Dress Design

Talbot Hughes drew and measured the real garments: what people actually wore, century by century, with the cut, the trimmings and the dimensions an artist or dressmaker would need to reproduce them.

HomeContents › Charles II

Charles II

This may be named the period of ribbon trimmings, though braiding was treated in broad lines on the short jackets and sleeves, and down the sides of the breeches. A preference is shown for gold and silver lace, or amongst the elite purfled silk edges; the new mode being a decoration of groups of ribbon loops placed about the suit or dress. The notable feature with the female dress was the gathering of drapery by means of jewelled clasps, and groups of ribbon loops were also used, as with the male dress. The edges of the materials were sometimes cut into scalloped or classic forms, and a very simple voluminous character was fashion's aim.

← The CommonwealthJames II and William and Mary →