Empire silhouette, empire line, empire waist or just empire is a style in women’s clothing. This style revolves around the dress with a fitted bodice that ends below the bust giving a high waisted look. The rest of the dress is long and fits the body loosely.
The term “Empire Silhouette” originally came from Great Britain at the beginning of the 20th century. It also refers to the French Empire as Josephine de Beauharnais, Napoleon’s wife, was a huge influence in fashion circles across Europe.
An empire waist dress doesn’t fit all types of figures. But when it comes to properly covering an oversized belly, this is a great option. The empire dresses particularly flatter the body shapes of pears and apples. The shape of the empire waist dress will also help you look taller.
In this post we are going to see how to style the empire waist dress and look fabulous. I’ve divided the dresses into three categories: casual, elegant and boho. I’ll show you the 12 best outfit ideas.
Let’s start, shall we?
Casual empire waist dresses
These are the dresses that can be worn with the heels or flats every day. They are usually made of cotton or other flattering materials.
source
This is a casual and classy outfit. Mixing these two styles is good when doing any outfit combination.
In the photo above you can see the brown cardigan paired with the classic cotton dress with the empire waist.
It is all combined with the brown leather boots. This is a perfect combo for fall days when you want to go for a walk outside or have coffee with friends.
source
Burgundy as one of the colors of the fall season, and it looks great and suitable for any occasion.
This casual empire waist dress is great if you’re somewhere on the beach on vacation, but it can also be a great option if you’re in town for the hot summer.
It makes a great outfit when worn with the flip flops or nice funky sandals.
source
A great way to wear empire waist dresses is to wear them off your shoulders!
The beautiful mini dress with ruffles and bell sleeves is ideal for parties by the pool or for the night on the beach. It has the A-line cut so it covers your belly perfectly when you need that.
Wear it with high-heeled sandals or stilettos.
source
Gingham is also one of the trends that were really big last summer. So it’s no surprise if you want to buy this dress right now!
It’s great for all kinds of occasions, from a leisurely stroll through town to a formal dinner. For the former, you can pair it with the leather jacket and a pair of good thigh-high boots.
Elegant empire waist dresses
Elegant dresses to wear at weddings, formal events, or other celebrations.
source
This is a great white lace dress if you are going to a really formal dress code event. It’s great for you if you are going to an outdoor or indoor wedding too.
The lace in the empire waist part of the dress is so delicate and romantic. All you need is a pair of silver or gold metallic stilettos. You can go with some sandals too.
source
This is a lovely dark blue maxi dress. It has details in the upper part of the dress that make it very elegant and interesting. It looks very formal so you can wear it to a wedding or other celebration.
Combine it with the beautiful and elegant sandals made of gold or metallic.
source
Baby pink, also known as the delicate pink color, is one of the most elegant colors when it comes to dresses or gowns. All of the princesses from the Disney movies wanted to wear pink dresses. Why shouldn’t you do this?
In the photo above you can see a beautiful delicate pink maxi tulle dress. A perfect outfit option if you are headed for a wedding. If you don’t like the classic, this can easily be your wedding dress.
source
Red is always a good idea if you like classic colors for your clothes. This is a classy and elegant dress with the empire waist. It flatters your body shape. It can look great when paired with the gold details like the bracelet or sandals.
You can also soothe its elegance by wearing it with the apartments.
Bohemian empire waist dresses
Summer and boho dresses, perfect for any situation.
source
If you like the bohemian lifestyle and you like to dress boho, this is one of the dresses you will love to wear. It’s mini and has details embroidered on the top. It has peek-a-boo crochet panels throughout and the drawstring on the cuffs.
Wear it with the platform shoes like in the photo above.
source
This is a great boho summer dress. It’s perfect for hot days when you’re not in the mood to wear something that has the slightest chance of making you feel warm.
It has the perfect cut and is flowing, with the wide, relaxed sleeves. If you like embroidered parts, a lot of ethnic details are embroidered on this dress.
source
Floral print on the summer dress is something that everyone should have. Just one dress is enough to always have the best outfit.
This hippie / boho dress is ideal for casual city tours or brunch. You can also wear it for those casual evenings with your friends.
source
This is a perfect white linen dress. It will look gorgeous to you when you are anywhere near the sea. Imagine this and your sun-kissed skin. It will be a perfect combination, trust me.
Wear it with the lovely leather sandals and add a wicker bag to the whole combination.
These were some of the clothes that you can wear. You can choose in which situations you want to wear them, casual, elegant or maybe even during your vacation.
In both cases they have several functions. They look beautiful and flatter the peach and apple body types. Plus, they’re good at hiding your belly.
You should really consider having one in your closet.
