A case study of an eighteenth-century gown

The study of historic costumes tells us much more than just who wore what and when. It provides us with a unique insight into historic fashion trends, production techniques and materials. They may also provide us with a looking glass into the social economic and political situation of the past. In this article, I will examine a printed cotton gown from a private collection, worn in Massachusetts c. 1780, during one of the most significant periods in American history.