$795
Size: Medium / Large
Vintage Sultana / Adini Silver and Gold Metallic Silk Crochet Short Sleeve Dress
By Sultana
Located in San Diego, CA
Amazing, brand new with original store tags, SULTANA / ADINI silver and gold metallic short sleeve
$1,800
Size: One-size-fits-all
1970s Adini Summer Of Love Maxi Dress in a Fine Cotton Floral Gauze w Metallic
By Sultana
Located in Gresham, OR
1970s Adini for Sultana Summer Of Love Maxi Dress in a Fine Cotton Floral Gauze w Metallic Thread
1978 Rare Purple Adini Sultana Dress With Angel Sleeves and Metallic Thread
Located in London, GB
This 1978 purple cotton Sultana kaftan is by Adini, from the Holiday Collection is the most sought
1970's Vintage Sultana by Adini Printed Boho Indian Caftan Dress
By Sultana
Located in US
Sultana vintage Boho Indian caftan dress featured in a light blue and lavender with silver metallic
$1,200Sale Price|20% Off
Size: Extra Small
Comme des Garcons Avant garde Striped Applique Jacket Fall 2013
By Comme des Garçons
Located in University City, MO
Comme des Garcons Avant-garde striped floral rosette applique jacket Fall 2013 Extra Small Size The edgy unique high fashion jacket is constructed with black & white stripes througho...
$1,098Sale Price|75% Off
Size: 38 / US 2
Gucci Tom Ford Fall 2001 Size 38 / 2 Runway Black Silk Strapless Post - It Dress
By Gucci, Tom Ford for Gucci
Located in San Diego, CA
Rare vintage Gucci, by Tom Ford Fall 2001 black silk strapless post-it Runaway dress ! Fashioned after post-it notes. Built in bodice holds everything in place. Hidden zipper up the ...
1960s Joseph Magnin Gold + Chartreuse Green Silk Brocade 60s Vintage Shift Dress
By Joseph Magnin Co.
Located in San Diego, CA
Gorgeous 1960s JOSEPH MAGNIN gold and chartreuse green metallic silk shift dress! Features a striking print, with an incredible fit! Fitted bodice, with a straight skirt. Full metal ...
$1,516Sale Price|20% Off
Size: M-L
Arnold Scaasi Vintage Colorful Metallic Lamé Silk Evening Gown Dress, 1980s
By Scaasi Boutique
Located in Sparks, NV
Incredible vintage metallic lame dress by Arnold Scaasi with a high low hemline and open back with chain detail. Petal shaped flap sleeves and tropical-inspired floral printed colorf...
CHANEL suit pink jacket and dress S/S 1996
By Chanel, Karl Lagerfeld for Chanel
Located in Rubiera, RE
CHANEL S/S 1996 Suit pink tweed wool jacket and dress 90% wool 10% nylon Lining: 100% silk Size FR 42 Made in France Excellent conditions Flat measures Jacket: Length cm. 49 ...
Alexander McQueen 2004 Collection Silk Americana Print Halter Backless Dress 38
By Alexander McQueen
Located in Montgomery, TX
Alexander McQueen Silk Halter High-Low *Americana* Print Dress S/S 2004 Deliverance Collection The collection was based on the narrative of the 1969 Sydney Pollack movie “They Shoot ...
ALEXANDER McQUEEN A/W 2006 “The Widows of Culloden” Tartan Layered Blazer
By Alexander McQueen
Located in Thiensville, WI
ALEXANDER McQUEEN A/W 2006 “The Widows of Culloden” Tartan Layered Blazer Brand / Manufacturer: Alexander McQueen Collection: Autumn / Winter 2006 “The Widows of Culloden” Design...
Vintage Bob Mackie Nude Pearl Beaded Dress Gown, 1980s
By Bob Mackie
Located in Montgomery, TX
Editor’s note: 1980’s BOB MACKIE Nude Pearl Beaded Gown. This gown is very similar to the design of the costume worn by RuPaul in Mackie’s book Unmistakable Mackie. Details: Zip cuff...
ALEXANDER McQUEEN S/S 2007 "Sarabande" Iridescent Silk Pleated Mermaid Dress
By Alexander McQueen
Located in Thiensville, WI
DESCRIPTION: ALEXANDER McQUEEN S/S 2007 "Sarabande" Iridescent Silk Pleated Mermaid Dress Estimated Retail: $5,900 Brand / Manufacturer: Alexander McQueen Collection: Spring / S...
Vintage Pierre Cardin 1970s Blue + White Heart Print Flutter Sleeve 70s Dress
By Pierre Cardin
Located in San Diego, CA
Flirty late 1970s PIERRE CARDIN for NEIMAN MARCUS royal blue and white heart print flutter sleeve dress! Features a blue background with white hearts printed throughout. Elastic wais...
New Versace Black Jersey Leather Beads Embellished High Slit Dress Gown 40 US 6
By Versace
Located in Montgomery, TX
New Versace Black Jersey Long Dress Gown Designer size 40 - US 6 Black Jersey, High Side Slit, Build in Leotard Bottom Underlay, Side Zip Closure, Fully Lined in Same Jersey Fabric....
NWT Tom Ford for Gucci 2004 Collection Gold Embellished Cocktail Dress It. 42
By Tom Ford for Gucci, Gucci
Located in Montgomery, TX
New Tom Ford for Gucci Gold Cocktail Sexy Dress 2004 Collection Designer size 42 Mischa Barton wore the same dress for InStyle magazine! Exquisitely embellished, beautifully crafted ...
1960s Oscar de la Renta Gold and Red Ribbon Silk Sequin Vintage 60s Gown Dress
By Oscar De La Renta
Located in San Diego, CA
Incredible, and super rare mid 60s one of a kind OSCAR DE LA RENTA gold and red sequin long sleeve gown! Features thousands of hand-sewn gold sequins thorughout. Embroidered red ribb...
F/W 2001 Gianni Versace by Donatella Black Astrakhan Silver Fox Mink Fur Coat
By Donatella Versace for Gianni Versace, Gianni Versace Couture
Located in West Hollywood, CA
This luxurious full-length Gianni Versace coat from the Fall/Winter 2001 collection, designed by Donatella Versace, is crafted from black astrakhan fur with an opulent silver fox fur...
2009 Galliano for Christian Dior Fuchsia Wool Skirt Suit with Rosette Detail
By Christian Dior
Located in Toronto, Ontario
John Galliano for Christian Dior fucshia pink wool skirt suit from the 2009 collection. The suit mimics the 'New Look' shape created by Dior in 1947 with hips accentuated with rosett...
ELIZABETH MASON COUTURE Gold Silk Lame Gown Made to Measure
By Elizabeth Mason Couture
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Fashioned from the finest gold silk lame, this exquisite gown presents a gorgeous body skimming silhouette with a flared hem. The center front bodice features all hand finished detai...
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.