Perhaps the extreme hot weather we’re dealing with in Southern California or simply the aesthetics but tea gowns have been an object of interest for us lately. As noted in a prior post, the tea gown was an informal garment that was meant to be worn without a corset (in practice, this was not always the case) although many tea gowns were boned in the bodice area to provide a little structure.
There was certainly a wide variety of tea gown styles that were available ranging from ones mass-produced for the middle class market to the haute couture varieties aimed at a more upscale clientele. Below is one example from 1894, complete with gigot sleeves, offered by Worth:
Worth, Tea Gown, 1894; Metropolitan Museum of Art (2009.300.637)
Rear View
And here’s another offering from Worth, circa 1900 – 1901:
Worth, Tea Gown, c. 1900 – 1901; Metropolitan Museum of Art (2009.300.2498)
Rear View
And if one could not afford to buy a ready-made tea gown, they could make their own:
The tea gown offered another alternative for women’s wear and it’s interesting to see how the varieties that were out there. Stay tuned for more in the future. 🙂
