Fashion in the Stuart era

Published: July 28, 2026 · Updated: July 28, 2026

Stuart fashion softened the Tudor silhouette — falling lace collars and the flamboyant Cavalier style, then Puritan plainness, and in 1666 the birth of the three-piece suit.

Fashion in the Stuart era — Author: Anthony van Dyck Public domain Source

Overview

The century swung between courtly display and Puritan restraint, with French court fashion increasingly setting the pace.

Key garments and style

Early (Cavalier) dress had wide lace collars, slashed doublets and broad-brimmed hats; women wore softer, low-waisted gowns. In 1666 Charles II introduced the long vest — the ancestor of the man’s three-piece suit of coat, waistcoat and breeches — while the Puritans favoured plain dark cloth and linen collars.

Transition

The Georgian 18th century made this suit and the mantua gown the mainstream of polite dress.

History of this period

Stuart era 1603–1714