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Samuel Pepys: diarist, administrator … budding fashionista

New analysis of 17th-century diarist’s French fashion engravings shows he was not only a shrewd political operator but had a keen eye for new trends

As well as offering a first-hand account of a number of momentous events such as the plague and Great Fire of London – during which he buried his wine and parmesan cheese in the garden for safekeeping – it provides fascinating insights into more mundane aspects of daily life. While not the first time the prints have been examined, Avidon said her work considers them alongside Pepys’s diary to demonstrate that throughout his life he had a very keen interest in clothing – his own, and that of the people around him. Robert Blyth, senior curator of maritime history at the Royal Museums Greenwich, said Pepys had a fascination about the world around him and a desire to be at the forefront of knowledge.

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