Latest Style Blog: Clothing: Robes
The robe is a loose-fitting, comfortable outer garment that is made from rich brocade silk, linen or cotton. It is a sort of a dressing gown that was earlier used during morning ablutions and was also worn in the evening while relaxing. The robe became popular in the western world in the early 1700s. Tracing its history, the actual garment was derived from banyan, an informal coat worn by men in 18th century that has sleeves and body cut as one piece. By the 1800s the ladies began to wear dressing gowns and robes to break free from their tightly laced corsets. Robes were worn with undergarments for breakfast, sewing and general relaxing to maintain propriety around servants.