Sack-back gown

The Contouche (also Andrienne, Adrienne, Schlender, battante robe, robe volante, robe or robe à la Française innocente ) was the predominant form of dress of the 18th century. It is characterized by falling from the shoulders, large Watteau, so named after the French painter Antoine Watteau, who painted one of the first and by preference.

The commonly used only in Germany Contouche name derives from a Hungarian garment ( Kontusch ) from large back pleats.

The Contouche has evolved from the Manteau the late 17th century, by which originally stitched back pleats were left loose. This wide woman 's garment was first described by Madame Doncourt 1703 by its title role of Andria ( edited by M. Baron after Terence ) brought into fashion. As an intermediate form, the robe battante (also robe volante ) developed the Regency ( 1715-1723 ), which was more often worn outside the home and was gradually with increasing elegance acceptable.

The classic Contouche developed around 1725-30 and was usually worn open at the front, but still had similarity with a wrap dress. Until around 1750 to an ever clearer waist began to emerge and the upper part was getting close to the body. From 1740 barely one sees the front closed or kimono overlap one another like whipped Contouches.

From the mid-nineteenth century to the Watteau pleats were always narrow and retreated towards center back. Extreme form of this development is the robe à la piémontaise in which the folds are made ​​up from an extra piece of cloth, while the garment itself is present all around. In this form the Contouche survived as a courtly and formal gown to the French Revolution, while the everyday fashion long dress to other forms, especially Robe à l' Anglaise of, was gone.