Comme Des Garcons Black Sheer Front Concept Dress 1997
By Comme des Garçons
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Resurrection Vintage is excited to offer a vintage Comme des Garcons black dress featuring a sheer front, back zipper, and structured paneling around the back and side of the dress. ...
2008 COMME DES GARCONS navy blue sheer dress with ruffles
By Comme des Garçons
Located in San Fransisco, CA
Comme des Garçons Spring 2008 dress in deep navy blue. The top is sheer and lightweight with a soft collar and sleeveless cut. The skirt is built from layered ruffles and squared app...
Comme des Garcons "Folded Wings" Sheer Embroidered Dress
By Issey Miyake, Comme des Garçons
Located in Los Angeles, CA
1997 A/W Comme des Garcons sculptural shape of folded wings in an intersting fabrication. As seen on the runway. Fashioned of wool and poly in a soft shade of yellow with gold leaf ...
Comme Des Garcons Black Sheer Dress W/ Draping & Interior Silver Chains Aw 2000
By Comme des Garçons
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Resurrection Vintage is excited to offer a vintage Comme des Garçons black sheer dress with draping and interior silver chains from the Fall 2000 collection, featuring a detachable s...
COMME DES GARCONS Vintage nude black sheer overlay A-line dress S Cindy Sherman
By Comme des Garçons
Located in Hong Kong, NT
COMME DES GARCONS Vintage nude black sheer overlay A-line dress S Cindy Sherman Reference: PYCN/A00098 Brand: Comme Des Garcons As seen on: Cindy Sherman Material: Cotton, Blend Colo...
$1,200Sale Price|20% Off
Comme des Garçons 2000’s Black and Gold Polka Dot Sheer Long Dress-Size Small
By Comme des Garçons
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Comme des Garçons Black and Gold Polka Dot Sheer Mesh Long Dress - Size Small This early 2000’s sheer black and gold polka dot long dress is a really showstopper. 20+ years later the...
Comme Des Garcons Black Half Dress With Brown Velvet Panels 1998
By Comme des Garçons
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Resurrection Vintage is excited to offer a vintage Comme des Garçons black half dress from the 1998 collection, featuring brown velvet panels, sheer paneling on one side, and asymmet...
Comme Des Garcons Black Tank Dress With Wool Top Fw 2000-2001
By Comme des Garçons
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Resurrection Vintage is excited to offer a vintage Comme des Garçons black tank dress with a wool top from the Fall 2000-2001 collection, featuring a tie detail under the bust, a sem...
Comme des Garçons Layered Bias-Cut Silk Dress with Elastic Detailing, SS 1994
By Comme des Garçons
Located in London, GB
This Comme des Garçons dress plays with transparency and layering, offering a minimalist, architectural silhouette typical of Rei Kawakubo's signature design approach in the early 90...
New 1997 Comme des Garcons "Rei of Light" Polkadot Black Dress
By Comme des Garçons, Issey Miyake
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A striking fabrication of black wool offset by sheer polkadot poly. From the 1997 A/W Comme des Garcons collection of which this style dress is shown in various versions on the ru...
Runway COMME DES GARCONS Vintage brown velvet floral mesh coat corset skirt S
By Rei Kawakubo, Comme des Garçons
Located in Hong Kong, NT
Runway COMME DES GARCONS Vintage brown velvet floral mesh coat corset skirt S Reference: CRTI/A00585 Brand: Comme Des Garcons Designer: Rei Kawakubo Collection: 2001 - Runway Materi...
1990S JUNYA WATANABE COMME DES GARCONS Black Sheer Silk Chiffon & Wool Deconstru
By Junya Watanabe
Located in New York, NY
1990S JUNYA WATANABE COMME DES GARCONS Black Sheer Silk Chiffon & Wool Deconstructed Dress MORPHEW VINTAGE represents the finest pieces of fashions past. Sourced from across the glob...
Comme des Garcons Sheer Convertible Dress
By Comme des Garçons
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Vintage Comme des Garcons brown sheer wrap garment with black elastic band that can be worn as a dress or skirt.
Comme Des Garcons Sheer Panel Dress
By Comme des Garçons
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Comme Des Garcons black sheer chiffon bias cut gown with silk panel inlay.
Comme des Garcons Navy Sheer Convertible Dress
By Comme des Garçons
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Vintage Comme des Garcons navy blue sheer tube that can be worn as a strapless dress or maxi skirt.
Comme des Garcons Grey Sheer Bias Cut Dress
By Comme des Garçons
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Vintage Comme des Garcons sheer grey lilac v-neck maxi dress featuring velvet trim throughout the bodice and along the neckline.
