What was an 18th century "Night gown"? Throughout much of the 18th century in England and its American colonies*, the term "night gown" or more often just "gown" described a garment whose bodice back Cocktail Attire Evening Gowns For Elderly Ladies Cocktail Dresses Mature Ladies Cocktail Dresses Long Dresses For Women's Formal Dresses & Evening Gowns Dillard's The 1810s were not entirely about white, as this evening dress surely attests. Far from it. Color was still a major player. This surviving evening ensemble is possibly one that was meant 1860 Cream silk evening dress Fashion History Timeline Did you know full evening dress originated in the early 19th century? It was known as "white tie" and was worn by fashion icons like George "Beau" Brummell. Thanks to Google Arts