Sack-back gown
Videos
The sack-back gown or robe à la française was a women's fashion of 18th century Europe. At the beginning of the century, the sack-back gown was a very informal style of dress. At its most informal, it
Two robes à la Française, front and back views, 1750–75 (MET)
Woven linen pet-en-l'air with sack back, worn with a matching petticoat. France or England, c. 1770s. (LACMA) M.67.8.74
L'Enseigne de Gersaint (detail), 1720, by Antoine Watteau. Early example of a sack-back gown.
La Déclaration d'amour, 1731, by Jean François de Troy. Front and back views of women in sack-back gowns.
Caraco
Videos
A caraco is a style of woman's jacket that was fashionable from the mid-18th to early 19th centuries. Caracos were thigh-length and opened in front, with tight three-quarter or long sleeves. Like gown
Woman's striped silk sack-back caraco, 1760s, altered 1780s. Los Angeles County Museum of Art, M.2007.211.3.
The Chocolate Girl, 1743–45, wears a fitted jacket, petticoat, and apron.
Working woman's bedgown and petticoat, 1764.
Caraco jacket in printed cotton and skirt in quilted silk satin, 1770-1790, ModeMuseum Provincie Antwerpen.