Antique porcelain Lady in a ball gown, made in USA Height: 22.5 cm; Weight: 718 g; Made by “Heirlooms tomorrow”, USA. Provenance: private collection in Clearwater, Florida A ball gown, ballgown or gown is a type of evening gown worn to a ball or a formal event. Most versions are cut off the shoulder with a low décolletage, exposed arms, and long bouffant styled skirts.[1] Such gowns are typically worn with a opera-length white gloves and vintage jewelry or couture, stole (a formal shawl in expensive fabric), cape or cloak in lieu of a coat. Where "state decorations" are to be worn, they are on a bow pinned to the chest, and married women wear a tiara if they have one. Although synthetic fabrics are now sometimes used, the most common fabrics are satin, silk, taffeta and velvet with trimmings of lace, pearls, sequins, embroidery, ruffles, ribbons, rosettes and ruching.[1]