The feminine attire of the time of Josephine does not need special advertising - it speaks for itself, combining not only beauty and elegance, but also comfort. For example, for a summer wedding, empire style dresses will be the best option, because they do not require a corset, petticoat or crinoline. But this is not all the advantages of attire. About them will be discussed later.
It is very important for the bride at the wedding to create a memorable, attractive, harmonious image of purity, freshness and nobleness, and an empire wedding dress will help this as well as possible.
How it all began?
Empire style, or imperial style, dominated Europe in the early 19th century. This was manifested in everything: in architecture and painting, applied art and landscape design and, of course, in fashion.
The main model for artists, architects, designers was antiquity, the unique artistic style of ancient Greece and Rome. In fashion, this meant giving up the lush, intricate outfits that prevailed in the 18th century.
The ancestor of the Empire style in fashion can be considered the Empress Josephine Beauharnais, the wife of Napoleon. In this era, the ideal of ancient simplicity was intensively implanted, and the garments of ancient Greek statues became a model for women's dresses. Therefore, Greek wedding dresses and dresses in the Empire style are often identified with each other.
A distinctive feature of them was the waist line directly under the bust and the skirt freely falling to the floor.
Soon, with the light hand of Josephine and the court tailor Leroy, all the ladies of the imperial court were dressed in outfits stylized as ancient Greek tunics, and since France was considered a trendsetter, the style rapidly spread throughout Europe, including Russia.
It was in this dress that Natasha Rostova was at her first ball before the start of the war with Napoleon.
Style development
Immediately it should be emphasized that the models in the Empire style only resembled an antique pattern by their silhouette. For the ancient Greeks, the main thing in a dress was a skillfully made drapery, which gave him not only beauty, but also provided the woman with freedom of movement.
For empire dresses, smooth lines are characteristic. The fitted bodice usually ends with a belt, which makes it possible to hide the junction between the top and the freely falling bottom. With such a laconic silhouette, it can look and be emphasized simply, and absolutely luxurious.
In the very first models of Napoleon's empire with a narrow bodice and a deep neckline, the skirt was straight up to the toes and with a train, and the drape began to be made a little later, and then only on the bodice. But there were charming sleeves, "flashlight" and over time the skirt became slightly shorter, allowing you to see the shoes, and then the graceful ankle.
The conciseness of the style of dresses in the Empire style was bathed in rich decoration. Lace, bows, bouquets of natural and artificial flowers, as well as decoration with ornaments in the Egyptian, Greek and Etruscan style were used.
Over time, the fashion changed, and the empire-style outfits began to look hopelessly outdated. But, as you know, fashion returns, and the updated Empire style in the first half of the 20th century produced a genuine sensation on the world's catwalks.
At this time, the sculptor and couturier Alix Gre fully used the principle of antique drapery to create stunning beauty and elegance of the model.
Madeleine Vyonne, who preferred flowing light fabrics and unusual cuts, also contributed to the development of neoclassical evening fashion. Such dresses from silk and chiffon with soft folds and skillful drapery turned a woman into a kind of ancient goddess.
Antique image today
Empire wedding dresses continue to be relevant in the 21st century, although, of course, there were some adjustments, in particular, in the upper part:
- the bodice can now be closed or asymmetrical;
- straps are applied;
- possible outfit with one open shoulder.
In short, the opinion of fashion designers, who consider it one of the most promising trends in wedding fashion, is justified.
The length and style of sleeves can be very diverse: from a short flashlight to a long laced and slinky one that is best suited for a winter celebration.
This also applies to the straps. Variations are not enough. For example, thin, wide, decorated with rhinestones, tight-fitting neck. As for the quantity, the strap can be one at all.
If we talk about the color design of wedding models in the Empire style, then most harmoniously they look in delicate bright colors:
- pink;
- blue;
- Ivory
- vanilla.
They more appropriately emphasize the freshness and tenderness of the image of the newlywed.
Although the length of the floor is considered canonical for empire style dresses, they look very original with a length of less than or even knee-length.
Today, this antique style with its clean lines and seeming simplicity of cut helps to create an amazingly feminine and, at the same time, noble image of the bride, which combines seemingly incompatible qualities - innocence and sexuality, purity and seduction.
Virtues
- Comfort Compared to other models of wedding dresses, empire style outfits are remarkable for wearing comfort, which is important for the bride, who has to stay in it almost all day and still look good. Such dresses, regardless of length, create a feeling of harmony and grace, even some weightlessness.
