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.