Vintage Eletra Casadei 1980s Black Sequined Beaded Silk Chiffon 80s Midi Dress
By Casadei, Eletra Casadei
Located in San Diego, CA
Beautiful vintage early 1980s (1982) ELETRA CASADEI black silk chiffon cocktail dress! Features a
Vintage Eletra Casadei 1980s Black Sequined Beaded Silk Chiffon 80s Midi Dress
By Casadei, Eletra Casadei
Located in San Diego, CA
Beautiful vintage early 1980s (1982) ELETRA CASADEI black silk chiffon cocktail dress! Features a
Shimmering Alexander McQueen Gold Jeweled Evening Dress Gown
By Alexander McQueen
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Alexander McQueen entrance maker gold metallic gown. Fashioned of a neutral shimmering gold metallic animal print showered with sparkling crystal embellishments. Mock neck and conc...
Beautiful Bill Blass Vintage Sz 6 / 8 Navy Blue Silk Satin 90s Gown + Shawl
By Bill Blass
Located in San Diego, CA
Beautiful 1990s BILL BLASS Couture navy blue silk satin strapless mermaid gown and matching shawl. Strapless bodice features a super soft silk velvet in navy. Interior support holds ...
1990s Giorgio Armani Size 6 / 8 Vintage Crimson Red Merlot 90s Silk Velvet Gown
By Giorgio Armani
Located in San Diego, CA
Insanely beautiful 1990s GIORGIO ARMANI COLLEZIONI crimson red silk velvet full length evening dress! Couture quality, with an amazing fit! Hidden interior weight on inner bust creat...
Oscar de la Renta Gold Sequin Polka Dot Sleeveless Cocktail Dress
By Oscar De La Renta
Located in San Francisco, CA
Oscar de la Renta metallic gold sequin fitted sleeveless party dress. The sequins switch direction in spots, forming a polka dot pattern. The perfect holiday dress! Back zip and hook...
Vintage Oscar de la Renta Sheer Size 10 / 12 Black Silk Chantilly Lace Gown
By Oscar De La Renta
Located in San Diego, CA
Exquisite 1990s vintage OSCAR DE LA RENTA for SAKS 5th AVE Couture black silk chiffon and chattily lace sheer evening gown ! This beautiful dress has so much attention to details. Mu...
Vintage OSCAR DE LA RENTA Black Silk & Swarovski Maxi Evening Dress Gown Size 8
By Oscar De La Renta
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
The Vintage Oscar de la Renta evening gown is a true masterpiece of elegance and glamour. Crafted from luxurious black silk, this strapless gown drapes beautifully, exuding a sense o...
Valentino New Cut out Silk Gown SS 2001
By Valentino
Located in Water Mill, NY
An incredible off white silk gown from Valentino. It is sleeveless with cut outs at the waist front, sides and back which including the chest décolletage are covered in fine black c...
ALEXANDER McQUEEN A/W 2007 "Witches" Black Red Silk Taffeta Bubble Evening Gown
By Alexander McQueen
Located in Thiensville, WI
Brand / Manufacturer: Alexander McQueen Collection: A/W 2007 "Witches" Designer: Alexander McQueen Style: Evening Gown Color(s): Shades of black, red Lined: Yes Marked Fabric Cont...
Valentino Silk Dress with Cut outs SS 2007
By Valentino
Located in Water Mill, NY
A gorgeous marigold yellow fine silk dress from Valentino. It has ruched shoulder straps forming a V neckline and 3 bands of horizontal ruching around the circumference of the bodic...
Oscar de la Renta Light Blue Knit Crochet Vintage Sleeveless Dress, 1970s
By Oscar De La Renta
Located in San Diego, CA
Gorgeous vintage 1970s OSCAR DE LA RENTA pale blue knit crochet dress! Fantastic fit, with so much attention to detail. Crochet detail above the bust, on the straps, and at the hem. ...
$13,440Sale Price|20% Off
Size: 36FR
Chanel Runway/Editorial Sequin Embellished Gown Cruise 2017 Size 36FR
By Chanel
Located in Saint Petersburg, FL
Chanel Runway/Editorial Sequin Embellished Gown Cruise 2017 Size 36FR
Valentino 1990s Size 4 Lipstick Red Linen + Rayon Halter Criss Cross 90s Dress
By Valentino, Valentino Miss V
Located in San Diego, CA
Chic mid 90s VALENTINO ‘ Miss V ‘ signature lipstick red halter cross-cross Rayon ( 90% ) and Linen ( 10%) dress ! Features a halter neckline for support that criss crosses in the ba...
$2,995
Size: 42 ( US 8 / 10 )
Vintage Nina Ricci Haute Couture 1980s Avant Garde Linen + Silk Strapless Gown
By Nina Ricci
Located in San Diego, CA
Gorgeous Avant Garde NINA RICCI Haute Couture 80s black and marigold polka dot strapless evening gown! Features a unique, yet brilliant fabric blend of Irish linen, rayon and silk ta...
$5,039Sale Price|44% Off
Size: 42
UNWORN Versace 2007 Silk Goddess Evening Bridal Wedding Gown Maxi Dress 42
By Versace
Located in Switzerland, CH
Incredible Versace Grecian Goddess Silk Evening Gown Featured In The AD Campaign, Runway Show And Worn By Many Models & Celebs Like Jennifer, Liz, Leona, Daria and many more So...
1970s Halston Couture Black Silk Chiffon Beaded Long Sleeve Vintage 70s Dress
By Halston
Located in San Diego, CA
Exceptional vintage 70s HALSTON Couture black silk chiffon beaded dress and sash belt or head scarf! Features a separate black silk chiffon slip with three layers of chiffon and nude...
Rare Archival Thierry Mugler Goddess Gown 1979 Eveing Dress
By Thierry Mugler
Located in Berlin, BE
Stunning extremely rare Thierry Mugler Goddess Gown from one of his earliest Collections ca.1979. A masterful embodiment of ethereal elegance and avant-garde artistry. The dress cas...
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.