Vintage Eletra Casadei 1980s Black Sequined Beaded Silk Chiffon 80s Midi Dress
By Eletra Casadei, Casadei
Located in San Diego, CA
Beautiful vintage early 1980s (1982) ELETRA CASADEI black silk chiffon cocktail dress! Features a strapless bustier dress, with attached chiffon overlay. Thousands of hand-sewn sequi...
PAULINE TRIGERE 1970's Black Sequin Applique Full Length Dress Size 12
By Pauline Trigère
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This Pauline Trigere gown is composed of a crepe silk with patterned sequin applique. Features full sheer sleeves and zippered cuffs. There is a center back zipper closure. In excell...
$595Sale Price|25% Off
Size: Medium
Amazing 1970s Vintage One Shoulder Black Sequin Silk 70s Evening Dress Gown
By Mike Benet Formals, MIKE BENET
Located in San Diego, CA
Incredible vintage 1970s one shoulder black sequin silk Grecian inspired Toga evening dress! Features thousands of hand-sewn sequins and beads throughout the entire bodice. Soft blac...
OLEG CASSINI 'Black Tie' Beaded Gown Size 6
By Oleg Cassini
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This Oleg Cassini gown is composed of a beaded and sequin silk. Features a center back zipper closure. Some beading missing, overall great condition. **Please cross-reference meas...
1960s Pat Sandler for Highlight 60s Black Chiffon Beaded Paillette Vintage Dress
By Pat Sandler, Highlight
Located in San Diego, CA
Beautiful 1960ss Pat Sandler for Highlight black silk chiffon dress, with thousands of paillettes! Layers and layers of black silk chiffon on the skirt, that looks absolutely breatht...
Vintage 1980s Black Tie Oleg Cassini Beaded Sequin Evening dress size US 10 12
By Black Tie by Oleg Cassini
Located in Maghera, GB
A striking late 1980s Black Tie by Oleg Cassini evening gown, richly embellished with intricate beads and sequins in cobalt blue, turquoise, purple, ruby red and gold against a black...
Vintage Bob Mackie Size 10 / 12 Black Illusion Sequin Beaded Little Black Dress
By Bob Mackie
Located in San Diego, CA
Chic vintage BOB MACKIE 1980s / 80s nude illusion little black dress! Incredible body huggin fit. Tailored bodice with sleek tailored long sleeves. Cut-outs above the bust and should...
1980s Travilla Size 10 Black Matte Silk Jersey Rhinestone Vintage 80s Gown Dress
By Travilla
Located in San Diego, CA
Beautiful and timeless WILLIAM TRAVILLA black matte silk jersey rhinestone encrusted long sleeve evening gown ! Features flattering ruching throughout the bodice. Interior shoulder p...
$1,695
Size: Medium / Large
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...
1970s Lillie Rubin Black Silk Sequin Belted Vintage 70s Sleeveless Evening Dress
By Lillie Rubin
Located in San Diego, CA
Gorgeous vintage 70s LILLIE RUBIN black silk fully sequined sleeveless gown! Features thousands of hand-sewn sequins throughout the entire dress. Attached belt hooks closed at the ba...
HAUTE COUTURE INTERNATIONAL 1960's Black Beaded and Sequin Lace Gown Size 6
By HAUTE COUTURE INTERNATIONAL
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This Haute Couture International gown is composed of a black beaded and sequin lace. There is a side slit and center back zipper closure. In excellent vintage condition. **Ple...
$1,775
Size: Medium / Large
1980s Vicky Tiel Couture Black Vintage Silk Sequined Strapless Cocktail Dress
By Vicky Tiel
Located in San Diego, CA
Stunning vintage late 80s VICKY TIEL COUTURE black silk strapless cocktail dress! Features thousands of hand-sewn black sequins throughout. Flattering ruched boned bodice offers plen...
$458Sale Price|54% Off
Vintage 1980s Handmade Black Beaded Dress by Unknown Designer, Size 42
Located in Capri, IT
1980s Barberini Haute Couture Black Dress embellished with beads totally handmade in italy compsotion: viscose size 42
Vintage Liancarlo Couture Size 12 90s Black Silk One Shoulder 1990s Sequin Dress
By Liancarlo Couture, Liancarlo
Located in San Diego, CA
Beautiful vintage 1990s LIANCARLO COUTURE black silk sequined one shoulder dress! Features a black silk backdrop, with thousands of black hand-sewn sequins throughout. Layers of mesh...
80s Kevan Hall Couture Black Sequin 1980s Off Shoulder Vintage Cocktail Dress
Located in San Diego, CA
Late 1980s KEVAN HALL COUTURE black off-the-shoulder sequin dress ! Features a nude chiffon underlay with a lace nad sequin bodice. Flowy silk chiffon skirt. Boned bodice. Hidden zip...
