Alsatia in 1577

by Thomas Jefferys

"The Habit of a Lady of Quality of Alsatia in 1577" print, published in the mid-eighteenth century in the work A Collection of the Dresses of Different Nations by Thomas Jefferys, provides an interesting historical perspective on Renaissance fashion.

Alsace (Latin form for Alsatia) was located at the intersection of French and Germanic cultures, and therefore the clothing of a lady of quality in 1577 demonstrates both elements typical of the upper class and some characteristics of local fashion.

A "Lady of Quality" is usually presented wearing a high-necked chemise covered by a tightly fitted bodice with slashed sleeves, letting the fabric of the underskirt be seen—a distinctive feature of the Renaissance fashion that expressed "bravado." The overskirt worn is elaborately pleated, which means that the materials used were heavy woolen or silk fabrics, typical for the wealthy classes of the region. It should be noted that her headgear reveals her marital status with the coif or padded hood.