The tailor of “habits” is the one that cuts out, sews and sells the “habits”.
Under the Ancien Régime, the tailor of “habits” rivals with the artisan who makes the doublet. The “habit” is an outdoor garment covering the chest and coming down below the belt, to a more or less low point, depending on the social status of the person. The doublet only comes down to the belt, and appears as a sort of jacket, which has sometimes no sleeves. In the 17th century, these professions are one. They become the ones to have the right to make new garments, or old garments with a new fashioning, at the exclusion of all the other workers. It sounds very nice, but it is not always an easy thing to prove to a “fripier” (a used-clothing dealer) that an old garment has a new fashioning, especially when the “fripier” has an interest in not being convinced. Therefore, the tailors quarrel with the “fripiers”, about the difference between the new and the old garments.

Tailors do not make shoes, nor stockings or hats. They only provide them to their shops, after buying them to special merchants. Indeed, tailors take charge of the complete outfit of their clients; and people willing to look good let their tailors take care of their clothing from top to toe. This is the only way to have all the pieces of the clothing matching perfectly. The everyday life
The tailor of “habits” is also a little artisan, in the country or in burgs, getting around and working for clients providing the raw material, in a local perimeter. He patches up old garments or makes them fit to children. In the country, while men work in the fields, the tailor of “habits” works at the farm, to make the ordered clothes. Meeting often troubles to make himself paid, he sometimes receives his due payment in kind, poultries for example. Most often, he works with his wife, who is a dress-maker.