Dresses in plain wools and cottons were appropriate
for mornings at home. For afternoon visits and promenades, women wore dresses that featured more luxurious fabrics and ornamentation and were meant to be admired in public. Different types of evening dresses were worn for entertaining at home or for going to the opera or a ball. Dinner dresses signaled the break with daytime fashion, but tended to be more demure than formal evening gowns. Embellished silk dresses prevailed for evening.
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