This gown is  constructed from the  Royal Ontario Musuem's line drawing of a c 1775 sacque back gown in their collection.  The original gown is gold silk damask.

The sacque back gown was the most popular style of formal dress during much of the 18th Century.  

Construction Notes:

The fashion fabric of the gown and petticoat consists of 9 yards of 60" wide silk brocade available from Calico Corners  and Osgoods Textiles. The fabric was cut into 20 " wide panels, to simulate the narrow width of 18th century silk fabrics, the edges are overcast to prevent raveling.  The gown was draped over a mannequin fitted with stays and large hoops.

Hand sewn using white linen thread for bodice and lining seams. Matching silk Gutterman's  thread was used to attach trim and hem facing.  The hem of the gown is faced with 6" of lightweight linen.  The petticoat hem is faced with gold silk ribbon.

 The bodice lining laces up the back and is of medium/heavy weight white linen. The sleeve linings are lightweight white linen.

Gown Trim Detail: Mokuba ribbon trim, fly fringe made with flat silk from the Japanese Embroidery Center  and added to the purchased trim. The trim design is based on two silk gowns featured in Avril Hart's "Fashion in Detail", p 134-135, both gowns have rosettes of silk along the sleeve flounce edges and robings, the purchased Mokuba trim is only an approximation.