Size 8 Robe à l’Anglaise or English Nightgown c. 1780s

JP Ryan

Made in the USA

Although this pattern made in 2004 refers to examples as early as the 1750s, these extant gowns are now though to be miss-dated or altered later. Therefore the latest work suggests closed front gowns are appropriate for c. 1780-1790. Despite this, the design is based on 5 extant gowns so that the Robe à l’Anglaise may be constructed in a variety of ways. The two views shown offer a Robe à l’Anglaise en foureau as round gown with an apron front or as a Robe à l’Anglaise à La Polonnaise as an open robe with petticoat. Either view may be made as an open or closed robe. For example, in The American Journal of Rhode Island of 1781 an ad includes “the House of the Subscriber . . .  was broken open, and the following Articles were stolen, viz. One Chintz Gown” as cited in Wives, Slaves and Servant Girls.