Maison Dieulafait was one of the first Parisian fashion houses to make fashionable ready-to-wear garments for women. This ready-to-wear collection included mainly coats and jackets. Maison Dieulafait was recommended by prestigious newspapers as early as 1852 as being the fashion house for fur and ready-to-wear garments and it wasn't much later before they were mentioned alongside Maison Worth. The fashion house innovated coat design as early as 1858. Mr. Dieulafait was quoted in the 'Nieuw Amsterdamsche handels- en effectenblad: "Madame, I have acquired a patent for a 'mantelet' which I have called Several. One is able to create several different looks in just a few minutes, each of which is fashionable; such as a ‘ristori’, ‘casaque’, ‘talma-coz’, ‘burnous’, ‘chale’ (and) a ‘betty with a hood’." Evening capes or mantles remain Maison Dieulafait's trademark, including this exceptional example in white moire-silk with a standing collar and adorned with silver coloured beads. The fashion house was still held in great esteem in 1895 and was included amongst all the most important Parisian fashion houses. Their creations were literally 'fit for a queen'; the Portugese queen Maria Pia (1847-1911) was a regular customer.