Mid-20th Century Evening Dresses and Gowns

Charles James magenta taffeta faille cocktail dress with intricate tuck and drape at bodice and faux "apron" panel concealing deep unpressed pleats. Unlabelled.

White satin and ivory taffeta "Lampshade" gown by Charles James with custom bugle beaded decoration. Oversized boned and crinolined flounce. The armature underneath allows the aerod...

This incredible Galanos gown from 1965 is featured in the Galanos Retrospective book. The strapless bodice is heavily beaded and stoned with gold, red, green and clear stones and bea...

A beautiful James Galanos 1950s column gown with silk satin skirt and "petal" layered crimson velvet pieces, each meticulously beaded around the edge with heavy jet black beading. H...

A fantastic 50s silk jacquard cocktail dress in black with a floral pattern: zips up the back with a square neckline, 3/4 fitted sleeves, deep V back, a gat...

Elsa Schiaparelli was well connected into the avant-garde artistic and intellectual circles of New York and Paris in the 1920s and 30s. She regarded fashion as art and thought of herself as an artist. She was the first and arguably the most influential designer to explore irony in dress, collaborating frequently with fellow Surrealists Jean Cocteau, Salvador Dali, and Man Ray. One is reminded of the famed Dali-Schiaparelli organdy Lobster dress...

A gorgeous very early example of James Galanos' fine work. Label style indicates it was made between '51 and '55. Very simple but extremely structured wool strapless bodice and volu...

An exquisite 1960s couture black velvet column gown with a dramatic Asian-inspired beaded and embellished ivory satin obi bow. Heavily constructed bodice with boned underpinnings. An...

A wonderful60s Luis Estévez chiffon cocktail dress with voluminous sheer chiffon sleeves caught up at the cuff with rhinestones! Double layered chiffon over an underskirt flutters a...

This is an amazing early 60s bubble cocktail dress by Bob Bugnand (Paris)!! It is constructed with a silk velvet structured strapless bodice in black with a front-gathered floral embroidered silk bubble skirt. The floral motif in shades of red and gray is beaded also! Size 2 with room for a bit of bust. Inspiration and/or study piece...

1940s Adrian black and white color-block rayon crepe gown with capelet back, slash detail and geometric sequin blocking. An incredible piece from the legendary designer of screen an...