Evening dress Detail of evening dress

With its airy, tulle overdress, this lustrous, cream satin evening dress projects an ethereal luxury appropriate to its original owner, the Russian Empress Alexandra Feodorovna (1798-1860). The lightweight tulle hovers above an expansive skirt and generous puff sleeves, imparting a feeling of weightlessness. The transparent oversleeves are probably removable, a feature that would have facilitated the transition from day to evening wear.