What is a "tea gown"?

A tea gown is a loosely fitted, lightweight, and often unstructured gown worn by women at home or in informal gatherings during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. It was designed to be comfortable and easy to wear while still being elegant and appropriate for receiving guests in the home. Tea gowns typically featured soft, flowing fabrics, delicate embroidery, or lace, and were often worn with loose hair and minimal accessories. They were a fashionable alternative to more structured and restrictive formal attire and were popularized by upper-class women during the Edwardian era.