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80s Ball Gown

Incredible Vintage David Fielden 80s Black Silk Sequin Tulle British Ball Gown
By DAVID FIELDEN
Located in San Diego, CA
Stunning vintage 1980s DAVID FIELDEN black silk and tulle sequin Avant Garde evening dress! Features layers and layers of black embroidered tulle on the skirt, with dramatic matching...
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1980s English Evening Gowns

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80s Arnold Scaasi Black Flocked Strapless Ball Gown
By Arnold Scaasi
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Incredibly dramatic evening gown - perfect for any gala. By the late, great Arnold Scaasi. Black
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1980s American Evening Gowns

Scaasi 80s Silk Taffeta Gown w/ Elizabeth Arden Evening Coat
Located in Gresham, OR
A fabulous Scaasi 80s silk taffeta ball gown in ruched emerald green (size 8) and an exquisite
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1950s American Ball Gowns

80s Haute Allemand One-Shoulder Ball Gown
Located in Gresham, OR
Gorgeous and Fierce! German-made Pure silk taffeta and tulle ball gown with spectacular one
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1980s German Evening Gowns

Valentino Boutique 80's Silk Taffeta Feathers Black Gown
By Valentino
Located in Montgomery, TX
Valentino Boutique Black Ball Gown No label size (waist 30", bust 36") Feathers, Taffeta
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1980s Italian Ball Gowns

Documented 1980s Patrick Kelly Black Wool Pool Ball Vintage 80s Novelty Dress
By Patrick Kelly
Located in San Diego, CA
Absolutely amazing musuem worthy PATRICK KELLY black long sleeve high neck bodycon 80s wool 'pool
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1980s French Cocktail Dresses

Valentino Boutique 80's Ball Gown
By Valentino
Located in Montgomery, TX
Valentino Boutique Ball Gown No label size (waist 15", bust 18") Feathers, Taffeta silk.
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1980s Evening Gowns

Annabelinda 1970s Silk Romantic Evening Dress
Located in Doncaster, South Yorkshire
vintage late 70s/ early 80s evening / ball gown by iconic British boutique label, Annabelinda who were
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1970s British Evening Gowns

Oscar de la Renta Vintage 80's Leopard Print Silk Ball Gown
By Oscar De La Renta
Located in Cloverdale, CA
Oscar de la Renta Vintage 80's Leopard Print Silk Ball Gown. Size 6 Bust 36" Waist 28" Hip 42
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Early 2000s American Contemporary Evening Dresses and Gowns

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Vintage Vivienne Tam Black and Red Sheer Beaded 1990s 90s Midi Dress & Slip
By Vivienne Tam
Located in San Diego, CA
Beautiful vintage 1990s VIVIENNE TAM black and red beaded semi sheer midi dress and matching slip! Features thousands of hand-sewn red and black seed beads and rhinestones with an A...
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1990s Hong Kong Maxi Dress

1990s Karl Lagerfeld Vintage Teal Blue Soft Angora Wool + Alpaca Trench Coat
By Karl Lagerfeld
Located in Sparks, NV
Amazing teal blue vintage coat by Karl Lagerfeld in a heavy wool, alpaca and angora blend. Oversized fit with notched lapels, thick sleeve cuffs and triangular patch pockets. Comes w...
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Late 20th Century American Coats and Outerwear

Beautiful Thierry Mugler Couture Dress Gown Rare
By Thierry Mugler Couture
Located in Berlin, BE
This arresting, floor-grazing Thierry Mugler Couture gown is a masterclass in architectural sensuality. Cut with Mugler’s signature anatomical precision, the bodice plays a daring ga...
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Early 2000s Italian Day Dresses

Very Rare Tom Ford for Gucci 2003 Collection Silk Brown Bow Dress as seen on JLO
By Gucci, Tom Ford for Gucci
Located in Montgomery, TX
Very Rare - Tom Ford for Gucci Silk Brown Dress as seen on JLO 2003 Collection Size Tag is Missing 100% Silk, Bow Accent, Side Zip Closure, Back Slit. Measurements: Length - 42 inch...
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Early 2000s Italian Cocktail Dresses

