Empire waist is one of the most searched wedding dress terms there is, and also one of the most misunderstood. A true empire waist sits high, right under the bust, with the skirt released from that seam instead of the natural waistline. We don't currently carry a gown built on that exact seam. What we do carry, and what most brides searching for empire waist are actually picturing, is a handful of bias cut silk slips that skip a defined waist altogether and let the fabric do the shaping instead.
What is an empire waist wedding dress
An empire waist dress is cut with a seam, a gather, or a line of shirring positioned just below the bust, well above the natural waist. From there the skirt falls loose to the floor, skimming rather than hugging the hip and leg. The style dates back to the Regency era and reads soft and a little romantic by design, since there's no structure at the natural waist pulling the eye there. It tends to suit brides who want ease over shaping: no boning, no corset, nothing cinched.
What we actually carry that gets close
Mae Bridal's gown room leans toward a related idea rather than the literal empire seam: bias cut silk slips with no waist definition at all, high or low. The three below are what we point to when a bride asks for empire waist and means she wants a dress with give, a soft, unstructured line that moves with her rather than shaping her. We'd rather tell you that upfront than sell you a seam we don't have.
La Nuit, Théoro
La Nuit is a champagne silk slip wedding dress cut on the bias, with a draped neckline that follows the body's natural line rather than a built waist. Fine straps cross at the back and lead down to a train. It's made to order by Théoro, available at Mae Bridal. Shop La Nuit, $2,900.
Cornelia slip dress, Théoro
Cut from 100% silk crêpe de Chine, Cornelia is a bias cut slip with side slits at the hem and a cotton crochet neckline detail, the same no-waist ease that empire waist searches are usually after, in a slightly more relaxed, laid back cut. It's made to order by Théoro, available at Mae Bridal. Shop the Cornelia slip dress, $3,100.
Simone dress, Claire La Faye
Simone is a bias cut silk charmeuse slip with liquid drape, an open scoop back, and a sweeping train, minimal at the front and far more dramatic from behind. It's made to order by Claire La Faye, available at Mae Bridal. Shop the Simone dress, $1,795.
How to style the look brides are usually after
If what you want is the ease of an empire waist without structure anywhere else in the gown, lean into it rather than fighting it with accessories. Minimal jewelry, a thin gold chain or small drop earrings, works better than anything statement since there's no bodice shaping to show off. Hair worn soft and down suits the mood more than anything sleek or pinned. Low block heels or going barefoot tend to work better than anything structured, because the dress is already doing the dressy part of the outfit. A slip like these three also layers well under a veil with minimal trim, or a bias cut cape if your ceremony is somewhere cool.
Shop the full collection
All three are made to order, La Nuit and Cornelia by Théoro, Simone by Claire La Faye, each with an estimated production lead time of 3 to 6 months, available at Mae Bridal. Browse the rest of our Théoro collection or the full bridal wedding gowns collection for more structured options if an empire seam turns out to matter less to you than the shape itself.
Empire waist wedding dresses, answered
Does Mae Bridal carry a true empire waist wedding dress?
Not as of this writing. We carry bias cut silk slips that share the same unstructured ease most brides are actually picturing when they search the term, but none of them are built on a literal under-bust seam. We'll update this page the moment that changes.
What's the difference between empire waist and a slip dress?
An empire waist has a defined seam under the bust that the skirt releases from. A slip dress like the three here has no waist seam at all, just a continuous bias cut line from shoulder to hem. Both skip structure at the natural waist, which is why they read similarly from a distance, but the construction underneath is different.
Is this kind of silhouette flattering for every body type?
The unstructured, bias cut line is genuinely versatile because it doesn't rely on cinching to create shape, the drape does the work instead. It tends to suit brides who want ease and movement over sculpting. If you want more definition at the waist, a drop waist or corset bodice silhouette will do more of that work for you.
Can a silk slip dress work for a formal wedding?
Yes. Fabric and finish determine formality more than silhouette does. A silk charmeuse or silk crepe de Chine slip with a clean, considered cut reads formal in the right venue, especially paired with a longer train or a more considered veil.
Ready to see them in person? Book an in-person fitting at our Santa Monica showroom, or book a live virtual shopping session from wherever you are.
Book your appointment
Searching for wedding dresses near you? Come find us in Santa Monica. Our showroom is minutes from LA but a world away from the typical bridal salon, come see why Mae Bridal is where modern, non-traditional brides find their dress in Santa Monica and Los Angeles. Book appointment