Comme Des Garcons Black Sheer Ruffle Applique Dress 1994
By Comme des Garçons
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Vintage Comme des Garcons black sheer sleeveless below the knee dress featuring black ruffle appliqués adorning the chest. Circa 1994. Please inquire for additional photos.
Comme des Garcons Deconstructed Dress
By Comme des Garçons
Located in New York, NY
This dress by avant garde design house Comme des Garcons sports a brushed felt-like sweater top and a sheer, pleated silk skirt.
COMME DES GARCONS 2009 black sheer deconstructed exposed lining dress S
By Comme des Garçons
Located in Hong Kong, NT
COMME DES GARCONS 2009 black sheer deconstructed exposed lining dress S Reference: TGAS/B02213 Brand: Comme Des Garcons Designer: Rei Kawakubo Collection: 2008 Material: Polyest...
Comme Des Garcons Black Sheer Dress With Draping & Interior Silver Chains Aw 200
By Comme des Garçons
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Resurrection Vintage is excited to offer a vintage Comme des Garçons black sheer dress with draping and interior silver chains from the Fall 2000 collection, featuring a detachable s...
COMME DES GARCONS Vintage 1988 black bi-fabric sheer deconstructed dress S
By Comme des Garçons
Located in Hong Kong, NT
COMME DES GARCONS Vintage 1988 black bi-fabric sheer deconstructed dress S Reference: CRTI/A00604 Brand: Comme Des Garcons Designer: Rei Kawakubo Collection: 1998 Material: Poly...
COMME DES GARCONS Vintage 1993 black sheer structured heavy wool insert dress
By Comme des Garçons
Located in Hong Kong, NT
COMME DES GARCONS Vintage 1993 black sheer structured heavy wool insert dress Reference: CRTI/A00578 Brand: Comme Des Garcons Designer: Rei Kawakubo Collection: 1993 Material: P...
vintage COMME DES GARCONS black sheer ruffle hem dipped back dress S
By Comme des Garçons
Located in Hong Kong, NT
vintage COMME DES GARCONS black sheer ruffle hem dipped back dress S Reference: CRTI/A00411 \ Brand: Comme Des Garcons Color: Black Pattern: Solid Closure: Zip Extra Detail: Dart...
vintage COMME DES GARCONS black sheer ruffle hem dipped back dress S
By Comme des Garçons
Located in Hong Kong, NT
vintage COMME DES GARCONS black sheer ruffle hem dipped back dress S Reference: CRTI/A00411 Brand: Comme Des Garcons Designer: Rei Kawakubo Color: Black Pattern: Solid Closure:...
vintage COMME DES GARCONS 1997 black sheer polka dot panel asymmetric dress M
By Comme des Garçons
Located in Hong Kong, NT
vintage COMME DES GARCONS 1997 black sheer polka dot panel asymmetric dress M Reference: CRTI/A00403 Brand: Comme Des Garcons Collection: 1997 Runway Material: Wool Color: Black...
vintage COMME DES GARCONS 1992 black rayon velvet square sheer hem slip dress S
By Comme des Garçons
Located in Hong Kong, NT
vintage COMME DES GARCONS 1992 black rayon velvet square sheer hem slip dress S Reference: CRTI/A00407 Brand: Comme Des Garcons Collection: 1992 Material: Rayon Color: Black Pa...
COMME DES GARCONS Vintage nude sheer overlay A-line bias dress S Cindy Sherman
By Comme des Garçons
Located in Hong Kong, NT
COMME DES GARCONS Vintage nude black sheer overlay A-line bias dress S Cindy Sherman Reference: PYCN/A00098 Brand: Comme Des Garcons As seen on: Cindy Sherman Material: Cotton, Blend...
vintage COMME DES GARCONS 1993 sheer top boiled wool panel raw cut maxi dress M
By Comme des Garçons
Located in Hong Kong, NT
vintage COMME DES GARCONS 1993 sheer top boiled wool panel raw cut maxi dress M Reference: CRTI/A00449 Brand: Comme Des Garcons Collection: 1993 Material: Polyester Color: Black...
Comme Des Garcons Black Half Dress With Brown Velvet Panels 1998
By Comme des Garçons
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Resurrection Vintage is excited to offer a vintage Comme des Garçons black half dress from the 1998 collection, featuring brown velvet panels, sheer paneling on one side, and asymmet...
Comme Des Garcons Chiffon & Velvet Bias Cut Modernist Abstract Dress 1991
By Comme des Garçons
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Archival vintage Comme des Garcons black sheer modernist dress with abstract velvet insets. Dress features a square neck, bias seams, and tank sleeves. Collection 1991.
