Beginning in 1820, Women’s fashion began to change from the Empire style which had dresses waistline falling an inch or two below the bust and having slightly puffy sleeves. Empire style also included gores, which are triangular-shaped segments made to create a flaring effect on a dress. Between 1820-1825 Women’s fashion continued to hold most of the Empire-style designs as the only change was the waistline dropping a few inches and the sleeves getting puffier. Susan Jarrett, a historical fashion blogger, described the early 1820s fashion as “a transition period between the former Empire style and the new Romantic style. During this period, the waistline slowly descended back to its normal position as skirts gradually increased in fullness. Skirts of the 1820s were typically gored– or cut in an A-shape with the narrowest part of the skirt near the waist slowly increasing in width as the skirt progressed to the hem” (Jarrett). Around this time, Romantic period fashion had a dropped waistline, puffy sleeves, and widened skirts that still had gores. However, in 1825 the romantic fashion went through a dramatic change as the waistline continued to drop until it was at the natural waist in 1825. “As the waistline dropped, the skirt and sleeves widened; by 1825, the early Romantic silhouette was established with a natural waistline, large puffed sleeves, and a wide skirt with an increasing number of gore” (Franklin). As the waistline dropped, the sleeves and skirt continued to widen. Around 1827, instead of having gores, skirts were pleated at the waistband to create a cinched waist effect. As well as this, intricate designs of twisting fabrics were added to the hem of dresses, making them much heavier. Dresses went from having a high waistline, puffy sleeves, and much more flowing material to cinched waists resting on natural waistlines, puffier sleeves, and heaving skirts that included intricate, fabric designs. 

Works Cited:

Franklin, Harper. “1820-1829.” Fashion History Timeline, 27 May 2020, fashionhistory.fitnyc.edu/1820-1829/#:~:text=century%2C%20decade%20overview-,OVERVIEW,styles%20borrowed%20from%20past%20centuries. 

Jarrett, Susan. “The Romantic Era 1820-1850.” Maggie May Clothing- Fine Historical Fashion, 14 June 2020, maggiemayfashions.com/calicoball/fashionhistory/the-romantic-era-1820-1850/.