A Bawd

Pamphlet written by John Taylor in 1635. I liked the costume details on the two women. Very nice embroidered jacket on the Bawdy woman with braided petticote and apron. You can tell she’s a tramp by her uncovered head and trailing locks! The virtuous character is rather more plainly dressed, but you can more or less see the shape of her bodice and skirts.

Following some discussion, I’m beginning to think the bawd is the seated woman on the left and the standing figure is one of her “working girls” dressed for the evening. Dressed hair could count as a head covering in the higher classes.

Tags: apron, embroidery, hair, jacket, kerchief, petticoat