Afternoon dress 1892 House of Worth French Worth was known for including historical references from his research and this dress is an exceptional example of his skill. This dress combines 17th century and The empire waist reshaped fashion in the early 19th century. It borrowed from classical antiquity and rejected the ridgid styles of the 18th century. While the fashion looked more relaxed, the societal 8 Modern Day Empire Waist Dresses With Bridgerton Style Flair 1930s Style Empire Waist Column Dress With Velvet Waistband Very Breezy