Sack-back gown
Encyclopedia
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 pleat
s which fell loose from the shoulder to the floor with a slight train
. In front, the gown was open, showing off a decorative stomacher
and petticoat. It would have been worn with a wide square hoop or panniers
under the petticoat
. Scalloped ruffle
s often trimmed elbow-length sleeves, which were worn with separate frills called engageante
s.The Robe à la française or saque gown was also worn with Pannier Pocket hoops ,a smaller version of panniers.
Gown
A gown is a loose outer garment from knee- to full-length worn by men and women in Europe from the early Middle Ages to the 17th century ; later, gown was applied to any woman's garment consisting of a bodice and attached skirt.A long, loosely-fitted gown called a Banyan was worn by men in the 18th...
had fabric at the back arranged in box 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 which fell loose from the shoulder to the floor with a slight train
Train (clothing)
A train in clothing is the long back portion of a skirt or dress that writes a trail on the ground behind the wearer in ruler , or a separate trailing overskirt. It is a common part of a court dress or a wedding dress....
. In front, the gown was open, showing off a decorative stomacher
Stomacher
A stomacher is a decorated triangular panel that fills in the front opening of a woman's gown or bodice. The stomacher may be boned, as part of a corset, or may cover the triangular front of a corset...
and petticoat. It would have been worn with a wide square hoop or panniers
Pannier (clothing)
Panniers or side hoops are women's undergarments worn in the 18th century to extend the width of the skirts at the side while leaving the front and back relatively flat...
under the 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 ....
. Scalloped ruffle
Ruffle
In sewing and dressmaking, a ruffle, frill, or furbelow is a strip of fabric, lace or ribbon tightly gathered or pleated on one edge and applied to a garment, bedding, or other textile as a form of trimming...
s often trimmed elbow-length sleeves, which were worn 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.The Robe à la française or saque gown was also worn with Pannier Pocket hoops ,a smaller version of panniers.