Unique A woman's gown, English, 1770s; blue and cream striped silk, brocaded with floral motifs in green and pink, Spitalfields, 1725-35; altered 1870-1910 A woman's gown of blue and cream silk in broad stripes, brocaded with floral motifs in green and pink. The gown is in the English (tight-back) style, open at the front with robings to the waist and elbow length sleeves. The bodice and sleeves are lined with different qualities of linen. The pleats at the back are stitched down. The waist seam extends from the centre back pleats to the front openings. The gown is made of 6 widths of silk; the skirts are flat pleated into the waist seam. The gown was probably first made in the 1730s and then altered in the early 1770s, possibly for fit as well as style. Piecing at the back neck suggests a taller wearer; the bodice was probably relined. It may originally have been a closed gown and the centre front panel removed, the robings shortened and the skirts reconfigured at the sides for a smaller hoop. All sleeve trimmings were removed. The light blue woven gimp lace (braid) around the edges of the robings were probably added at this time. In the late 19th century, the gown was altered for fancy dress. Darts were sewn into each bodice front, the robings boned and a casing with drawstring added to the back neck.