A mantua (from the French manteuil or 'mantle') is an article of women's clothing worn in the late 17th century and 18th century. Initially a loose gown, the later mantua was an overgown or robe typically worn over See more

Extant examples of the 17th-century mantua are extremely scarce. Perhaps the only known extant adult-size example is an embroidered wool … See more

• Janet Arnold: Patterns of Fashion 1 (cut and construction of women's clothing, 1660–1860) Wace 1964, Macmillan 1972. ( See more

The origins of the term mantua, to mean "a robe", are unclear. The garment may have been named after Mantua, in Italy, a centre of production … See more

Previously, predominantly undertaken by tailors, a trade heavily made up by men, the making of outer-garments only involved women in a less formalised manner. As the mantua began life as a form of "undress" garment, the making of mantua was taken … See more

• 1650–1700 in fashion
• 1700–1750 in fashion See more

• Eighteenth-century silhouette and support, covering mantuas, at the Metropolitan Museum
• Recreation of three mantuas, at Colonial Williamsburg
• Fashion History Timeline:Mantuas from the See more