Complex sentence: The last few years of the 1700s first saw the Empire dress coming into fashion in Western and Central Europe (and European-influenced areas), and it evolved through the Napoleonic era until the early 1820s, after which the hourglass Victorian styles became more popular.
Split into simpler sentences: The last few years of the 1700s first saw the Empire dress coming into fashion in Western and Central Europe (and European-influenced areas). They style evolved through the Napoleonic era until the early 1820s, after which the hourglass Victorian styles became more popular.