Costume Analytics: What Is a Robe a la Turque Anyway?

It’s been a long time since I’ve done a Costume Analytics, but I’ve found myself entering “new territory” with a type of 18th century gown I *thought* I understood until I took a closer look.

It’s the Robe a la Turque, and indeed all things surrounding 18th century Turquerie and Orientalism.

There are quite a few images, all of them seeming to depict slightly different things, which to my novice eye was extremely confusing. So down the research rabbithole I went, and here’s what I now think I know…

The portrait I want to most closely look at is “Portrait of Mademoiselle Guimard,” by Jean-Baptiste Greuze, 1790.

What the shiny glory is even going on here?

Is it…a robe (kaftan) worn over a gown? Is it…a round gown with the skirt pulled up? Is it…a jacket over two skirts, or is the blue robe attached to the bodice somehow?

The Pattern

To start off, I believe this is a straight up Robe a la Turque, but done in a fancy dress, over-the-top way. A Robe a la Turque is described in the 1779 Galerie Des Modes:

It is a type of dolman that is fitted in front, without pleats and very narrow, with a folded-back collar holding to the Gown, and funnel-shapes sleeves. The underbodice is separated from the petticoat and pleated like the fourreaux a l’Anglaise.  (Translation by Cassidy of A Most Beguiling Accomplishment)

It is also referred to as a Turquoise or Robe a la Musulmane, and resembles a short-sleeved Robe a la Polonaise or Circassienne, with the front sections hanging away from the underbodice, and the back cut all in one with the skirt.

Click for larger view

The three gowns above are meant to depict the same garment, from the Galerie Des Modes. You can see the front side pieces falling away, and the back seams covered in trim and flowing into the skirt.

Admittedly, the gown above doesn’t look a whole lot like our portrait, but this one does…

Click for a larger view

This gown, described in the November 1786 Cabinet Des Modes as a la Turque, is much closer in date and design to our portrait. Imagine the striped overgown in blue silk trimmed with brown fur, and the petticoat in yellow silk, pulled up to reveal an under-petticoat in corral, and we’re there.

There are still some things that raise questions though. How is the sash and belt tied on if the waste is not open all the way around the back? Is the yellow petticoat split? Is Mademoiselle wearing some kind of false bit of bodice where the top edges of the yellow bodice turn down? Is this costume closer to actual 18th c. Turkish dress than the European fantasy of it? Is there artist interpretation going on here?

Underpinnings

There seemed to be various ways Turkish costume could be worn in the late 18th c. Some Turkish garments, such as the Sultana, were meant for home only, as intimate undress, and were worn without stays and skirt supports. Other types of garments, like the Robe a la Turque, where regular wear dressed over stays, pocket hoops or bum pads, petticoats, and with a full headdress and hair style.

Just to confuse you further, here’s Mrs. Trecothick wearing NOT a Robe a la Turque, but a Sultana.

In our portrait, Mademoiselle is wearing fancy dress, not regular attire, but while her skirts are fairly slim, it is my opinion that she is still wearing stays to support the bodice and her bust, along with a curiously high-necked chemise.

Fabrics and Trims

There is an extraordinary amount of texture going on in our portrait. For the base fabrics, we have what appears to be silk duchesse satin, very heavy, shiny, and luxurious. The robe is trimmed on the edges in brown fur. The sash appears to be satin with a heavy gold fringe. Please note that while our girl in the portrait is wearing mostly solid colors, don’t be afraid to take it there with stripes, dots, paisleys, block-printed florals, and anything that feels Middle Eastern. Mix and match at will.

Silk Duchesse Satin from PureSilks.us

Tomato Red Printed Silk Satin from Puresilks.us

The petticoat edges show very European style embroidery on both sides of the silk-lined skirt, while the only other visible trim is seen on the open edges of the bodice at Mademoiselle’s neckline. Lastly, the cuffs and neckline are trimmed in delicate lace, a very European touch.

Accessories

The Turque costumes are all about the accessories. Pile ’em on, ladies. Mademoiselle wears a jeweled red belt that may have been velvet, along with a turban trimmed in ostrich feathers and pearls over a loose 1790s hairstyle with braids and bangs.

Red velvet and bead belt – Etsy

Get creative – this belt from the 1970s would look great. And no, it doesn’t have to actually be Turkish. – belt from Etsy

Commentary and Conclusions

This portrait is stunning and enticing and confusing! In studying it closely, I’ve found more questions than I perhaps answered, but with an eye to making this costume, it seems like a Robe a la Turque in the 1790s silhouette is a good place to start. Parts of the painting make me think that Mademoiselle cobbled her fancy dress costume together from various things in her closet, just like we do today (or perhaps it was cobbled together for her by a marchande de modes), with indications of recognizable gown designs showing through, but obscured by the accessories and styling and possibly artistic interpretation.

It’s most important to realize that the Turquerie costumes of 18th century European women were fantasies of Turkish and Middle Eastern dress, and had almost nothing to do with actual dress of these regions and people.

Here’s more what Turkish women were actually wearing in the late 18th century…

They’re “inspired by,” which in many ways gives us a bit of freedom today in designing our own 18th century Turquerie costumes. Fashion Through History added extra Turque to her Turque with a bright colored petticoat and well-chosen accessories, while Before The Automobile kept her turque simple and stunning, setting off the bold purple with a colorful turban. It can be as clean or crazy as you like.

I have Cassidy of A Most Beguiling Accomplishment to credit and thank for her peerless research on this type of gown, and her translations of the Galerie Des Modes fashion plate descriptions. You can read all her posts on the Turque here.  Additionally, more images of Turques, Sultanas, and other Middle Eastern-inspired costumes can be found on my Pinterest board here.

Tips on Making This Costume 

• See what’s in your closet and stash first – for my version, I already have a red petticoat, sash, belt, and the fabric to make the kaftan/robe and the underbodice and sleeves.
• Choose bright colors – bright blue, magenta, yellow, and red were popular for Turkish costumes.
• Or choose muted colors – pastel blue, ivory, rose pink, and canary yellow were *also* popular!
• Start with a gown or gown pattern you may already have. It could be dressed up, altered, or refashioned to get the look.
• Trim It – fur trim on the robe was incredibly popular, along with braid on the back seams, fringe on cuffs and hems, and embroidery or metallic trims on the edges of the bodice, sleeves, and petticoat.
• Don’t forget to accessorize – a turban of any design and a jeweled belt and/or enormous fringed sash will make any gown look more Middle Eastern.
• Hunt eBay, thrift stores, Etsy, and belly dance supply shops for accessories, or make your own.