- Correction figures. Do not underestimate the empire wedding dresses because of the seeming simplicity of the style - it will not only emphasize the natural beauty and stature of the bride, but also perfectly hide some figure flaws, give her femininity, make the image harmonious.
- Thanks to the characteristic for the Empire style, the cut manages to emphasize the beauty of the neck and hands.
- Despite the simple cut, the Empire style wedding dress provides ample opportunities for decoration. Particular attention should be paid to the belt under the breast. It is often decorated with all sorts of decorative elements that are at the height of fashion in this particular season. Thanks to the imagination of designers, the bride seems to be something like a graceful antique nymph who came to us from another world, where harmony, beauty and serenity reigns.
Who are the wedding dresses in the Empire style?
For pregnant brides, it will be just the perfect option, regardless of the period. The bride in a wedding dress should be comfortable, and it should not be pressed anywhere, because the discomfort of the future mother causes discomfort for the future baby. Note that with a solid tummy, the figure seems to be more proportional than in a wedding dress of any other style.
The only thing that should be considered is the possible increase in the size of the breast, but it is easy to correct it just before the wedding itself.
Empire gives excellent opportunities to correct the figure.
An empire dress is a real find for tiny, fragile and full brides with wide hips and extra fat at the waist, since the vertical lines and folds besides that hide fragility or extra kilograms, they seem to lengthen the figure, make it taller and slimmer.
It can also adjust the shape of the breast.
If it is too small, it can be visually enhanced using drapery.In this case, the top should be sewn from dense fabric, and the bottom vice versa - from lightweight. You can also use shiny fabric or fluffy trim.
But the lush chest can emphasize the original belt and choose a model with a square neckline or with a V-shaped.
Girls with broad shoulders should choose an asymmetrical bodice on one shoulder. This cut visually narrows the shoulders.
It should be said that an empire wedding dress is best suited for a summer wedding. It is not hot, because there are no tight corsets and puffy skirts. The free cut of the lower part and the open top do not hinder the circulation of air, moreover, the fabrics from which such dresses are made are light, almost weightless.
the cloth
In each season, couturiers present in their wedding collections dresses in the Empire style, made mostly of natural fabrics:
- silk, which is a favorite;
- atlas;
- chiffon;
- organza;
- lace. It is most often used for decoration.
For bodice dresses can be used:
- brocade;
- muslin;
- fatin.
No less elegant is the combination of lace and chiffon, and wedding dresses made of thin lace canvas that imitate handicraft do not need finishing.
Especially impressive are dresses made of pleated fabric: at the slightest movement, small folds that form a pleated look flow into each other, which creates a fascinating play of shades.
Finish
Empire style is truly universal: it allows you to create and completely luxurious, richly decorated toilets, and pointedly simple, but at the same time aristocratic in their elegance wedding dresses.
Even with a minimum of decoration, the wedding dress in the Empire style fully corresponds to the high fashion, embodying the noble restraint and genuine aristocracy by the severity and smoothness of the silhouette lines. However, for a more solemn and festive impression, trim to tone of fabric is used, which looks particularly elegant.
The main decorative elements are located, as a rule, on the bodice and on the belt under the breast. And here the couturier has great opportunities to decorate such a seemingly simple style: you can drape the bodice (this model is especially suitable for a small breast), you can decorate it or a belt with gold or silver threads, beads, pearls, rhinestones, sequins, ribbons, flowers, even precious or semi-precious stones.
An example of the decor of the bodice and belts with stones, rhinestones and sequins can be the "Gossamer" collection of Australian designer Anna Campbell.
The impressive design of open dresses in the Empire style, lace backs, interesting weave straps - all this does not prevent the bride from being feminine, modest and elegant.
Accessories
To fully match the image of the bride can lay her hair in a sleek high hair, or dissolve the hair in large curls, like ancient Greek statues.
The tiara will harmoniously fit into such an image, light and graceful, and if the model is emphasized simple, without any elements of decor, then a necklace in the same style as the tiara will be a worthy end to the image.
An interesting addition will be gloves. Their length depends on the openness of the dress.
Jewelry depends on the preferences of the bride, the main thing that they were not catchy. And shoes can be both classical and in the Greek style (sandals, attached to the straps or shoes without a heel).
Empire dresses are perfect for women with a tummy) This is just my case. And the style itself is very elegant.
Thin lace - the best decoration of the dress. Many cool options in the selection of photos. Especially liked the first.