This gown is an example of the Directoire and Empire period in fashion, which dates from 1795 - 1820. The high waistline, which became known as the “empire waist,” sits just below the bust. Gently puffed sleeves are also characteristic of this period. The waistline reached its peak height around 1816, just four years after this dress was worn. By 1818, waistlines began to drop, eventually reaching the natural waist by 1825.