Ann Lawrence
1980s Capes
1980s American Caftans
1980s American Evening Dresses and Gowns
1980s American Evening Dresses
1990s American Evening Gowns
1980s American Evening Gowns
1980s American Evening Gowns
1980s American Evening Gowns
People Also Browsed
1990s Italian Evening Dresses
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Evening Gowns
Early 20th Century French Belle Époque More Jewelry
Diamond, Platinum
21st Century and Contemporary Cocoon Coats
1960s French Dress and Coat Ensembles
Late 20th Century French Evening Dresses and Gowns
Early 20th Century Capes
1980s French Skirt Suits
1960s Capes
Early 2000s French Evening Dresses and Gowns
Late 20th Century American Evening Dresses
Early 2000s Italian Blouses and Tops
1990s French Trouser Pant Suits
1990s Evening Dresses and Gowns
2010s American Cocktail Dresses
Late 19th Century Capes
Finding the Right evening-dresses for You
With entire museum exhibitions dedicated to examining fashion designers and their creations, we’re finally recognizing that costuming is art. Evening dresses over time have conveyed specific statements about social class, position and beliefs. Fashion is a powerful means of self-expression, and sophisticated vintage evening dresses and gowns by our favorite couturier play no small role in making us feel wonderful but, perhaps more importantly, making us feel like ourselves.
In the 16th century, dresses and gowns were so important that England's Queen Elizabeth I defined rules about what dresses women could wear — guidance included long skirts and fitted bodices. Forward-thinking designers have responded to this history.
Gabrielle “Coco” Chanel reimagined traditionally masculine garments for feminine shapes, and her elegant evening dresses and gowns promoted comfort and grace in women’s wear that had been dominated in the previous century by layers of fabric. Christian Dior's gowns celebrated luxury and femininity in the late 1940s — and gave to women the gift of glamour they’d lost in the miserable years of the war. French fashion designer Yves Saint Laurent introduced innovative and highly coveted dress designs in the 1960s while at the same time challenging sexist stereotypes about which members of society could wear tuxedos.
Works by unconventional British designer John Galliano — featured in houses like Givenchy and Dior — redefined limits that dressmakers faced in terms of material, construction and vision during the late 20th century. From his embroidered absinthe-green Oscars gown for actress Nicole Kidman to the iconic sleeveless Dior newspaper dress that Sex and the City’s Carrie Bradshaw made famous, Galliano’s intricate and multifaceted work is reliably collectible and newsworthy
Today’s designers target an increasingly broad audience with their boundary-crossing work, and their tendency to play off of each other’s ideas means that every walk down the runway is also a walk through an entire history of fashion design and dress craftsmanship.
Whether you gravitate toward backless maxi dresses or silk charmeuse gowns by Alexander McQueen or embellished, ruffled floral-print designs by Chloe or Versace, there is an extraordinary collection of vintage and designer evening dresses and gowns waiting for you on 1stDibs.