Queen of Babble

The “Empire waist”-a waistline beginning just beneath the bust-was popularized by Napoleon Bonaparte’s wife, Josephine, who, during her husband’s reign as emperor beginning in 1804, favored the “classical” style of Greek art, and emulated the togalike robes worn by figures on ancient pottery from that time.

In order to better simulate the look of the pottery figures, many young women dampened their skirts so that their legs, beneath the sopping garments, were more apparent. It is from this tradition that the modern-day “wet T-shirt contest” is believed to have derived.

History of Fashion

SENIOR THESIS BY ELIZABETH NICHOLS