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70s Cocktail Dress

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Guy Laroche Black Flakes Dress Vintage 70s
Guy Laroche Black Flakes Dress Vintage 70s

Guy Laroche Black Flakes Dress Vintage 70s

By Guy Laroche

Located in Milano, IT

Black Flakes Dress by Guy Laroche, featuring a touch of playfulness with black satin bows framing

Category

1970s French Cocktail Dresses

1970s Halston Lipstick Red Silk Chiffon Vintage 70s Wrap Cape Dress
1970s Halston Lipstick Red Silk Chiffon Vintage 70s Wrap Cape Dress

1970s Halston Lipstick Red Silk Chiffon Vintage 70s Wrap Cape Dress

By Halston, Roy Halston Frowick

Located in San Diego, CA

Amazing 1970s HALSTON lipstick red silk chiffon dress with attached cape ! Wrap style with interior

Category

1970s American Cocktail Dresses

1970s Halston Purple Wool Long Sleeve Vintage Chic 70s Tailored Dress
1970s Halston Purple Wool Long Sleeve Vintage Chic 70s Tailored Dress

1970s Halston Purple Wool Long Sleeve Vintage Chic 70s Tailored Dress

By Halston, Roy Halston Frowick

Located in San Diego, CA

Chic late 70s HALSTON purple wool long sleeve dress ! Features the perfect color purple that looks

Category

1970s American Cocktail Dresses

1970s Halston Silk Rayon Sleeveless Chic Vintage 70s Little Black Dress
1970s Halston Silk Rayon Sleeveless Chic Vintage 70s Little Black Dress

1970s Halston Silk Rayon Sleeveless Chic Vintage 70s Little Black Dress

By Roy Halston Frowick, Halston

Located in San Diego, CA

The perfect HALSTON 1970s little black dress ! I just love the lines on this beauty. While it looks

Category

1970s American Cocktail Dresses

Yves Saint Laurent 1970s YSL Graffiti Print Purple Cotton Vintage 70s Dress
Yves Saint Laurent 1970s YSL Graffiti Print Purple Cotton Vintage 70s Dress

Yves Saint Laurent 1970s YSL Graffiti Print Purple Cotton Vintage 70s Dress

By Yves Saint Laurent Rive Gauche, Yves Saint Laurent

Located in San Diego, CA

Amazing late 70s YVES SAINT LAURENT Rive Gauche graffiti print sleeveless cotton dress ! Features

Category

1970s French Cocktail Dresses

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70s Cocktail Dress For Sale on 1stDibs

You are likely to find exactly the vintage or contemporary 70s cocktail dress you’re looking for on 1stDibs, as there is a broad range for sale. Our collection includes a variety of colors, spanning Black, Blue, Beige and more. You’re likely to find the perfect 70s cocktail dress among the distinctive accessories we have available, which includes versions made as long ago as the 20th Century as well as those 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 SAMIR, Halston and Lanvin Paris are consistently popular. If you’re browsing our inventory for these accessories, you’ll find that many are available today for women, but there are still pieces to choose from for men and unisex.

How Much is a 70s Cocktail Dress?

The price for a 70s cocktail dress starts at $160 and tops out at $9,893, and on average, selling for $785.

