Dress

Unconstrained by any interior structure under the garment, the body moves freely in this tunic dress, which hangs from the shoulders, but with a degree of tailoring, since it has sleeves and seams. In keeping with the fashion of the time, the waistline has been moved from its natural position to just below the breasts and is marked by a drawstring that gathers the tunic and fits it to the body of the wearer. At the back the dress falls in folds from an embroidered section at the level of the high waist emphasizes the drawing in in order to exaggerate the freedom of the tight folds that fall all the way to the floor, where the dress extends in a train, effectively stylizing the figure.

Made of a very fine batiste, one of the lightest cotton weaves, the dress is ornamented with a delicate yet simple white on white embroidery, with delicate floral motifs concentrated on the back and falling more loosely over the whole skirt. The drawstring that marks the waistline ends in a fringed tassel, and the same ornament can also be seen on the back.

As well as the freedom of movement inside the robe, the body is also revealed more openly, both directly, because the sleeves end at the elbows, and indirectly, thanks to the transparency of the material. We know from various contemporary accounts that women used to wet the dress so that it would cling to the body and show off its curves, in the manner of Greek and Roman statues. Such dresses were usually worn with a large cashmere shawl to keep the wearer warm in inclement weather.