Empire-line wedding dresses

by KristenJune 2, 2009 0

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Josephine, wife of Emperor Napoleon

Empire-waist wedding dresses come in and out of fashion – they’re popular again right now – but they have been around for centuries and show no sign of disappearing. This wedding style is flattering on most anyone, and it has been spotted on several catwalks this season.The Empire-line cut is without a doubt a leading wedding dress trend this year and recent catwalk shows have shown off many a Pride & Prejudice-inspired bridal gown.

BBC's Pride and Prejudice

Here’s some history on the style…

Napoleon Bonaparte’s wife, Josephine, was one of the many women of her time who made this style popular. It was also used by pregnant brides who wanted to hide their changing shape.

All that flowing fabric, billowing down to the ground clearly remind us of Greek goddesses, who themselves had extremely feminine shapes, which makes the Empire-waist wedding dress a clear favorite among curvy brides.

The empire-line is characterized by its high waist, just under the bust, which brings your bust together and supports it at the same time. It leaves your real waist hidden and loose, creating a romantic, delicate look.

Shorter brides should consider this style, as it “stretches” your look, while any extra weight is cleverly hidden and women with smaller busts can actually look a little bigger, if that’s what they want.

La Sposa 2009 - Frontera off the shoulder empire-line

La Sposa 2009 - Felicidad - V-neck empire-line dress

Pronovias 2009 - Heraldo sweetheart neckline empire-line

J.Crew - beige lace empire-line

Spanish designer Rosa Clará has used the empire-line style in the Rosa Clará 2010 collection. Click on the link for a peek!

Source: Brides.com