Dress (robe à la française) c. 1760 (fabric c. 1750) French Orange Lyons brocade with plant pattern, trims; double–flounced pagoda sleeves; stomacher and petticoat (jupe) in matching fabric. Inv. AC5373 86-18-4AC The eighteenth century in France saw the blossoming of a smart and refined new style called “rococo.” Clothes in this period were made from an abundance of luxurious silk fabrics produced in Lyons and adorned with extravagant decorations such as lace, ribbon, and artificial flowers. All the elements harmonize well to express the sophisticated and delicate spirit of the rococo style. A typical woman’s rococo garment was a robe à la française, an ensemble which included a gown, a petticoat that resembles today’s skirt (known as a jupe in French), and a triangular panel called a stomacher. Gowns had openings in the front and wide box pleats that fell from the shoulders to the hem in the back. They were worn over a corset and panier (supportive underskirt with hoops). The robe à la française was worn as a formal garment until the French Revolution in 1789 brought about drastic social change. Photo by Tohru Kogure