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1930s Backless Gown

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1930s Backless Red Bias Cut Gown
1930s Backless Red Bias Cut Gown

1930s Backless Red Bias Cut Gown

Located in New York, NY

This is a stunning scarlet gown from the 1930s. The fashions of the 1930s were the epitome of elegance, with a new appreciation for female curves after the straight silhouettes of th...

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1930s Evening Dresses and Gowns

Remarkable Backless 1930s Bias Velvet Gown
Remarkable Backless 1930s Bias Velvet Gown

Remarkable Backless 1930s Bias Velvet Gown

Located in New York, NY

This is a stunning gown from the 1930s. Made of an incredible royal blue silk velvet, it exhibits all the most elegant design features of the inter-war period. A halter neckline in t...

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1930s Evening Gowns

Sheer Chiffon 1930s Style Bias Backless Gown
Sheer Chiffon 1930s Style Bias Backless Gown

Sheer Chiffon 1930s Style Bias Backless Gown

Located in New York, NY

Sheer Chiffon 1930s Style Bias Backless Gown

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1990s Evening Dresses and Gowns

Backless 1930s Bias Cut Purple Velvet Gown
Backless 1930s Bias Cut Purple Velvet Gown

Backless 1930s Bias Cut Purple Velvet Gown

Located in New York, NY

Please note that our dress form is a tall store display size 4. This gown best fits a size 0-2 and falls right to the floor with a subtle train. Extremely rare backless style.

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1930s Evening Dresses and Gowns

1930s Backless Bias Cut Silk Velvet Gown
1930s Backless Bias Cut Silk Velvet Gown

1930s Backless Bias Cut Silk Velvet Gown

Located in New York, NY

Very rare to find a gown of this era which is so revealing whilst maintaining the ageless glamour and old hollywood spirit of the 1930s. Made from luscious silk velvet it drapes and ...

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1930s American Evening Gowns

Backless 1930s White Lace Gown with Lace Caplet and Victorian Lace Detail
Backless 1930s White Lace Gown with Lace Caplet and Victorian Lace Detail

Backless 1930s White Lace Gown with Lace Caplet and Victorian Lace Detail

Located in New York, NY

We have fully rebuilt this beautiful 1930s bias cut lace gown. Down the center front we have set in a panel of Edwardian lace. The low back of the gown is framed with a Victorian lac...

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1930s American Wedding Dresses

1930s Old Hollywood Silver Lamé Gown
1930s Old Hollywood Silver Lamé Gown

1930s Old Hollywood Silver Lamé Gown

Located in New York, NY

This gown will accommodate a larger bust as well than most 1930s gowns.

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1930s Evening Gowns

Spectacular Backless 1930s Silver Lamé Gown
Spectacular Backless 1930s Silver Lamé Gown

Spectacular Backless 1930s Silver Lamé Gown

Located in New York, NY

This is a stunning rose-gold silk lamé gown from the 1930s. The incredible fabric falls in gentle, crinkled flutes in front, and in a waterfall of rippling metallic silk from the dou...

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1930s Evening Dresses

Backless 1930s Bias Cut Silk Damask Gown
Backless 1930s Bias Cut Silk Damask Gown

Backless 1930s Bias Cut Silk Damask Gown

Located in New York, NY

Backless 1930s Bias Cut Silk Damask Gown

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1930s Evening Dresses and Gowns

Golden Age Backless Black Satin Halter Plunge Gown with Trumpet Hem - M-L, 1930s
Golden Age Backless Black Satin Halter Plunge Gown with Trumpet Hem - M-L, 1930s

Golden Age Backless Black Satin Halter Plunge Gown with Trumpet Hem - M-L, 1930s

Located in Tucson, AZ

Your "go-to" formal event gown, guaranteed to bring Rita Hayworth-level glamour every time. This one has everything: basic black color, heavyweight (and figure-friendly) slipper sati...

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1930s Unknown Evening Gowns

Black *Larger Size* Erté-Style Art Deco Burnout Velvet Backless Gown- M-L, 1930s
Black *Larger Size* Erté-Style Art Deco Burnout Velvet Backless Gown- M-L, 1930s

Black *Larger Size* Erté-Style Art Deco Burnout Velvet Backless Gown- M-L, 1930s

Located in Tucson, AZ

A dagger of a gown worn by a pre-War Boston Brahmin in search of a husband. Despite its plunging back, sheer burnout bodice and sinewy bias seams she never found him. No regrets thou...

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1930s Unknown Evening Gowns

Vintage 1930's Couture Metallic Gold Textured Lamé Backless Bias-Cut Gown
Vintage 1930's Couture Metallic Gold Textured Lamé Backless Bias-Cut Gown

Vintage 1930's Couture Metallic Gold Textured Lamé Backless Bias-Cut Gown

Located in Beverly Hills, CA

A luxurious "Registered Designer with the Fashion Originators Guild" metallic gold shimmer lamé gown from the "Old Hollywood" era of glamour. The bodice has a sculpted plunge with se...

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1930s American Aesthetic Evening Dresses

1930's Hattie Carnegie Couture Sapphire-Blue Silk Satin Backless Bias-Cut Gown
1930's Hattie Carnegie Couture Sapphire-Blue Silk Satin Backless Bias-Cut Gown

1930's Hattie Carnegie Couture Sapphire-Blue Silk Satin Backless Bias-Cut Gown

By Hattie Carnegie, Hattie Carnegie

Located in Beverly Hills, CA

Breathtaking Hattie Carnegie Couture sculpted silk-satin gown dating back to the mid 1930's. The name Hattie Carnegie is very often associated with elegance and high fashion.

