Ralph Lauren Gold Gown
1990s Formal Gowns
21st Century and Contemporary Chinese Cocktail Dresses
Early 2000s American Evening Dresses and Gowns
1990s American Evening Gowns
21st Century and Contemporary Evening Dresses
21st Century and Contemporary Day Dresses
Early 2000s Evening Dresses and Gowns
People Also Browsed
Early 2000s French Evening Dresses and Gowns
1980s American Day Dresses
1960s French Maxi Dresses
1980s French Day Dresses
Early 2000s Italian Evening Bags and Minaudières
1980s Italian Cocktail Dresses
1990s Evening Dresses and Gowns
2010s French Shoulder Bags
1950s French Cocktail Dresses
1990s French Blouses
1990s French Evening Dresses and Gowns
21st Century and Contemporary Dress and Coat Ensembles
Early 2000s American Evening Dresses and Gowns
21st Century and Contemporary Lebanese Wedding Dresses
Early 2000s Italian Wedding Dresses
1990s French Jackets
Recent Sales
Late 20th Century American Evening Gowns
21st Century and Contemporary American Shift Cocktail Dresses
2010s Evening Gowns
21st Century and Contemporary Evening Dresses and Gowns
2010s Cocktail Dresses
21st Century and Contemporary Unknown Top Handle Bags
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Cocktail Dresses
21st Century and Contemporary American Evening Gowns
2010s Evening Gowns
2010s American Evening Dresses
21st Century and Contemporary American Evening Dresses
21st Century and Contemporary American Toga Dresses
1990s American Cocktail Dresses
Early 2000s Evening Dresses and Gowns
Antique 1820s British George III Drop Earrings
Sterling Silver
Antique 1820s English George III Drop Earrings
Sterling Silver
21st Century and Contemporary Evening Dresses and Gowns
1980s American Cocktail Dresses
21st Century and Contemporary American Evening Gowns
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.