COMME DES GARCONS 1991 white polyester asymmetric pinched seams double layered
By Comme des Garçons
Located in Hong Kong, NT
COMME DES GARCONS 1991 white polyester asymmetric pinched seams double layered midi dress S Reference: CRTI/A00450 Brand: Comme Des Garcons Collection: 1991 Material: Polyester ...
Comme des Garçons Black Jacquard Dress with Silk Chiffon Sleeves, FW 1993
By Comme des Garçons
Located in London, GB
This Comme des Garçons dress from the Fall-Winter 1993 collection features a body made from a black jacquard fabric with a subtle floral pattern, offering a relaxed, floor-length sil...
Rare Comme des Garçons " Broken Bride " Fringed Wedding Ensemble Brand New
By Comme des Garçons
Located in San Diego, CA
Incredibly RARE Comme des Garçons white Top & skirt. Top is semi-sheer, with two opaque appliqués at the breasts. Asymmetrical skirt, with peek-a-boo fringe at side. From the "Broken...
vintage COMME DES GARCONS 1997 black faux fur illusion panelled layered dress S
By Comme des Garçons
Located in Hong Kong, NT
vintage COMME DES GARCONS 1997 black faux fur illusion panelled layered dress S Reference: CRTI/A00412 Brand: Comme Des Garcons Collection: 1997 Material: Wool Color: Black Pat...
COMME DES GARCONS Vintage 2001 brown leaf velvet floral embroidered coat set S
By Comme des Garçons
Located in Hong Kong, NT
COMME DES GARCONS Vintage 2001 brown leaf velvet floral embroidered coat set S Reference: CRTI/A00585 Brand: Comme Des Garcons Designer: Rei Kawakubo Collection: 2001 Runway Mat...
vintage Runway COMME DES GARCONS 1997 black polka dot panel asymmetric dress M
By Rei Kawakubo, Comme des Garçons
Located in Hong Kong, NT
vintage Runway COMME DES GARCONS 1997 black polka dot panel asymmetric dress M Reference: CRTI/A00403 Brand: Comme Des Garcons Designer: Rei Kawakubo Collection: 1997 - Runway Materi...
vintage Runway COMME DES GARCONS '97 black faux fur illusion panelled dress S
By Rei Kawakubo, Comme des Garçons
Located in Hong Kong, NT
vintage Runway COMME DES GARCONS '97 black faux fur illusion panelled dress S Reference: CRTI/A00412 Brand: Comme Des Garcons Designer: Rei Kawakubo Collection: 1997 - Runway Materia...
Comme des Garcsons Knot Dress, 1990s
By Rei Kawakubo, Comme des Garçons
Located in Austin, TX
Comme des Garcons black sheer chiffon knotted dress with frayed edges. Condition: Excellent. Labeled Size Small ( mannequin is US size 6 )
Runway COMME DES GARCONS Vintage brown velvet floral mesh coat corset skirt S
By Comme des Garcons Homme, Rei Kawakubo
Located in Hong Kong, NT
Runway COMME DES GARCONS Vintage brown velvet floral mesh coat corset skirt S Reference: CRTI/A00585 Brand: Comme Des Garcons Designer: Rei Kawakubo Collection: 2001 - Runway Materi...
CDG Black Sheer Elastic Dress 2010
By Comme des Garçons
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Vintage Commes des Garcons black sheer lingerie style slip dress featuring two wide black elastic bands at the waist and a hem that is longer in the back and shorter in the front. Ci...
Junya Watanabe Comme des Garçons Dress
By Junya Watanabe
Located in New York, NY
This is a stunning avant-garde dress by Junya Watanabe for Comme des Garçons. Marrying the easy styling of an LBD with the elegance of a classic evening gown, it is beautifully desig...
Junya Watanabe Comme des Garçons Sheer Ruffled Lace Gown
By Junya Watanabe Comme des Garçons
Located in Laguna Beach, CA
Junya Watanabe Comme des Garçons Sheer Ruffled Lace Asymmetric Gown featuring a bias cut, halter style neckline with open back and a dramatic ruffled panel running from the lower bac...
Comme des Garcons Black Dress with Sheer Center Panel
By Comme des Garçons
Located in New Hope, PA
A great dress from Comme des Garcons has sheer panels at the bust line and a wider panel at the center front of the dress. The fabric folds over this sheer panel fallowing for a teas...
