Two dresses of Catherine II, one with the Russian arms, one a Preobrazhensky Regiment uniform
Incidentally, both of the Empress's dresses are rather instructive as facts in the history of fashion. The first is of silver brocade with silver and gold embroidery. Over it Catherine wore a gold brocade mantle with black eagles. It was the first dress in history whose principal decorative motif was the Russian coat of arms. Its train was 70 metres long and 7 metres wide.
The second is a Preobrazhensky Regiment uniform dress of 1763. Catherine made it fashionable for women to wear uniforms, a tradition that lasted until the Revolution. The green dress is trimmed with officer's regimental braid. It was made of Russian fabrics, as was required at Catherine's court, which not only underlined the nobility's bond with the fatherland but also gave substantial support to Russian manufacturers.
