1780s Grey Silk for Robe à l’Anglaise & Italian Gown

This refined striped silk design is based on an original textile recorded in the Gazette des atours de la Reine Marie-Antoinette (1782). The vertical rhythm of soft grey tones combined with delicate ikat-like markings creates a calm, structured surface typical of late 18th-century silks.

The “granite grey” colourway gives the fabric a silvery appearance, making it especially suitable for garments where light, movement, and understated elegance are desired. The subtle contrast enhances the silhouette without overpowering the overall look.

Well suited for

Ideal for Robe à l’Anglaise, Italian gowns, Regency overdresses, and layered 18th-century garments. Particularly effective for projects where a soft silver-grey tone enhances volume, drape, and light reflection.

Design & Historical Context

This design originates from documented court textiles of the 1780s, where striped silks were widely used to shape and emphasise the body through vertical construction. The restrained palette reflects the more refined and balanced aesthetics seen in late court fashion.

Reference Person
Princess Marie Thérèse Louise of Savoy (1749–1792), known as the Princesse de Lamballe, was a close confidante of Queen Marie-Antoinette. Her life reflects the elegance and fragility of the French court in the years leading up to the Revolution.