Empire silhouette, empire line, empire waist or just empire is a style in women’s clothing. This style is all about the dress with a fitted bodice that hits below the bust giving a high waisted look. The rest of the dress is long and fits loosely to the body.
The term “Empire Silhouette” originally came from Great Britain in the early 20th century. It also refers to the French Empire as Josephine de Beauharnais, Napoleon’s wife, was a major influence in fashion circles across Europe.
An empire waist dress does not suit all types of figures. But when it comes to properly covering an oversized tummy, this is a great option. The empire dresses are particularly flattering on the body shapes of pears and apples. The shape of the empire waist dress also helps you look taller.
In this post we are going to see how to style the empire waist dress and look fabulous. I have divided the dresses into three categories: casual, elegant and boho. I show you the 12 best outfit ideas.
Let’s get started, shall we?
Casual empire waist dresses
These are the dresses that can be worn everyday with the heels or flats. They are usually made of cotton or other flattering materials.
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This is a casual and classy outfit. Mixing these two styles is good when making an outfit combo.
In the photo above you can see the brown cardigan paired with the classic cotton dress with an empire waist.
It is all combined with the brown leather boots. This is a perfect combination for autumn days when you want to take a walk outside or have coffee with friends.
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Burgundy as one of the colors of the fall season, and it looks amazing and is 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.
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A great way to wear empire waist dresses is by taking them off the shoulders!
The beautiful mini dress with ruffles and bell sleeves is ideal for poolside parties or a night out at the beach. It has the A-line cut so it covers your tummy perfectly if you need that.
Wear yours with heeled sandals or stilettos.
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Gingham is also one of the trends that was really big last summer. So it’s no surprise if you want to buy this dress now!
It’s great for all kinds of occasions, from a leisurely stroll around 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 for weddings, formal events or other celebrations.
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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’re going to an outdoor or indoor wedding as well.
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 also go with some sandals.
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This is a beautiful dark blue maxi dress. It has details on 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 any other celebration.
Combine it with the beautiful and elegant gold or metallic sandals.
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Also known as the soft pink color, baby pink is one of the most elegant colors when it comes to dresses or gowns. All the princesses from the Disney movies wanted to wear pink dresses. Why shouldn’t you?
In the photo above you can see a beautiful delicate pink maxi tulle dress. A perfect outfit option when heading to a wedding. If you don’t like the classic, this can easily be your wedding dress.
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Red is always a good idea if you like classic colors for your clothes. This is a classy and elegant empire waist dress. It flatters your body shape. It can look great in combination with the golden details like the bracelet or the sandals.
You can also calm down its elegance by wearing it with the flats.
Bohemian empire waist dresses
Summer and boho dresses perfect for every situation.
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If you like the bohemian lifestyle and want to dress up boho, this is one of the dresses that you will love to wear. It is mini and has embroidered details on the top. It has peek-a-boo crochet panels throughout and drawstring cuffs.
Wear it with the platform shoes as in the photo above.
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This is a great boho summer dress. It’s perfect for those hot days when you’re not in the mood to wear anything that has the slightest chance of making you feel warm.
It has the perfect cut and flows with the wide, relaxed sleeves. If you like embroidered parts, many ethnic details are embroidered on this dress.
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Floral print on the sundress 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 casual evenings with your friends.
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This is a perfect white linen dress. It will look beautiful on you when you are near the sea. Imagine that and your sun-kissed skin. It will be a perfect combination, trust me.
Wear it with the beautiful leather sandals and add a basket bag to the whole combination.
These were some of the dresses you can wear. You can choose in which situations you want to wear them, casual, dressy or maybe even during your vacation.
In both cases they have several functions. They look gorgeous and are flattering on peach and apple body types. They are also good at hiding your tummy.
You should really consider having one in your closet.