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1930s American Aesthetic Evening Dresses

1930's Couture Black Sequin Silk-Chiffon Puff Sleeve Backless Bias-Cut Deco Gown
1930's Couture Black Sequin Silk-Chiffon Puff Sleeve Backless Bias-Cut Deco Gown

1930's Couture Black Sequin Silk-Chiffon Puff Sleeve Backless Bias-Cut Deco Gown

Located in Beverly Hills, CA

A breathtaking couture custom-made sheer silk chiffon gown from Old Hollywood era of glamour. The bodice is a seductive ruched neck, cut-out plunge with dramatic mini puff-sleeves. T...

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1930s Aesthetic Evening Dresses

1930's French Couture Purple Silk Bias-Cut Tiered Trains Backless Deco Dress
1930's French Couture Purple Silk Bias-Cut Tiered Trains Backless Deco Dress

1930's French Couture Purple Silk Bias-Cut Tiered Trains Backless Deco Dress

Located in Beverly Hills, CA

Measurements Bust:33-34 inches Hips:up to 36 inches Shortest Length:45 inches Longest Length:65 inches Sash Total Length:70 inches This 1930's French Parisian couture gown is in exc...

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1920s French Aesthetic Evening Dresses

1930's Elegant Ivory & Red Silk-Satin Backless Deco Ruffle-Bib Fishtail Gown
1930's Elegant Ivory & Red Silk-Satin Backless Deco Ruffle-Bib Fishtail Gown

1930's Elegant Ivory & Red Silk-Satin Backless Deco Ruffle-Bib Fishtail Gown

Located in Beverly Hills, CA

Measurements Bust:34-35 inches Waist:26 inches Hips:36 inches Total Length:58 inches This rare 1930's NRA Authority Code labeled gown is in excellent wearable condition with no rips...

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1930s American Aesthetic Evening Dresses

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Located in New York, NY

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By Donna Karan

Located in Hong Kong, NT

DONNA KARAN Signature black viscose blend dipped back column maxi dress XS Reference: CYTY/A00140 Brand: Donna Karan Collection: Donna Karan Signature Archive Collection Material: Vi...

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Located in Beverly Hills, CA

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By Calvin Klein Collection

Located in Leonardo, NJ

Calvin Klein Collection Vintage c. 2015 Jet black, lined, opaque NWT's IT42 Notes: fits very TTS, has stretch, 98% silk 2% elastane Final Sale

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By Jean Patou

Located in Los Angeles, CA

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By Emma Domb

Located in Los Angeles, CA

A beautifully draped Emma Domb spaghetti strapped gown with side bow. Features zipper closure for ease of access. Measures (approximate) Strap drop: 8" Length: 50" Waist: 26" ...

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Located in New York, NY

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By Helen Rose

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1930s Backless Gown For Sale on 1stDibs

Surely you’ll find the exact vintage or contemporary 1930s backless gown you’re seeking on 1stDibs — we’ve got a vast assortment for sale. Many people prefer Black, but fashion is all about individuality — you can find Beige, Gray and more options on these pages. If you’re looking for a 1930s backless gown from a specific time period, our collection is diverse and broad-ranging, and you’ll find at least one that dates back to the 20th Century while another version may have been produced as recently as the 21st Century. Making an accessory such as this has likely been a part of the legacy of many fashion designers, but those produced by Morphew, Donna Karan and Hattie Carnegie are consistently popular.

How Much is a 1930s Backless Gown?

Prices for a 1930s backless gown can differ depending upon size, designer and other attributes — on 1stDibs, these accessories begin at $588 and can go as high as $4,800, while, on average they fetch $1,544.

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.

Questions About 1930s Backless Gown

  • 1stDibs ExpertMay 5, 2023
    Yes, people had record players in the 1930s. In fact, record players began to become more common during the decade and continued to grow in popularity throughout the 1940s, 50s and 60s. Thomas Edison made the first phonograph record player in 1877. Shop a variety of record players on 1stDibs.
  • 1stDibs ExpertJune 30, 2023
    What brides wore in the 1930s varied. Some wore long flowing dresses made of satin or silk. Long sleeves were popular and designs often featured only minimal embellishments like appliqués and beading. Because many people faced difficult financial situations due to the Great Depression, brides also sometimes simply wore their best dresses on their wedding days. On 1stDibs, shop a collection of vintage wedding dresses.
  • 1stDibs ExpertNovember 26, 2024
    To identify 1930s furniture, first see if you can spot a maker's mark in hidden areas, such as the back, base, inside of drawers or under tabletops and seats. Trusted online resources can help you determine who produced your furniture based on these markings, and from there, you can research more to get a rough idea of how old your item is. A piece's characteristics can also be helpful when dating furniture. Many items made during the 1930s are examples of Art Deco furniture. Art Deco furniture is characterized by geometric patterns and luxurious materials, such as shagreen, marble, mother of pearl, mirrored glass, exotic animal hides and rare woods like mahogany, ebony and zebra wood. A certified appraiser or experienced antique dealer can provide an expert opinion on when your piece was likely made. On 1stDibs, explore a range of 1930s furniture.
  • 1stDibs ExpertMarch 31, 2023
    In the 1930s, phones typically looked like rotary telephones. They had either a round or square base with a numbered dial that spun when you dialed and a handset receiver with both an earpiece and a mouthpiece. A cord connected the handset to the base. Find a variety of rotary phones on 1stDibs.

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