Close-bodied gown
Encyclopedia
A close-bodied gown, English nightgown, or robe à l'anglaise was a women's fashion of the 18th century. The bodice
of this style of dress was closed in front and fitted to the waist in back. Like the earlier sack-back gown
or robe à la française, it featured pleat
s from the shoulder, but in this style the pleats were stitched down to mould the gown closely to the body until the fullness was released into the skirt. The gown was usually worn with a matching or contrasting petticoat
and featured elbow-length sleeves, which were finished with separate frills called engageante
s.
A similar gown with the skirts looped up was called a robe à la Polonaise
.
Bodice
A bodice, historically, is an article of clothing for women, covering the body from the neck to the waist. In modern usage it typically refers to a specific type of upper garment common in Europe during the 16th to the 18th century, or to the upper portion of a modern dress to distinguish it from...
of this style of dress was closed in front and fitted to the waist in back. Like the earlier sack-back gown
Sack-back gown
The sack-back gown or robe à la française was a women's fashion of the 18th century. At the beginning of the century, the sack-back gown was a very informal style of dress. By the 1770s it was second only to court dress in its formality. This style of gown had fabric at the back arranged in box...
or robe à la française, it featured pleat
Pleat
A pleat is a type of fold formed by doubling fabric back upon itself and securing it in place. It is commonly used in clothing and upholstery to gather a wide piece of fabric to a narrower circumference....
s from the shoulder, but in this style the pleats were stitched down to mould the gown closely to the body until the fullness was released into the skirt. The gown was usually worn with a matching or contrasting petticoat
Petticoat
A petticoat or underskirt is an article of clothing for women; specifically an undergarment to be worn under a skirt or a dress. The petticoat is a separate garment hanging from the waist ....
and featured elbow-length sleeves, which were finished with separate frills called engageante
Engageante
Engageantes are false sleeves worn with women's clothing in the 18th and 19th centuries.In the 18th century, engageantes took the form of ruffles or flounces of linen, cotton, or lace, tacked to the elbow-length sleeves then fashionable....
s.
A similar gown with the skirts looped up was called a robe à la Polonaise
Polonaise (clothing)
A polonaise is a woman's garment of the later 1770s and 1780s or a similar revival style of the 1880s inspired by Polish national costume, consisting of a gown with a fitted bodice and cutaway, draped and poufed overskirt, worn over an underskirt or petticoat.The eighteenth century polonaise was a...
.