$636Sale Price|20% Off
Size: Medium
Amazing 1970s Vintage One Shoulder Black Sequin Silk 70s Evening Dress Gown
By MIKE BENET
Located in San Diego, CA
Incredible vintage 1970s one shoulder black sequin silk Grecian inspired Toga evening dress! Features thousands of hand-sewn sequins and beads throughout the entire bodice. Soft blac...
Ceil Chapman Early 1960's Heavily Beaded Black Wiggle Cocktail Dress
By Ceil Chapman
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Ceil Chapman sweet and sexy little black dress with all over beading, circa early 1960's Scoop neck and back detail with a classic wiggle silhouette. Sophisticated Old Hollywood glam...
Christian Dior Red Boutique Paris Dress and Evening Top
By Christian Dior
Located in London, GB
A lovely evening dress and top by Christian Dior. The red dress has spaghetti straps and a drop waist , with a side zip. The over top is red with gold sequin and thread detail. It h...
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...
$1,195
Size: Small - Medium
1970s Vintage Yellow Cotton Voile + Lace Off - Shoulder Peasant Boho Maxi Dress
Located in San Diego, CA
Breathtakingly beautiful 70s pale yellow soft cotton voile and lace maxi dress! Features an incredible amount of craftsmanship, with heavy attention to detail. Gives off just the rig...
Elegant French Art Deco Sequin Gown
Located in New York, NY
Elegant and timeless French Sequin Art Deco Gown sewn on cotton tulle. Nude iridescent gelatin sequins cover the entire gown completely. There are sequined Art Deco diamond motifs ab...
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...
$2,236Sale Price|20% Off
Size: 6 / 8
1990s Stephen Yearick Size 6 / 8 Silver Gunmetal Gray Beaded Silk Gown + Shawl
By Stephen Yearick
Located in San Diego, CA
Stunning vintage 90 STEPHEN YEARICK silver / gunmetal silk lace beaded evening gown and large shawl World renowned celebrity dress maker! Barbara Streisand, Cher, Beyoncé, Britney S...
Giorgio Armani Pleated Evening Dress
By Giorgio Armani
Located in Geneva, CH
This alluring Giorgio Armani bustier gown is constructed of silk jersey in a refined blackish grey-brown. The flattering bustier is entirely pleated and features two oversized satin ...
1980s Bob Mackie Couture Emerald Green Chiffon Leather Leaf 80s Grecian Gown 6
By Bob Mackie
Located in San Diego, CA
Quite possibly my favorite BOB MACKIE Couture dress EVER! I cannot even begin to describe this beauty! Beautiful emerald green silk with black silk chiffon overlay. Features a conver...
$1,685
Size: UK 10 US 6
Vintage 1940s Red Crepe Silk Floral Beaded Evening Gown 1940s Dress US 6 UK 10
Located in Nashville, TN
This truly enchanting 1940's crepe silk gown, rendered in the most vibrant shade of vermilion red and embellished with gold lamé soutache embroidery surrounding floral beadwork in sh...
Valentino Vintage Silk Dress 2007 Marigold Yellow Cut-Outs Size 10
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...
New Atelier Versace Wisteria Purple Silk Fully Beaded Dress Gown
By Atelier Versace
Located in Montgomery, TX
Atelier Versace Wisteria Purple Fully Beaded Silk Dress Gown Designer size 42 ( run smaller - measurements provided ) 100% Silk Wisteria Purple Dress with Tulle Fully Embellished Ove...
Runway Yves Saint Laurent S/S 1989 Lipstick Red Rayon Jersey Strapless 80s Dress
By Yves Saint Laurent, Yves Saint Laurent Rive Gauche
Located in San Diego, CA
Sensational vintage YSL Rive Gauche spring / summer 1989 runway lipstick red rayon jersey strapless 1980s dress ! The same dress was featured on the runway in black. Sash at side wai...
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...
Givenchy Nouvelle Boutique 1970s Black Maxi Dress and Wrap with Stud Trim
By Givenchy Nouvelle Boutique, Givenchy
Located in Water Mill, NY
A fabulous black wool jersey maxi dress and wrap from Givenchy. It has long sleeves, a crew neckline and comes with a narrow tie belt and matching wrap. The lower sleeves and skirt...
1960s Blue and Green Floral Print Silk Cocktail Dress
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
Elegant 1960s Blue and Green Spaghetti Strap Floral Silk print cocktail gown . Size: 6 Measurement: Bust 35” / Waist: 27” / Hip 38” / Dress length: 55”
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.