Countess Greffulhe
One of the most iconic versions of the tea gown (or dress) was the one that was made by Maison Worth for the Countess Grefuhlle in 1895. Although tea gowns were initially intended as a form of Victorian “casual wear” for wear at home, the style eventually evolved into something less casual and more focused on achieving a fashion effect (as is the case with a lot of fashions that start simple and evolve into something far more complex). Here are a few views:
Tea Dress, Worth c. 1895; Palais Galliera (GAL1964.20.4)
Three-Quarters Front View
In this close-up, one can see the blue flocked velvet design set against a green silk satin.
Three-Quarters Rear View
Back in 2016-17, an exhibition about her was staged at Palais Gallieria in Paris and the FIT Museum in New York. Below is a link to a video about it:
In future posts, we’ll delve more into this gown but suffice to say, it’s simply stunning and we’re looking forward to someday seeing it in person, whether in Paris or somewhere else.
