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24 lut 2009 · Using fashion plate imagery, the page follows the changes in the female fashion silhouette from the late 1790s to 1825. The bulk of this epoch covers the era of fashionable Regency Dress, an era beloved by Jane Austen and costume re-enactment fans.
The Empire silhouette were the key style in women’s clothing during the Regency era. The dresses were usually light, long and fit loosely, they were usually in white and often sheer from the ankle to just below the bodice which strongly emphasized thin hem and tied around the body.
The style began as part of Neoclassical fashion, reviving styles from Greco-Roman art which showed women wearing loose fitting rectangular tunics, known as peplos or the more common chiton, which were belted under the bust, providing support and a cool, comfortable outfit suitable for the warm climate.
The Empire silhouette was the key style in women's clothing during the Regency era. The dresses were usually light, long, and fit loosely, they were usually in white and often sheer from the ankle to just below the bodice which strongly emphasized thin hem and tied around the body.
In fashion, the style began as children's wear made from fine white cotton, but was adopted by women in the form of a tubular dress with skirts that were gathered under the bust with some fullness over a pad at the back.
Empire dresses gained prominence due to their association with the French Empress Josephine, who popularized this style during the early 19th century. The empire waistline, which sits just below the bust, created a flattering and elongated figure, accentuating the natural curves of a woman’s body.
Empress Joséphine was fond of swans; they decorate the chair arms, curtains, carpets, and porcelain in the state rooms of her home at Malmaison (1985.119; 26.256.1). Courts across Europe adopted the Empire style, especially in Russia, where it became a staple.
