What is an Empire Waist Dress?
An empire waist dress has a fitted bodice which drapes under the bustline rather than at the natural waistline. The effect of this shape is to slim and lengthen. The cinch at the bustline creates an elevated waistline and a longer, billowier line from bust to the hem than if the dress were cinched at your natural waist. Empire waist dresses are great for petite or plus-size women, as they lengthen the frame and redirect attention away from their hips or waist to their bust.
Empire waist dresses can be used in so many ways. The necklines Fashion Hot of the Empire waist dresses can be a variety of V-neck, turtleneck, or halter top. The sleeves can have long sleeves, short sleeves, or sleeveless. The hem length can also vary from above the knee (often called babydoll) to floor length.
Common types of Empire Waist Dresses?
Empire silhouettes are often used in party dresses and cocktail dresses, casual dresses or sundresses. They’re also popular for bridesmaid dresses.
What is the History of the Empire Waist?
The rise of the empire waistline was a result of Neoclassical Europe in the late eighteenth century. This was during which Greek and Roman culture were popularized in the public eye. The flowy, flowing outfits of Greco-Roman art featured narrow ribbons that were cinched below the bust line for long, drapey dresses.
Napoleon Bonaparte, France’s first empress, established French control over large parts of Europe shortly after the dresses became fashionable. Josephine de Beauharnais was his first empress. She popularized the silhouette and it became known as the “empire-style waist”.
Empire waists have been in fashion since the 19th century. They were especially fashionable in the 1960s. Empire waists are now a common silhouette, most Fashion Inform commonly used in wedding dresses, but also found in everyday dresses.
What is the difference between Empire Waist Dresses and A-Line Dresses?
Although both empire waist and A-line styles are very popular, there are many differences between them.
Accentuating the waistline. Both empire waist and A-line dresses are designed to make the wearer appear thinner. With a fitted bodice, A-line dresses draw attention to your natural waistline (often the lower part of a woman’s torso), while empire waist dresses are designed to highlight this area. Empire waist dresses, on the other hand, draw attention to the line just above your natural waistline, just below your bust. This will make your bust look slimmer visually. Empire waist dresses look great on thicker women, as they don’t require a slim waist to flatter them.
This creates a lengthening effect. Empire waist dresses are designed to cinch above the natural waistline, creating a long line from the “waist” to the hem. This hemline can create a lengthening effect, which can make you appear taller and slimmer. Maxi dresses with an empire waist silhouette look great with maxi dresses. The line from your bust to floor lengthens your frame. A-line dresses are designed to hug your natural waist, so they won’t lengthen your frame as much as empire waist dresses.
The drape. Flare dresses, also known as A-line dresses, are all about the flare. A-line dresses are slitted at the waist and then flare out to the sides. This creates the appearance of a capital letter “A”. Empire waist dresses on the other hand don’t flare around your body. They drape straight down from the bust to lengthen your frame.
