The choice of a flamboyant dress such as this one tells us that the original owner Julie Clifford Kocq van Breugel-Thurkow (1885-1973) moved in high society circles. The colour, the finishing-off and the rich decoration give this dress an almost 'un-Dutch' allure. She possibly wore this chic gown to official diplomatic occasions in Berlin, where her husband, Jelle Clifford Kocq van Breugel (1882-1957) worked as minister-resident (diplomat) for the Gezantschap der Nederlanden. The threat of war meant that they lived apart for a period of time, but they were able to visit one another. The diplomat wrote on August 11th 1913 "I think it would be a very good idea to go to Paris for a while to buy your clothes and other such items." The dress was possibly purchased there. It unfortunately has no label, but we found number 31304 in the waistband, which proves that it came from a couture house. The minister-resident resigned as ambassador after the war, much to the delight of his wife. Their son Willem Clifford Kocq van Breugel (1914-2015) wrote in his memoirs that the couple hated constantly having to change clothes and to 'sit up and beg' at all the official occasions.