Some dresses simply seem to radiate allure. Elise van Ittersum (1851-1936), lady-in-waiting to Queen Emma, would have followed tradition and wore this 'formal' dress to a reception at Soestdijk Palace in 1892. The subtle decoration of flower tendrils and bows in gold thread, sequins, velvet ribbon and pearls on a background of warm yellow silk satin was created by the Belgian couturiere Madame van der Taelen, who ran studios in Brussels and Ostend. Fellow lady-in-waiting Henriëtte van der Poll also belonged to her clientele, the turquoise velvet evening gown with gold lace from 1905 belonged to her (imv.nr.10726/001-002) . The cheerful and very sociable Elise knew exactly, as a member of the Overijssel landed gentry, 'how things were done'. This was a time when dress codes at court were in a constant state of excitement: one had to be dressed to impress in any possible or impossible situation. Elise would have undoubtedly made a successful entrance in this elegant design, which still radiates skilled workmanship despite its inevitable state of deterioration. Because of the use of weighted silk this dress is too fragile to restore: the small tears in the material will only become more damaged. Unfortunately the tears are an irreversible process which will only deteriorate more even under ideal conditions. The skilled workmanship and the quality will remain unmistakeable.Some dresses simply seem to radiate allure. Elise van Ittersum (1851-1936), lady-in-waiting to Queen Emma, would have followed tradition and wore this 'formal' dress to a reception at Soestdijk Palace in 1892. The subtle decoration of flower tendrils and bows in gold thread, sequins, velvet ribbon and pearls on a background of warm yellow silk satin was created by the Belgian couturiere Madame van der Taelen, who ran studios in Brussels and Ostend. Fellow lady-in-waiting Henriëtte van der Poll also belonged to her clientele, the turquoise velvet evening gown with gold lace from 1905 exhibited in Room 2 belonged to her. The cheerful and very sociable Elise knew exactly, as a member of the Overijssel landed gentry, 'how things were done'. This was a time when dress codes at court were in a constant state of excitement: one had to be dressed to impress in any possible or impossible situation. Elise would have undoubtedly made a successful entrance in this elegant design, which still radiates skilled workmanship despite its inevitable state of deterioration. Because of the use of weighted silk this dress is too fragile to restore: the small tears in the material will only become more damaged. Unfortunately the tears are an irreversible process which will only deteriorate more even under ideal conditions. The skilled workmanship and the quality will remain unmistakeable.