Revolutionary fashion: Robe à la française

The sack-back gown (or sacque) doesn’t sound all that flattering, does it? Fortunately, it’s a lot prettier than it sounds!

The popular “robe à la française” was second only in formality to court dress. The main difference between this style of gowns and the anglaise and polonaise styles is the pleated panel at the back neck that hangs down to form a train. In A Gentleman’s Daughter, the gown that Cassandra lends to Patience and later wears herself features fabric inspired by this hand-painted silk taffeta gown and petticoat set at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.


Definitely click to see the fabric in detail!


Yeah, Lord David can wear that if he wants.
He looks good in whatever he wears… Name that game!

 

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