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 70s Cocktail Dress
  • 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2024
    There are a few options for how you should dress for a ’70s party. You can go for the hippie look with dramatic bell-bottoms, fringed jackets and vests and embroidered blouses, or try a sporty look by pairing a vintage tee with high-waisted, button-fly flared jeans and clogs or platform shoes. For a straight-from-the-disco aesthetic, look for surplice and halter dresses decked out in sequins. Men can make a 1970s-inspired statement with a leisure suit or bell-bottoms matched with a turtleneck. Aviator sunglasses are great accessories for both men and women. On 1stDibs, explore a selection of 1970s apparel and accessories.
  • 1stDibs ExpertFebruary 13, 2023
    The difference between a dress and a cocktail dress is mainly the specificity of the term. A dress is any garment that has a bodice attached to a skirt. The term cocktail dress refers to a dress designed for events in the late afternoon and early evening. Many feature hemlines that fall between the knee and calf. On 1stDibs, shop a collection of cocktail dresses from some of the world's top boutiques.
  • 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022
    A classic cocktail dress is a garment worn for special occasions that usually take place in the evening. Although its name comes from "cocktail party," the dresses are suitable for other types of gatherings. Designs vary greatly, but most cocktail dresses feature a hemline that falls close to the knee. On 1stDibs, shop a large collection of vintage cocktail dresses.
  • 1stDibs ExpertFebruary 22, 2021
    Cocktail dresses usually finish above or at the knees and are paired with high heels. This dress should be party-ready such as dressy separates or a little black dress.
  • 1stDibs ExpertNovember 4, 2024
    To identify a cocktail dress, first look at the hemline. Typically, hemlines for cocktail dresses fall to the mid-thigh or above. Materials and embellishments can also indicate a cocktail dress. For example, fine fibers like silk, chiffon and velvet are commonly used for cocktail dresses, and many pieces feature decorative accents, such as sequins and rhinestones. Keep in mind that there are no real hard and fast rules for what classifies as a cocktail dress. The term generally refers to any dress slightly more casual than a formal full-length gown but still suitable for nighttime wear. Explore a large selection of cocktail dresses on 1stDibs.
  • 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022
    Yes, the maxi dress was very popular in the 1970s. This was a strange transitional era for women’s clothing as they left behind more modest clothing and embraced a risque approach to style. This meant that in the 1970s maxi dresses sat alongside miniskirts in the same closet. Shop a collection of 1970’s-inspired vintage clothing from some of the world’s top boutiques on 1stDibs.
  • 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022
    No, platform shoes are not from the ‘70s. Platform shoes have been around for centuries, with origins in Greek theater. Salvatore Ferragamo popularized the footwear again in the 1930s with his rainbow-soled design. Find vintage and contemporary platform shoes from some of the world’s top boutiques on 1stDibs.
  • 1stDibs ExpertFebruary 22, 2021
    In order to dress for a ‘70s party, it is important to dress in the styles of the day. Namely, opt for bell-bottom jeans, polyester tops, shirts and jackets with wide lapels, peasant tops and halter tops. Additionally, choose bright colors and patterns such as tie-dye.
  • 1stDibs ExpertSeptember 23, 2024
    What ’70s furniture is called depends on its style. Generally, pieces from this decade can be called vintage furniture. However, pieces with certain stylistic characteristics have other names. For example, some 1970s furniture is mid-century modern. The style, which emerged primarily in the years following World War II, was developed in an energetic, optimistic spirit by creators who believed that good design was an essential part of good living. On 1stDibs, shop a variety of 1970s furniture.
  • 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022
    From crinkle boots to platform boots, there were many different styles of boot found in the 1970s. One of the most popular and famous styles from the time was the go-go boot which first rose to prominence in the 60s. On 1stDibs, shop a collection of vintage boots from the 1970s from some of the world’s top boutiques.
  • 1stDibs ExpertAugust 17, 2021
    The sunglasses that were popular in the 70s were those that were large and often square in shape. A popular 70s style was the aviator style. Many of the 70s style glasses were characterized by colored lenses and funky frames. Shop 1970s sunglasses and other vintage sunglasses on 1stDibs.
  • 1stDibs ExpertSeptember 23, 2024
    What the ’70s glasses were called depended on the shape of their frames. Sunglasses and eyeglasses that feature rounded frames with a double bridge are aviator glasses. The oversized women's sunglasses that feature curved, thick frames are butterfly sunglasses, while the angular looks worn by Elton John and other celebrities of the 1970s are square sunglasses. On 1stDibs, find a diverse assortment of vintage sunglasses.
  • 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022
    Many kinds of skirts were popular in the 1970s, including denim skirts, A-line skirts, and peasant skirts. Earth tones, pastels, and wildly colorful patterns were common styles of the 70s. On 1stDibs, you’ll find a wide collection of vintage 1970s skirts from some of the world’s top boutiques.
  • 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022
    Cocktail dresses first rose to prominence in the 1920s and onward, with each era making its own mark on the practical and fashionable garment. You’ll find a collection of vintage and contemporary cocktail dresses from some of the world’s top boutiques on 1stDibs.
  • 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022
    To tell if a dress is from the 1960s or 1970s, first look for a label. You may be able to determine the approximate date of the dress simply by researching the designer using reputable online sources. Also, check the zippers. Dresses from the 1960s will usually have metal or nylon zippers. Ones from the 1970s are more likely to be plastic. You'll find a large selection of vintage dresses on 1stDibs.
  • 1stDibs ExpertOctober 5, 2021
    The most popular 1940s-style dress was the shirtwaist dress. It had a front opening like a men’s shirt, but with large buttons in the front of the dress, which was practical and easy to wear. The sleeves were short and necklines varied from shirt style to sweetheart and other necklines. Antique and vintage dresses from well-known designers are available on 1stDibs.
  • 1stDibs ExpertFebruary 21, 2024
    The dresses they wore in the 1960s varied depending on the time of day and the occasion. For everyday wear, many women opted for simply tailored frocks called shift dresses. They often featured bold geometric prints in eye-catching colors. In the evening, women tended to opt for gowns with plunging necklines, fitted waists and flowing full skirts. On 1stDibs, shop a diverse assortment of vintage dresses from the 1960s.
  • 1stDibs ExpertJune 15, 2023
    One of the most popular types of dresses during the 1980s was a tight-fitting sheath with oversized shoulder pads. Peplum accents were also common as were large puffy sleeves. On 1stDibs, find a collection of 1980s vintage dresses on 1stDibs.
  • 1stDibs ExpertFebruary 13, 2023
    The iconic dresses from the 1920s are called flapper dresses. This name comes from the term flapper, which was used to describe young women during the period who enjoyed personal fulfillment and independence in American cities, particularly as they gained the right to vote and enjoy other freedoms previously reserved for men. Flappers danced at jazz clubs and upended most societal restrictions placed on women at the time, and fashion statements typically attributed to flappers included short “bob” haircuts, higher hemlines and other then-audacious style choices. Find a selection of flapper dresses on 1stDibs.
  • 1stDibs ExpertMarch 31, 2023
    In the 1990s, people dressed in different ways. Styles included grunge, modern preppy, hip-hop and goth. Some trends of the decade were slip dresses, plaid flannel shirts, long plaid skirts, overalls, combat boots and loose-fitting rolled jeans. Neon colors were popular for a time, as were fabric headbands and fabric-covered ponytail holders. Shop a selection of 90s vintage apparel and accessories on 1stDibs.

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