1800s Fashion: History of 19th Century Clothing Victorian Era Fashion. In the history of the United Kingdom by Shradha Sabherwal Medium Afternoon dress. Culture: American. Date: 1850 55. The female silhouette of the middle of the 19th century consisted of a fitted corseted bodice and wide full skirts. The conical skirts developed between the 1830s, when the high waist of the Empire silhouette 215 Empire Dress Folkwear Empire fashion origins of the Empire silhouette SARTOR BOHEMIA Regency Era Empire Waist Dress 1810