A gown or evening gown is a womans eveningwear, corresponding to men`s formal wear for white tie and black tie events. Gowns are worn for formal evening weddings, by members of the wedding party, for diplomatic events such as state dinners, and other formal events including debutante balls, proms, charity balls, and many awards ceremonies.

Throughout the 18th century a womans dress usually consisted of a gown and petticoat. The gown consisted of the bodice and skirt joined together, with the skirt open in the front to reveal the separate petticoat, which was an essential part of the dress and not an undergarment.

The basic article of academic dress, the sleeves and back of the garment being pleated or gathered into a yoke. A gown may be worn open or closed in front and is of varying length. A gown may have the fronts turned back to form facings, or may be faced down each side in front or down each side in front and round the neck, with another colour or material The shape of the sleeves of a gown is often its most distinctive feature.