Geoffrey Beene 1960s Gunmetal Metallic Silk Lurex Rhinestone Vintage Cape Gown
By Geoffrey Beene
Located in San Diego, CA
Rare Musuem Worthy 60s GEOFFREY BEENE Couture gunmetal + silver metallic silk lurex caped evening dress! Luxurioussoft (not scratchy at all) silk lurex fabric. Features hundreds of h...
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1960s American Evening Gowns

1970s Five Tier Lace Wedding Dress with Wide Neckline
Located in London, GB
Made in the USA circa 1975, this enchanting wedding dress, with its tiered construction and layers of delicate lace, is an unforgettable choice for any vintage-loving bride. It has a...
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1970s American Wedding Dresses

Tom Ford for Gucci F/W 2001 Plunging Draped Mesh Black Evening Dress Gown
By Tom Ford for Gucci
Located in Naples, FL
Tom Ford for Gucci F/W 2001 Plunging Draped Mesh Black Gown Dress IT 42
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Early 2000s Evening Dresses and Gowns

2011 Vintage Versace Black Paillete Detail and Open Back Silk Long Gown Dress
By Versace
Located in Montgomery, TX
VERSACE Circa 2011 Incredibly elegant and sexy black silk gown. Crossed straps on the back, sheer chiffon with embropidered pallete details. Content: 100% silk, Lining: 100% silk. I...
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2010s Italian Evening Gowns

New Gucci 2023 Collection Crystal GG Stretch Nylon Tulle Dusty Pink Dress It. 38
By Gucci
Located in Montgomery, TX
Gucci Crystal GG Stretch Nylon Tulle Dress 2023 Collection Italian size - 38 A-line style, Designer color - Dusty Pink, Embellished with pink crystals in iconic GG pattern. Open bac...
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2010s Italian Evening Gowns

Alexander McQueen 2007 Black & Petrol Green Bustier Silk Evening Dress NWT
By Alexander McQueen
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Alexander McQueen strapless two-tone black and petrol green tissue taffeta evening dress. Bustier with draped center detail and ruching all throughout. Balloon hem with contrasting l...
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21st Century and Contemporary Evening Dresses and Gowns

Gianni Versace Couture 90s Metallic Mesh Silver Top It. 38
By Gianni Versace
Located in Montgomery, TX
Gianni Versace Couture Iconic from 90's Metallic Mesh Italian size 38 Silver-tone Metallic Mesh This top has a matching draping metal scarf that is permanently attached around the ne...
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1990s Italian Blouses and Tops

Gucci by Tom Ford black satin cone bra corset bustier, ss 2001
By Tom Ford for Gucci
Located in London, GB
Gucci by Tom Ford, black satin corset bustier with cone bra style structured bust, internal boning and zip fastening. Spring-Summer 2001
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1990s Italian Corsets

Vintage Oleg Cassini 1990s Lipstick Red Beaded Silk Chiffon 90s Evening Gown
By Oleg Cassini
Located in San Diego, CA
Sensational vintage early 90s OLEG CASSINI lipstick red silk chiffon fully beaded evening gown / dress ! Features thousands of hand-sewn beads and sequins throughout. Sheer mesh abov...
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1990s American Evening Gowns

Jean Paul Gaultier blue wool and velvet cape jacket, skirt and scarf, fw 1984
By Jean Paul Gaultier
Located in London, GB
Jean Paul Gaultier blue wool ensemble comprising: cape jacket with black velvet sleeves and large button fastening, ruched ankle length skirt and matching scarf. Fall-Winter 1984
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1980s Italian Suits, Outfits and Ensembles

Vintage Vicky Tiel Couture 1980s Black Mesh Sweetheart Flirty Cocktail Dress LBD
By Vicky Tiel
Located in San Diego, CA
Beautiful vintage late 80s VICKY TIEL COUTURE mesh sweetheart neckline flirty little black dress! Features the designer's signature flattering ruched bodice (features interior boning...
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1980s French Cocktail Dresses

