How to Dress in an 18th Century Robe a la Polonaise - 1770s

Join me in the 1770s as I show you all the layers that go in to getting dressed in the fashionable 18th century Robe a la Polonaise gown. In this video I start in just a shift, stockings, and shoes, then show how to lace the stays (corset), wear 18th century pockets and skirt supports, put on the petticoat and gown, and finally top it with a very fashionable Marie Antoinette style hat. The Robe a la Polonaise was the trendy gown of the 1770s. This interesting type of Rococo dress consisted of a gown cut all-in-one at the back like a man’s frock coat, and worn with a false waistcoat in front, sometimes sewn in and sometimes a separate garment (mine is sewn in). The polonaise was typically worn over a matching petticoat. FAQ: * This gown is made of pink shot silk taffeta, giving a slight iridescence. It is trimmed with silk organza. Dress diary here: * This gown is pieced with pink cotton in the back of the petticoat, the sleeves, and the beneath the silk organza ruffle on the petticoat. Piecing was a common and expected 18th century practice. * This gown is completely hand sewn. While the Robe a la Polonaise does not appear in the book, techniques for hand sewing similar gowns and petticoats can be found in The American Duchess Guide to 18th Century Dressmaking here: * The stays are bones with plastic zip ties, which mimic baleen whalebone. * The shoes are “Dunmore“ in black wool by American Duchess. These are no longer available, but many other 18th century styles are: * The stockings are over-the-knee silk clocked stockings available here: * The shift is made of 100% linen. * The split bum was made for the book “The American Duchess Guide to 18th Century Dressmaking“ which you can buy here: * Here’s a video on how I did my hair for this shoot: Music in this video is from Epidemic Sound “What Once Was“ by Gavin Luke - “Life on the Mainland“ by Infiniti Ripple - ------------------------------- Get social with us! Instagram: Facebook: Blog: Shop our Website: Don’t forget to subscribe! ❤ #18thcentury #historicalcostume #marieantoinette 0:00 Introduction 0:09 Start with a shift stockings and shoes 0:20 The underpetticoat goes on before the stays 1:04 A bodkin (a large blunt needle) is used to lace the stays 2:43 The split rump was the fashionable skirt silhouette of the late 1770s 2:49 It’s perfect for the polonaise style and accentuates the puffs of the skirt 3:02 A separate, large pocket ties on to the side 3:24 The top petticoat matches the gown fabric and trimming 3:36 The petticoat is open at the sides to access the pockets 3:54 This petticoat is pieced in back with a cheaper fabric, a common practice 4:31 A neck handkerchief fills the neckline of the gown 5:06 The gown is a Robe a la Polonaise a very popular style in the 1770s 5:32 The false waistcoat is pinned at center front 5:44 The boned stays and stomacher keep the pins from poking through 5:58 Pinning gowns made them adjustable for changing sizes 6:23 a breast bow finishes the look 6:53 Hats were both fashionable and sun protection