The Extravagance of 1700s Court Dresses | The Spitalfields Mantua Dress

In the 18th century, Mantua dresses were the height of court fashion. In this video, our experts discuss a rare and spectacular dress that dates from around 1756. It's 210cm in width, designed to show off how much expensive fabric the wearer could afford. Furthermore, the wider you were, the more likely it would be that you were seen. Few such Mantua dresses have survived from this period, making this a rare treasure within Historic Royal Palaces' collections.

Find out more about the Royal Ceremonial Dress Collection: https://www.hrp.org.uk/about-us/collections/royal-ceremonial-dress-collection/#gs.mqs54p