Stuart life / Dressing to impress
Women of substance in the 17 th century took delight
in wearing the latest styles from London. But, says
Tim Reinke-Williams, make a mistake and you’d soon
attract scorn. You might even get driven out of town...
Dressing
to impress
Sir Anthony van Dyck’s 1638
portrait of Anne Carr, Countess
of Bedford. By the 17th century
imports of different fabrics
and dyes meant dresses
became much more diverseBRIDGEMAN IMAGES