tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1991166428290808171.post482118596147030988..comments2023-10-20T08:27:40.314-04:00Comments on male pattern boldness: Things I Don't Get, Vol 4: The Empire Wedding GownPeter Lappinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05109154527996679077noreply@blogger.comBlogger77125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1991166428290808171.post-10621951740282911712012-09-03T00:32:58.780-04:002012-09-03T00:32:58.780-04:00That first pattern instantly brought to mind Prisc...That first pattern instantly brought to mind Priscilla Presley's wedding gown:<br />http://www.wedding-dress-secret.com/iconic-wedding-dresses-priscilla-presley-3224<br /><br />I'm sure Priscilla inspired many other brides of the era- her wedding was 1967.<br />It was an off the rack wedding dress. <br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1991166428290808171.post-29016875378343814812012-08-16T12:46:37.555-04:002012-08-16T12:46:37.555-04:00I thought people mostly got married because they g...I thought people mostly got married because they got knocked up, so it makes perfect sense to me. :DClaire Bnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1991166428290808171.post-31315410295387462532012-08-08T15:27:05.763-04:002012-08-08T15:27:05.763-04:00Maybe the designers of these wedding gowns were th...Maybe the designers of these wedding gowns were thinking: baby doll, girlish, innocent, virginal__ not pregnant? A family member was actually pregnant in her white lace, empire, mini skirt version in 1966 however. <br />And just why are we so squeamish about appearing pregnant anyway?<br />Just asking __ cause at my advanced station in life I don't want anyone asking me when the baby is due that's for sure.Anna R.https://www.blogger.com/profile/03900196845196932912noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1991166428290808171.post-45471134283180925342012-08-08T08:01:59.034-04:002012-08-08T08:01:59.034-04:00So.... I tried on a vintage wedding dress earlier ...So.... I tried on a vintage wedding dress earlier this summer that was from this very era. I can't tell you how GOOD it looked on me. I mean, seriously. It was so slimming and totally flattering and not a look I thought I would EVER pick. It looked so good that I marked a bunch in etsy to remember how much I liked the style.cidellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13762649326538041094noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1991166428290808171.post-48871195316374429112012-08-07T17:25:07.573-04:002012-08-07T17:25:07.573-04:00I love the Empire look, especially on myself, but ...I love the Empire look, especially on myself, but not everyone can pull it off, not every garment is good with an empire waistline, and not every empire-styled garment is done well. Gathers in front are almost always hideous and will almost always make a woman look pregnant. On the other hand, a smooth empire front with no gathers and pleats is generally slimming and flattering to the woman wearing it. That is how the Regency gowns were styled. They had extremely smooth fronts, and plenty of gathers at the BACK of the dress to allow them to move freely. This is the kind of style I prefer!Liz the Insanenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1991166428290808171.post-70962375945992824192012-08-06T23:08:19.019-04:002012-08-06T23:08:19.019-04:00I can't stand them on me. I'm short enough...I can't stand them on me. I'm short enough as it is and an empire waist makes me look even shorter. Besides all that, to make sure I've got room around the middle they need to be voluminous and nothing makes you look dumpier than extra fabric doing nothing. I prefer a more tailored silhouette.Nina Suluhhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08616884472638151080noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1991166428290808171.post-21151050905372116162012-08-05T15:48:24.250-04:002012-08-05T15:48:24.250-04:00Ah, OK, good! That makes a lot more sense. :)Ah, OK, good! That makes a lot more sense. :)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1991166428290808171.post-88598593929525095352012-08-04T22:24:31.718-04:002012-08-04T22:24:31.718-04:00I'm usually an hourglass, but due to depressio...I'm usually an hourglass, but due to depression, stress, and two kiddos under five I have more thickeness at my waist than I prefer. I still wear outfits with a natural waist, but some days I just want to wear something easy. And the correct empire waist style looks good on me, so I go with it.Kristahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06964580963048511157noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1991166428290808171.post-45535359971625699932012-08-04T19:38:53.865-04:002012-08-04T19:38:53.865-04:00I think it's because we're bored with our ...I think it's because we're bored with our own clothes. ;)Peter Lappinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05109154527996679077noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1991166428290808171.post-84523162828336248792012-08-04T19:23:35.783-04:002012-08-04T19:23:35.783-04:00Something