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 strapless bustier dress, with attached chiffon overlay. Thousands of hand-sewn sequi...
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...
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 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...
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...
$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...
1980s UNGARO cobalt blue silk brocade mermaid gown
By Emanuel Ungaro
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
Beautiful Ungaro mermaid gown in black and cobalt silk lamé. Inspired by the finest 1950's French tradition, it has a fully boned corset and layers of bias cut ruffles to the floor....
$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...
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. ...
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...
Tom Ford for Yves Saint SS 2002 Laurent Animal Printed Silk Chiffon Dress Set L
By Tom Ford for Yves Saint Laurent, Yves Saint Laurent Rive Gauche
Located in Montgomery, TX
Vintage Tom Ford for Yves Saint Laurent Rive Gauche S/S 2002 Safari Collection Animal Printed Silk Dress ( consists of top and skirt ) Size tag missing, approx. size L 100% Silk Chi...
Sensational Vintage Bob Mackie Black and Silver 80s Heavily Beaded Dramatic Gown
By Bob Mackie
Located in San Diego, CA
Exceptional vintage 1980s BOB MACKIE black, silver and white heavily beaded and sequined nigh neck evening dress! Features thousands of hand-sewn sequins and beads throughout the bod...
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...
Givenchy Nouvelle Boutique 1970s Maxi Dress and Wrap with Stud Trim
By Givenchy, Givenchy Nouvelle Boutique
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...
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...
Christian Dior Haute Couture Long Blue Gown Provenance Betsy Bloomingdale 1988
By Christian Dior
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This is a long royal blue silk taffeta gown by Christian Dior Haute Couture, from 1988-89. The gown has long sleeves, a wrapped front and back bodice, a large bow on the side hip, a...
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.