Black sleeveless long dress with silver studs Marithé & François GIRBAUD
By Marithe Francois Girbaud
Located in Saint-Ouen-Sur-Seine, FR
Black sleeveless long dress with silver studs on the bottom edge fixed on another type of fabric ( wool jersey) . Longer on both side. Fabric composition: lycra, stretch, wool, acryl...
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2010s French Evening Dresses and Gowns

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80s Ball Gown For Sale on 1stDibs

On 1stDibs, you can find the most appropriate vintage or contemporary 80s ball gown for your needs in our varied inventory. If you’re looking for an option in Black and you’re unable to find the right fit, there are plenty of variations in Blue, Gray and more. If you’re looking for a 80s ball 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. An accessory like this designed by Valentino, Arnold Scaasi and Catherine Walker — each of whom created a beautiful version of this treasured item — is worth considering.

How Much is a 80s Ball Gown?

Prices for a 80s ball gown can differ depending upon size, designer and other attributes — on 1stDibs, these accessories begin at $221 and can go as high as $3,595, while, on average they fetch $800.

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 80s Ball Gown
  • 1stDibs ExpertFebruary 13, 2023
    Ball gowns are sometimes called evening gowns or gowns. It is also technically correct to refer to a ball gown as a dress. However, the term dress can also describe pieces that are more casual than gowns. Shop a range of ball gowns from some of the world’s top boutiques on 1stDibs.
  • 1stDibs ExpertOctober 7, 2024
    The difference between a ball gown and a long gown depends on the context. Some people may use these two terms interchangeably as names for any full-length dress suitable for formal evening wear. Other times, the phrase “ball gown” may refer to a specific style of gown, namely, one that features a fitted bodice and a full skirt, often composed of layers of netting and tulle. In this case, “long gown” would be a more general term than “ball gown,” describing any formal full-length dress, and a ball gown would be one type of long gown. Explore a collection of evening gowns on 1stDibs.
  • 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022
    A ball gown dress and a princess dress are different names for the same style of cut in a wedding dress. This style of dress features a flattering fitted bodice and a full, voluminous skirt that flares out at the waist. The term ball gown is associated with more volume in the skirt than the term princess dress. Browse 1stDibs to find a beautiful array of wedding dresses from top boutiques around the world.
  • 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2024
    Yes, tracksuits were popular in the 1980s. During the decade, the world of fitness heavily influenced fashion, with everything from leg warmers and tracksuits transitioning from the gym to the runways and the street. Velour tracksuits were especially popular looks of the day. Explore a collection of 1980s apparel on 1stDibs.
  • 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022
    A number of bags were popular in the 1980s, including belt bags made of a variety of materials. Some designer handbags carried by celebrities of the era include the Hermès Birkin, Louis Vuitton Bucket Bag, the Chanel Gold Chain Classic Flap and various Prada nylon bags. On 1stDibs, find a variety of vintage handbags.
  • 1stDibs ExpertFebruary 22, 2021
    Fashion accessories were very popular in the '80s and some of the trendier ones included leg warmers, scrunchies, large neon earrings, plastic bangles and neon fingerless gloves.
  • 1stDibs ExpertNovember 13, 2024
    What the ’80s design style is called varies, as multiple styles are associated with the decade. Some people refer to the designs of the period using the generic term postmodern. Pieces featuring bright colors, geometric shapes, strong patterns and abstract designs may be classified as Memphis style. Synthwave style drew inspiration from the new wave and punk music scenes, including technology-inspired motifs, such as grid lines and vibrant neon colors. Another 1980s design style is commonly referred to as ’80s Cute. Pioneered by designer Lisa Frank, it typically features whimsical imagery, such as rainbows, hearts and fast food. Find a large collection of 1980s furniture and decorative objects on 1stDibs.

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How the Chanel Jacket Forever Changed What Women Wear

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A Pair of Shoes — Heels or Flats — Can Tell an Impactful Story

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The V&A Takes a Fresh Look at the New Look’s Pioneering Progenitor, Christian Dior

Ballrooms, Bar Suits and British royals — in a sweeping exhibition, the London museum looks back on 70 years of the French fashion house, as well as its illustrious founder and his fondness for the United Kingdom.