1950s Gigi Young Salmon Coral Pink Silk Taffeta Vintage 50s Fit n Flare Dress
By GiGi Young
Located in San Diego, CA
Beautiful 1950s GIG YOUNG salmon / coral pink silk taffeta fit n' flare 3/4 sleeves dress! Features a wonderful flattering tailored bodice with a forgiving full skirt, which could al...
$1,780Sale Price|20% Off
Size: Large
1960s Jean Patou Vintage Wool Jacket + Skirt Suit Ensemble with Faux Fur Trim
By Jean Patou
Located in Sparks, NV
Completely amazing vintage 1960s Jean Patou black wool jacket and skirt ensemble with faux fur trim and gold studs. Incredible tailoring and construction and chic enamel buttons. Ful...
1950S PIERRE BALMAIN Black & Blue Haute Couture Silk Organza Beaded Trained Gow
By Pierre Balmain
Located in New York, NY
Gown is missing label and is priced accordingly. True Haute Couture construction fully boned and lined in silk faille in the bodice and satin back crepe in the skirt. Exceptional han...
Sybil Connolly Skirt Suit 1960s
By Sybil Connolly
Located in Water Mill, NY
An incredible red suit in intricately pleated fine linen made famous by Sybil Connolly. The jacket closes in front with matching silk buttons, bound buttonholes with matching silk pi...
Vintage 1920s Black Evening Gown
Located in London, GB
A pretty evening gown from the 1920s. The dress is sleaveless, with a lace bodice, horizontal ribbing at the hips and ruffles at the he. It is fully lined.
White cotton sleeveless Tennis mini-dress VALENTINO Sport
By Valentino
Located in Saint-Ouen-Sur-Seine, FR
White jersey cotton sleeveless Tennis mini-dress.Zip closure on the top middle front. Thin ligne in gold lurex on the collar. SIZE S/M
Bill Blass Demi Couture Gold Bronze Brown Faux Fur Vintage Gown, 1960s
By Bill Blass
Located in San Diego, CA
Sensational 60s BILL BLASS demi couture long sleeve faux fur evening gown! Features flower prints in gold, rose gold, and brown on metallic silk. Long sleeves feature brown faux fur ...
1930's lace and silk chiffon deshabillé
Located in Saint-Ouen-Sur-Seine, FR
1930's lace and silk chiffon deshabillé . No lining inside the sleeves ( see-through) Cut-work on the hips. SIZE L
Hungarian Embroidered Batiste Dress
Located in New York, NY
Charming Hungarian Embroidered Cotton Batiste Dress with smocked detailing from the 1920's. Unusual cut with flutter sleeves (instead of gathered) and hand embroidered sprays in maro...
Oscar De La Renta Copper Metallic Skirt Suit, Neiman Marcus Size 8
By Oscar De La Renta
Located in Palm Desert, CA
A beautiful 2 pc suit by Oscar De La Renta Pink Label. The suit is size 8, Made in the USA. We show pics of the suit 2 ways. With longer length as purchased, but d cided to photograp...
Ivory 1950's Zephyr Chenille Wool Stretch Knit Dress and Sweater Ensemble Size 4
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This ensemble is composed of an ivory stretch Zephyr wool . The sweater features center front button closures. Comes with belt. In excellent vintage condition. **Please cross-refe...
French Cotton Batiste Dress
Located in New York, NY
Elegant French Cotton Batiste Dress easily worn as a day dress. Semi sheer cotton batiste with lovely openwork patterns on each side of placket. Large inverted pleats at each side se...
Vintage 1920's Cream Crochet Knotted Fringe Dress roaring twenties UK 10-16
Located in Nashville, TN
Rendered in the most mesmerising knotted and crocheted design, this original 1920's cream dress, is the perfect statement piece to add to your vintage collection. The rounded neckl...
Leopard Print Long Bustier Evening Dress
Located in SAINT-OUEN-SUR-SEINE, FR
Long bustier dress with leopard pattern, and sequins and pearls embroidered. No size indicated, it fits a 36FR/38FR. Additional information: Condition: Good condition Dimensions: C...
1920S White Hand Embroidered Rayon Dress With Eyelet Lace
Located in New York, NY
MORPHEW VINTAGE represents the finest pieces of fashions past. Sourced from across the globe, dating as far back as a century. Each piece is selected with both quality and rarity in ...
$248Sale Price|20% Off
PRADA Alice light pink satin oversized padded puffy headband
By Miuccia Prada, Prada
Located in Hong Kong, NT
PRADA Alice light pink satin oversized padded puffy headband Reference: BSHW/A00126 Brand: Prada Designer: Miuccia Prada Collection: Runway Material: Fabric Color: Pink Pattern: Soli...
DON LOPER 1950's Yellow Floral Embroidered Cocktail Dress with Belt & Bow Size 2
By Don Loper
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This Don Loper design is composed of a yellow embroidered floral print fabric. Features a center back of the neck bow. There is a center back zippre closure. In excellent vintage con...
Luxurious and versatile, designer day dresses are as well suited to tea at an upscale hotel as they are to your next garden or rooftop party.
Today’s featherlight unisex day dresses — as well as the vibrant vintage day dresses of the 1950s and ’60s — look quite different from the heavy, fabric-rich de rigueur garments of the Victorian era. In the late 19th century, a woman of a certain standing might have multiple dresses to wear throughout the day: specifically, one or two for the daytime and one for the evening. For example, a long-sleeve silk dress with a prominently flared back and a round collar of gold beaded lace that hugs the neck would be suitable for stepping out during the day, while a velvet gown trimmed in silk embroidery but overall comparatively informal in appearance would be worn for afternoon tea at home. At night, a silk velvet evening dress could feature natural world motifs such as butterflies (a characteristic of Art Nouveau design) and have short sleeves adorned with lace and ruffles and a scooped neckline — the perfect attire for the theater.
During the 1920s, after all the chores were done, a woman would change from her housework clothing into a more fashionable day dress to run her errands or socialize. Some 1920s day dresses were brightly colored and featured bold patterns — a cotton dress with a dazzling floral print, perhaps, or, in the case of the more venturesome Art Deco apparel sold in high-end couture fashion boutiques of the era, semi-sheer silk garments embellished with three-dimensional beadwork or rich metallic gold lamé.
Today, a closet full of casual vintage day dresses is a must-have. Whether you opt for black, crimson or beige, day dresses bring an element of glamour to your next appointment, and in the summer, who doesn’t love a wonderfully simple, lightweight day dress cut in cotton and linen?
Because different fashion designers of every decade have offered their own take on the widely loved day dress, you’ll be able to find a variety of vintage and designer day dresses on 1stDibs. Search by creator to find enduring designs by the likes of Emilio Pucci, Pierre Cardin, Yves Saint Laurent and Christian Dior, or browse by period to uncover a scintillating collection of cotton and satin patterned dresses of the 1950s and ’60s.