Marguerite of Lorraine

What people wore

Daily attire of ordinary women

Ordinary women often wore corsets over a shirt, with a skirt and an apron for daily chores, while their clothing was predominantly colored in black, grey, and red.

Daily life

Crowded living in shared urban spaces

In 17th-century Paris, ordinary people often lived in crowded, narrow buildings where a single room served as a kitchen, sleeping area, and living space. Privacy was minimal, as rooms were frequently shared by entire families, lodgers, or apprentices.

Work

Diverse common jobs in rural and urban areas

Around 85% of the population lived in the countryside and worked in agriculture, while urban dwellers relied on diverse trades like baking, sewing, and manual labor. Common urban jobs included artisans, servants, boatmen, porters, and carters who moved essential goods like grain and stone.

Music

Lute and vocal music popularity

Private aristocratic and bourgeois entertainment was almost entirely vocal, with the lute often accompanying singing in the popular air de cour genre.

At the table

Bread as the foundation of daily meals

Bread was the central element of the daily diet, often served as "soup" by soaking hard, stale slices in water, broth, or vegetable mixtures.

Getting around

Primary modes of travel were simple

Ordinary people primarily traveled by foot, on horseback, or via water, as roads were frequently unpaved and turned into mud during rain.

What it cost

Medical treatment cost versus cutlery price

A medical enema in the 17th century cost 15 sous, which was the same price as a gross of small whistle knives.