Court dress (heavily altered since 18th Century)

Towards the end of the 18^th Century styles became more practical drawing inspiration from men’s attire and even from the dress of lower class working women.

Hemlines rose slightly and jackets became popular for women. Gowns that had previously flowed along the ground were caught up into flounces by the means of tapes tied under the dress a la Polonaise or by threading sections of the gown’s fabric through purpose made slits in the gown – robe retroussèe dans les pouches (literally translated as ‘dress hitched into the pockets’)

The gown in the gallery has been altered to follow Edwardian fashion (1901-10).  The hemline has been lengthened with a panel of maroon silk and the excess fabric that may formerly have been worn à la Polonaise now forms a train.

The reusing and restyling of dresses is common, styles could be altered to follow fashion.  It is practical to reuse old silk, fabric from this period being of a high quality and originally an expensive commodity.

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