I don't get: why gay men are arbiter...Something I don't get: why gay men are arbiters of women's fashion. Waists have gone up and down many times in the last few hundred years of fashion. Empire gowns were very freeing for women to wear and echoed greater rights for women at the time.Summerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14800522660951414782noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1991166428290808171.post-35235292522624834922012-08-04T01:30:03.320-04:002012-08-04T01:30:03.320-04:00Audrey Hepburn in "My Fair Lady" is the ...Audrey Hepburn in "My Fair Lady" is the only one that looked fab in that style! Whenever I see it on anyone else, I can't help but think that "she's got a bun in the oven" !! But right up there with the empire style is the baby doll look..........in the name of Halston why won't designers leave it entombed along with bell-bottoms!!! LOL!!!scorpioninbluehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12004830986247178040noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1991166428290808171.post-71756704688447053862012-08-03T06:28:29.078-04:002012-08-03T06:28:29.078-04:00I'm not sure if mine was empire line. I had a ...I'm not sure if mine was empire line. I had a fitted cream long sheath which had a lace embroidered overlay which was looser from the bust line now. Kinda empire. Very ornate lace, espec around the hem, and most of the guests thought it was Colette Dinnegan which I thought was a good sign.<br />Made me look taller and lean which was very important as my boy is 1 foot 2 inches tallerAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1991166428290808171.post-42447169898988899592012-08-03T05:32:18.475-04:002012-08-03T05:32:18.475-04:00Personally, I don't like the empire silhouette...Personally, I don't like the empire silhouette but that's mostly because it is really unflattering on my figure. I also think it's funny to see how much some pattern illustrators are cheating: on that Simplicity 9600 envelope, they are suggesting a body-conscious fit of the 'skirt' which very likely isn't there in the pattern. <br />Having mentioned all of this, I'm not so sure it didn't flatter in 1803... And anyway, high waistlines and expectant-looking brides have been around in other eras of fashion history even way before that, just look here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Van_Eyck_-_Arnolfini_Portrait.jpgLaurianahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16602295642057814667noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1991166428290808171.post-42589718824191952472012-08-03T00:14:30.280-04:002012-08-03T00:14:30.280-04:00It really depends on the person's build. I li...It really depends on the person's build. I like the look of them... on other people. As I'm more of a rather short hourglass, empire waists obscure my waist and make me look blocky--so I avoid them.geogrrlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16935352129240009810noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1991166428290808171.post-89319877236287315942012-08-02T20:42:21.215-04:002012-08-02T20:42:21.215-04:00I wasn't a late 60's bride so I won't ...I wasn't a late 60's bride so I won't weigh on on that but I think the empire look was more flattering than the strapless look they have now.sarah chttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12420367186796307675noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1991166428290808171.post-58484201096480787162012-08-02T19:15:33.381-04:002012-08-02T19:15:33.381-04:00I am long-waisted. All RTW dresses are empire on m...I am long-waisted. All RTW dresses are empire on me. I hate them because of this. I have also noticed a disturbing RTW trend of the top of the empire 'waist' sitting across the lower boobal area. This is a bad look. <br /><br />I do have a shirt that I really like that fits well and has a tie at the empire level. The lower 'skirt' part of it is flowy (fabric has good hand) but not overly full. It looks nice and I do not look preggers. <br /><br />I guess I have to go with knee jerk reaction = hate, but can be talked into certain individual garments.Leighhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11563230869151812456noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1991166428290808171.post-77604672728949755432012-08-02T16:54:39.565-04:002012-08-02T16:54:39.565-04:00Isn't babydoll quite the same as empire? Or ha...Isn't babydoll quite the same as empire? Or have most of the same features at least, unless I'm totally wrong?Rosahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13387981744147750166noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1991166428290808171.post-34518790563224289852012-08-02T16:28:47.762-04:002012-08-02T16:28:47.762-04:00Hate it -- especially empire-waist maxidresses, wh...Hate it -- especially empire-waist maxidresses, which I just don't understand. I do sort of miss the babydoll dresses from the '90s (I was 30 pounds lighter then, though, so I could get away with it).Tracyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17486825963523271562noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1991166428290808171.post-29372909675795540082012-08-02T15:28:04.592-04:002012-08-02T15:28:04.592-04:00I think an empire waist dress can look a bit like ...I think an empire waist dress can look a bit like a night dress but other times I think they look good. I don't wear any myself...Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02500490363731355974noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1991166428290808171.post-48348310991546497282012-08-02T15:00:48.044-04:002012-08-02T15:00:48.044-04:00You made me remember a story my mother used to tel...You made me remember a story my mother used to tell. She mom got married in 1979 and less that 8 months later I was born, I was a premature baby and weighed 2.42 lb (1.100 Kg) . At the same time a girl from my mom's same town had a kid too, she got married at the same time my mom did. Her baby was also 'premature'and weighed 7.9lb (3.6kg).<br />Back in those days, a lot of girls got married in a hurry.<br /><br />August 2, 2012 2:54 PMMadkrakatoahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07197551788337610940noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1991166428290808171.post-34889916467141055672012-08-02T14:32:57.765-04:002012-08-02T14:32:57.765-04:00I made a lovely empire style wedding gown of silk ...I made a lovely empire style wedding gown of silk satin--it helped to minimize my ample bosom and make my short legs look longer (A-line skirt, smooth). My ankle-length veil held a coronet of fresh flowers. Under the dress, a lace trimmed simple bias slip. It was 105 degrees on my wedding day and I was so glad not to be stuffed into a Southern belle costume. There were 38 satin covered buttons down the back. Sorry you don't like the style, Peter, but you have to be more specific. Do you think emphasis should Always be at the natural waist? Do you think women who are shorter than 6 feet should voluntarily look even shorter? <br /><br />Another consideration is in the probably rare cases when a dress is going to serve more than one owner. The most consistent measurement of a woman's body is the under-bust circumference, so looser clothing for the bust and hips will cover weight and pregnancy changes. Ethnic clothing the world over reflects this, or builds in some form of lacing or tucking so a garment can be handed down or worn for a woman's lifetime, not just one occasion. Because my dress fabric was a special gift from my mother, I hoped I could upcycle the large A-line skirt pieces, but alas, haven't needed too many silk satin garments. Maybe this year would be a good year, now that my hair is white!Kristinanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1991166428290808171.post-26229623440039276842012-08-02T13:56:53.768-04:002012-08-02T13:56:53.768-04:00Empire Waist Style. I like it. Pretty.Empire Waist Style. I like it. Pretty.Alex in Californianoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1991166428290808171.post-43646592179716415092012-08-02T13:41:35.003-04:002012-08-02T13:41:35.003-04:00Without sleeves, or flounce I would wear a simple ...Without sleeves, or flounce I would wear a simple affair for the right occasion!Jopsyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18307174609744304126noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1991166428290808171.post-72552736707623049142012-08-02T12:50:52.278-04:002012-08-02T12:50:52.278-04:00I don't see what is meant to be unflattering a...I don't see what is meant to be unflattering about the Empire waistline. I'm not a fan of the more fussy, flouncey patterns above, or the 'Pilgrim bonnet' Vogue one, but the more simple ones are rather beautiful - as are the original Empire dresses. To each their own, I guess.Nathaliehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11570545194570856281noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1991166428290808171.post-45622368356482152442012-08-02T12:25:59.644-04:002012-08-02T12:25:59.644-04:00Well fashion is always a reflection of culture. W...Well fashion is always a reflection of culture. When the Empire was originally fashionable, it was a reflection of the Bonaparte/Regency period in which women were expected to be pregnant and the low necklines were to make nursing more accessible. <br /><br />In the 60's, even though it was the height of the Viet Nam war, it was still a time when women's roles were defined by function. And fashion reflected that. It is also a giant leap from the wasp waisted dresses of the 50's, not requiring much in the way of foundational garments. <br /><br />Personally, I remember having a empire style (as opposed to Empire ((Ahm peer')) style) dress in junior high. It was white with blue flowers and a blue grosgrain ribbon accent around the waist and tied in the back. In my class photo, I clasped my hands and I truly looked pregnant. I was mortified when I saw it. <br /><br />They are comfortable, if not terribly flattering if you don't have the right shape. <br /><br />I may be off base, but that's my take on it.Alaskapsychnoreply@blogger.com