This gown was first created for the 1945 film A Royal Scandal, where it was worn by Anne Baxter as Countess Anna Jaschikoff. The gown is highly stylized and vaguely meant to represent something from the 18th century.  Gowns are often made over with new trim or other minor changes, but in this instance, the costume was completely remade to resemble something from the Victorian era before being used again on Ruth Ford as Cornelia Van Borden in Dragonwyck.

This costume recently went up for auction at Julien’s Auctions here. It is described as follows:

A period organdy gown with blue crosshatch silk ribbon worn by Anne Baxter in A  Royal  Scandal (20th Century, 1945). The corseted bodice laces in the front with velvet ribbon and is trimmed with lace. The flounced sleeves are puffed and trimmed with black velvet. The full skirt has two tiers of ruffles and a built-in petticoat. This costume was modified after filming A  Royal Scandal and was then worn by Ruth Ford in Dragonwyck (20th Century, 1946). The panniers have been converted into a full skirt, sleeves have been modified, and ruffles have been added. Costume design on both films by René Hubert. On skirt, there is a bias label that   reads “Anne Baxter 4451.”