The era of the Empire style: dresses, costumes, hairstyles, jewelry and furniture in the Empire style

This style quickly became widespread in all European states, affecting all spheres of human life. The Empire style is characterized as royal, imperial, pompous. His features were clearly seen in architecture, interior, clothes and evening hairstyles.

Fashionable clothes of the Empire era

Women's fashion of the Empire era was represented by loose-fitting dresses with flowing folds and a falling bottom. At that time, such outfits were sewn from light natural fabrics, mainly tailors used muslin, cambric, muslin, lace, crepe, tulle.

In the first half of the 19th century, women wore exclusively white dresses; over time, outfits made of multi-colored, but plain fabrics came into fashion. Light dresses at that time testified to the high position of their mistress, only ladies from high society could afford them.

Fashionable clothes of the Empire era emphasized the natural forms and beauty of the female body. In such outfits, women resembled ancient images. Ball gowns of that time, as a rule, had a train, which gave solemnity and pomposity to the outfit. In many models, the train was removable. Another characteristic feature of women's dresses of the Empire era was a deep neckline.

Evening dresses differed from daytime models in the depth of the bodice neckline, fabrics and materials used to decorate the dress. Evening dresses in the Empire style were generously embroidered with lace, decorated with antique ornaments, frills, and ruffles. Such outfits were sewn from expensive beautiful fabrics – cambric, muslin, satin, velvet, lace.

Fashionable women's dresses in the Empire style in the 19th century were usually sleeveless or with small puffed sleeves. Long gloves served as an addition to this outfit. Shawls, fashionable scarves and kerchiefs are no less popular additions to the women's costume in the Empire style, with their help a woman could add elegance and completeness to her image. The purpose of these items of women's wardrobe is to emphasize the majesty and grace of the image of a lady, as well as to make the waist more slender, to give ease of movement.

Scarves and kerchiefs were made from light flowing materials, as they should be an addition to the same weightless outfit. The length of the outfit reached the ankle, under such a dress they wore shoes without a heel, while the woman looked slim and tall due to the high waistline. The hem of many models was embroidered with green palm leaves, gold and silver threads.

As outerwear for men and women in the Empire era, they sewed redingots – a kind of coat that was sewn from light woolen fabrics and had a fitted silhouette. A lace coat is another type of outerwear that was worn on top of a light dress. The coat fastened on the front with a hook. Spencer, which is a short jacket with long sleeves, is also among the popular clothes of that time. This item of women's wardrobe was intended for the winter season, so it was insulated with cotton wool or fur. The spencer was sewn from black, blue or brown velvet, and silk was used for the lining. The model was decorated with a lace collar, fastened in front with hooks.

Empire accessories and hairstyles

As accessories that complement the female image, at the beginning of the 19th century, women covered the neckline with translucent kerchiefs – fichu, tying them around their necks. In the wardrobe of married ladies of age, there were always boas – long narrow scarves made of fur or feathers.

Women's shoes were without heels, they resembled modern pumps with thickened soles. There were also open shoes that were tied at the ankle with white ribbons. The shoes were white, blue and pink. Women wore white silk stockings under their dresses.

Fashionable hairstyles of the Empire era are smooth styling with an even parting in the middle. Hair was raised high, collected in bunches and hidden under openwork nets. Women could wear braids, decorated their hair with ribbons and flowers. Hoops and tiaras were used as decorations of the Empire era for hair. Also used feronierki and wreaths of artificial flowers, leaves and ears. To give the image of solemnity and majesty, the ladies wore jewelry, medallions made of onyx and agate were popular. Noble ladies also wore bracelets, brooches, necklaces and necklaces.

Empire style furniture

Furniture in the Empire era, as well as clothing, were distinguished by their pomposity and luxury. In the process of furniture design, Roman architectural forms were used – columns, pilasters, consoles, cornices, friezes. These elements were used to divide the front sides of cabinets and chests of drawers.

The supporting parts of many pieces of furniture – armchairs, cabinets, sofas, chests of drawers, consisted of elements characteristic of the times of Antiquity. Legs and backs could be made in the form of herms, sphinxes, columns, lion paws and even a lion's head. Most of the furniture was made from high quality wood.

In the manufacture of chairs, armchairs, sofas in the Empire era, preference was given to dark mahogany. The smooth surface of the wood was decorated with bronze by applying symmetrical patterns. Also, many pieces of furniture were decorated with carvings. The furniture of the Empire era was solid, pomp and high cost of style were preferred to the detriment of convenience.