This gown was inspired by Jean Baptiste Isabey's Miniature of Young Woman painted in the 1790s. The painting depicts a woman wearing a short sleeved chemise dress with no sash adornment at the waist.

A chemise dress was fully gathered gown. It was traditionally white or pastel in color. However, gowns of this style have been documented for evening wear in rich dark tones as well.  Traditional materials ranged from cotton to silk. It was often worn over multiple full petticoats. This gown is the forerunner to the Grecian inspired gowns of the early 19th century.

This style of gown originated in France and was inspired by the dress of the pastoral countryside. It quickly spread throughout Europe and America and was prominent from the 1780s to 1800.

For more information on this time period, visit our costume history page here.

Maggie May's Chemise dress for evening wear
shown over only a chemise

Source: Tortora, Phyllis and Keith Eubank. Survey of Historic Costume: 3rd Edition. Fairchild Publications, 1998.