Dressing gown

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

Featured here is a very typical example of beautiful morning wear belonging to the late-Victorian woman. The arrangement of alternating lace and lawn stripes at the front of the dress is very typical of the period. Of particular interest, is the back pleating, commonly known as a Watteau back, a feature of early-18th century gowns in paintings by Watteau. Overall, the silhouette creates a stunning line which remained popular for two centuries.

The Costume Institute

An exhibit at Metropolitan Museum of Art

The Costume Institute's collection of more than thirty-three thousand objects represents seven centuries of fashionable dress and accessories for men, women, and children, from the fifteenth century to the present.

Metropolitan Museum of Art