Rare Directoire‑Period Spencer, France ca. 1795 – Early Neoclassical Fashion #summerdress was one of the most

was one of the most celebrated members of the House of Romanov-Holstein-Gottorp

requiring only simple resewing

Decorated with fringes at the edges

Subtle signs of age and use

and her clients included celebrities such as the Queen of Belgium and Wallis Simpson

Rare Directoire‑Period Spencer, France ca. 1795 – Early Neoclassical Fashion #summerdress was one of the mostDuring the Directoire period (17951799)the final phase of the French Revolutionneoclassical fashion flourished in France. Inspired by the recent archaeological discoveries at Pompeii and Herculaneum, women adopted light, flowing chemise gowns with high waistlines, often complemented by short jackets known as spencers. The present example is an exceptionally rare surviving garment from this era. This Directoire silk spencer, dating to ca. 17951800 and