1840 Doll Costume Institute Digital Collections from The Metropolitan Museum of Art Libraries 24seven Comfort Apparel Women's V Neck Empire Waist Sleeveless Maxi Dress Macy's Glittery Pleated Empire Waist Sleeveless Formal Evening Dress 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