From 1700 to 1829, women’s dresses evolved from opulent courtly gowns to simpler, neoclassical silhouettes. In the early 18th century, elaborate styles like the mantua featured wide panniers and rich brocades, reflecting aristocratic grandeur. By the late 1700s, the French Revolution inspired a shift toward high-waisted Empire gowns made of lightweight muslin, echoing classical antiquity. Into the 1820s, Romanticism in fashion brought back fuller skirts, puffed sleeves, and decorative trims - blending historical references with a renewed emphasis on femininity and emotional expression.