Dress French The Metropolitan Museum of Art Afternoon dress. Culture: American. Date: ca. 1862. 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 19th Century Empire Dress in Solid Cotton Inverted V empire Waist & V neckline Dress Dance Sophisticates Evening dress American or European The Metropolitan Museum of Art 1890s Fashion, Clothing, Costumes History