Tea gown

A tea gown or tea-gown is a woman's dress for informal entertaining at home. These dresses, which became popular around the mid-19th century, are characterized by unstructured lines and light fabrics. Early tea gowns were a European development influenced by Asian clothing and historical approach from the 18th century which led to the renaissance time period of long and flowing sleeves.^[1][2] Women, as a strict rule, never upon any circumstance would wear a traditional hat or veil whilst inside and consuming tea and cakes in mid afternoon traditions. Part of this European sense of fashion came from the Japanese kimono.^[3]

Liberty & Co. tea gown of figured silk twill, c. 1887. Los Angeles County Museum of Art, M.2007.211.901.

Tea gowns were intended to be worn without a corset or assistance from the maid; however, elegance always came first.^[4]

During the 19th century, it was not appropriate for women to be seen in public wearing a tea gown.^[4] They were intended to be worn indoors with family and close friends during a dinner party.^[4][5]

Although tea gowns were meant for midday wear, they could be worn into the evening.^[5] Women started wearing tea gowns in the evening for dinner or certain events at home with close friends and family by 1900.^[5] Tea gowns intended for day wear usually had high necks, while evening tea gowns had lower necks.^[5]

"Emily Post’s book, Etiquette in Society, in Business, in Politics, and at Home, contains some fascinating information on tea gowns; in fact, her introduction on tea gowns reads like a 19th Century novel."^[6]