BELL OF THE BALL

During the Regency era, evening dresses had the Empire silhouette, with a high waistline, short sleeves, and a fairly narrow skirt. In the Victorian era however, evening gowns now had skirts flared out with layers of petticoats, but evening gowns were replaced by the "ball gown" for most formal affairs. In the 1870s, the bustle became popular during this time. At the end of the 19th century, bustles disappeared and skirts took on a simple bell-like appearance.