The empire waist dress is a kind of dress where the waist line is raised above the natural waistline, often right below the bust. It creates an illusion of length and camouflages a bottom heavy figure or thick waist. Empire is a originally a French word so is pronounced om-peer.
The Empire silhouette is created by a woman wearing a high-waisted dress, gathered near or just under the bust with a long, loose skirt, which skims the body. The outline is especially flattering to pear shapes wishing to disguise the stomach area or emphasize the bust. The shape of the dress helps to lengthen the body. The word “Empire” here refers to the period of the First French Empire, the modern period when this style first became fashionable. The design can be traced back to ancient Greece. The style saw a revival during the 1960s.
Some people call a short dress with an empire waist a baby doll dress.
Empire waist also applies tops. The top is cut so that the waistline is directly below the bust, allowing the rest of the garment to float over the bottom half of the body.
