Sensational Aqua Baracci Lace and Rhinestone Gown
By Baracci
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This is a stunning Baracci Haute Couture Original. It is a vibrant aqua with exquisite gold lace overlay dazzled with iridescent rhinestones.
Sensational Aqua Baracci Lace and Rhinestone Gown
By Baracci
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This is a stunning Baracci Haute Couture Original. It is a vibrant aqua with exquisite gold lace overlay dazzled with iridescent rhinestones.
GIVENCHY c. 1960’s Early Haute Couture Dark Brown Wool Princess Coat Jacket
By Givenchy
Located in Thiensville, WI
GIVENCHY c. 1960’s Early Haute Couture Dark Brown Wool Princess Coat Jacket Circa: 1960’s Label(s): Givenchy Style: Princess Coat Color(s): Brown Lined: Yes Unmarked Fabric Cont...
1980's Laura Biagiotti Cream Knit Dress
By Laura Biagiotti
Located in Toronto, Ontario
Great transitional dress in cream knit by Italian designer Laura Biagiotti. Best known for her sumptuous knits this dress fits like a glove and can be worn dressed up or down. In exc...
1990s Loris Azzaro Brown Sequin Strapless Cocktail Dress
By Loris Azzaro
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
1990s Loris Azzaro brown sequin metallic strapless cocktail party dress. fit size 4
$1,475
Size: 42 ( US 6 / 8 )
1980s Roberto Cavalli for Neiman Marcus Giraffe Print Vintage 80s Jersey Dress
By Roberto Cavalli
Located in San Diego, CA
Chic and rare vintage mid / late 80s ROBERTO CAVALLI for NEIMAN MARCUS giraffe print belted short sleeve jersey dress! Features timeless giraffe animal print in chocolate brown and i...
1920s Yellow and Brown Floral Print Silk Dress
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
1920s Yellow and brown floral print silk day dress. Size: 6-8 dress comes with silk belt As is! Fragile
1990s Valentino Black Chiffon and Velvet Dress Shirt Dress
By Valentino
Located in Toronto, Ontario
Amazing 1990s Valentino little black shirt dress from Holt Renfrew Canada. Top is black chiffon with a pussy bow tie, sheer bishop sleeves and delicate ruching at shoulders. Jet blac...
Dolce & Gabbana 1990's Vintage Plunging Neckline Open Back Lace Black Dress
By Dolce & Gabbana
Located in Englishtown, NJ
Dolce & Gabbana 1990's Vintage Plunging Neckline Open Back Lace Black Dress IT 40 Dolce & Gabbana lace trimmed fitted dress with plunging V-neck, low back and narrow straps....
Vintage Bill Blass 1990s Size 6 Lipstick Red One Shoulder 90s Silk Dress
By Bill Blass
Located in San Diego, CA
Amazing vintage 90s BILL BLASS for Saks 5th Avenue lipstick red one shoulder silk dress! Features a flattering fit with a spaghetti strap on the left shoulder and a cap sleeve on the...
Hervé Léger Black Dress Size S Women's RTW France 21st Century
By Herve Léger
Located in Capri, IT
Herve Leger Black Dress RTW size S
PRADA black GATHERED FRONT Sleeveless Cocktail Dress 40
By Prada
Located in Zürich, CH
Prada gathered-front black dress in black triacetate (60%) and polyester (40%) with a v-neck. Has trimming around the waist and bottom in black silk (100%). Closes on the side with c...
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...
1970s Bill Blass Black + Ivory Camellia Flowers Open Back Vintage 70s Gown Dress
By Bill Blass
Located in San Diego, CA
Sensational early 1970s BILL BLASS black and ivory camellia flower open back long sleeve silk taffeta 70s gown! Features a fitted high neck bodice with an open back. Neck and sleeves...
1920S Brown Silk Burnout Velvet Devoré Drop Waist Flapper Dress
Located in New York, NY
1920S Brown Silk Burnout Velvet Devoré Drop Waist Flapper Dress
1980s Raffaella Curiel Black Lace and Sequin Gown
Located in Toronto, Ontario
1980s Raffaella Curiel evening gown. Semi-sheer black lace drop waist bodice, embellished with sequins. Tiered black silk taffeta skirt with bow detail. Invisible zipper closure up c...
$1,895
Size: Small / Medium
Vintage Norma Kamali OMO Late 1970s Royal Blue Swimsuit Bodysuit Wide Leg Pants
By Norma Kamali
Located in San Diego, CA
Rare vintage late 70s NORMA KAMALI OMO bright royal blue one piece plunging swimsuit / bodysuit and wide leg trosuers! Kamali is high credible with not only her design, but her pract...
Ceil Chapman 1950's Black Cocktail Draped Cocktail Dress Size S
By Ceil Chapman
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This Ceil Chapman cocktail dress is composed of a black silk. The dress features draping at the center front and a center back zipper. There is a sash detail at the center back waist...
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.