Habit of a Young Lady of France in 1581

by Thomas Jefferys

The detailed engraving, later featured in Thomas Jefferys' 1757-1772 publication titled A Collection of the Dresses of Different Nations, depicts the precise elegance associated with French nobles during the late 16th century. The year 1581 falls within the peak of the Late Renaissance, an era during which French dress design was greatly inspired by the stiffly tailored Spanish attire while retaining the Parisian penchant for embellishment and elevation.

The young woman is illustrated in the formal attire known as a "habit," which characterizes the Valois Court silhouette.