Tea gown

Unknown

1890 · silk, cotton · Costume Institute

This traditional tea gown mixes subtle historical details based on a typical, late-1870s silhouette. The one-piece dress is fitted to the body with princess seams, yet the back of the dress gives the illusion of being loose with a smocked draped panel that extends into a train. It is doubtful that a woman would go corsetless, yet she could wear her corset loosened for teatime with friends.

Artist

Unknown

Date

1890

Medium

silk, cotton

Culture

French

Department

Costume Institute

Credit line

Gift of Miss Betty Freese, 1944