Ball Gown
Grand formal dress for the dance floor
The ball gown was the pinnacle of women's formal dress in 18th and 19th-century European high society, defined by three elements: a tightly corseted waist, an off-the-shoulder neckline, and an expansive floor-length skirt supported by crinolines or bustles. Reaching its zenith during the Victorian era, it was crafted from the finest silks, satins, and organzas adorned with lace, ribbons, and jewels. As the centerpiece of the most important social events of the season, a ball gown served as a public display of a family's wealth and status.
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