1997 COMME DES GARCONS black tweed dress with 'broken' sheer panels
By Comme des Garçons
Located in San Fransisco, CA
Very rare black tweed dress with 'broken' sheer woven panels from Comme Des Garcons dating to 1997. Labeled a size 'M'. Approximate measurements: shoulder 15", bust 36" max (best for...
Comme Des Garçons Black Mesh Cotton Motorcycle Jacket Style
By Comme des Garçons
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
Comme des garçons Black Cotton and mesh sheer motorcycle Jacket style. Marked size Medium. Fit US 4/6
1997 COMME DES GARCONS black runway dress with sheet dotted tulle
By Comme des Garçons
Located in San Fransisco, CA
Very rare black paneled dress with sheer black dotted tulle inserts and fishtail hemline from Comme Des Garcons dating to fall of 1997 as seen on the runway. Size 'M'. Approximate me...
Junya Watanabe Comme des Garcons Green Sleeveless Lace Patch-Work Dress, 2006
By Comme des Garçons, Junya Watanabe Comme des Garçons
Located in Boca Raton, FL
Contemporary Japanese fashion tends to have a creative edge and bricolage aesthetic. Balancing these two concepts, Junya Watanabe’s Fall 2006 collection showcased a runway of what ca...
2001Comme Des Garcons Black Sleeveless Cocktail Dress w/Dramatic Gathered Collar
By Comme des Garçons
Located in Studio City, CA
2001 Comme Des Garcons black sleeveless shift dress with exaggerated collar comprising a layer of cotton eyelet lace and sheer nylon that continues below the waistline and is gathere...
1998 COMME DES GARCONS black crepe dress with cut out
Located in San Fransisco, CA
Jet black crepe double layer crepe dress with large cut out at side of right leg from Comme des Garcons dating to 1998. Raw edges to neckline and armholes. Inner layer of dress is a ...
Commes des Garcons Sheer Black Gown
By Comme des Garçons
Located in Cloverdale, CA
Superb Sext sheer black gown from Commes des Garcons. Look closely at the photo's, the sheer panels include the skirt,and all the way up the side....enchanting.
1993 Comme des Garcons Deadstock Sheer Tunic Dress
By Comme des Garçons
Located in Yucca Valley, CA
Killer 1993 Comme des Garcons deadstock sheer tunic dress. Absolutely amazing piece! All sheer silky cupro (a blend of cotton) gives the piece a light and flowy demeanor - the moveme...
Comme Des Garcons Deconstructed Tartan Dress
By Comme des Garçons
Located in Brunswick West, Victoria
Dress designed by Junya Watanabe for Comme Des Garcons 2011 collection. The outer layer is made of a red tartan wool fabric, and there is an inside layer of sheer polyester. Halter...
Comme Des Garcons 2000 Union Jack Dress
By Comme des Garçons
Located in Brunswick West, Victoria
This dress was designed by Junya Watanabe for Comme Des Garcons. It features a simple, cotton, sheath-like shape with a union jack sewn on the top in sheer polyester. The polyester...
Junya Watanabe Comme Des Garcons 2010 Camouflage Print Dress
By Comme des Garçons
Located in Brunswick West, Victoria
Dress by Junya Watanabe for Comme Des Garcons in slightly sheer, camo fabric. Plunging neckline. This dress drapes beautifully on the body when worn. There is a zip at the front...
Junya Watanabe Comme des Garcons 2012 Red Sheer Cut Velvet Runway Gown
By Junya Watanabe
Located in Toronto, ON
Junya Watanabe Fall 2012 Red Sheer Cut Velvet Runway Gown. 1930's style sheer devore velvet with 100% rayon pile and sheer poly body. Garment is fully open in back and ties at front...
Junya Watanabe Brown and Rust Dress
By Junya Watanabe Comme des Garçons, Comme des Garçons
Located in San Francisco, CA
Junya Watanabe's patchwork peasant dress references plenty of styles, but is something completely new. The craft influences and 70s styling are combined with Watanabe's intuition fo...
$948Sale Price|25% Off
Size: Medium
1960s Guy Laroche Couture Lipstick Red Virgin Wool A Line Vintage 60s Mini Dress
By Guy Laroche
Located in San Diego, CA
1960s GUY LAROCHE Couture lipstick red virgin wool A-Line mini dress! The perfect alternative to a little black dress, this red gem is sure to stand out! Hand made, with the utmost a...
$2,495
Size: 44 / US 10 - 12
Vintage Yves Saint Laurent Rive Gauche Sz 44 Black Corset / Bustier Dress YSL
By Yves Saint Laurent
Located in San Diego, CA
Drop dead gorgeous vintage Yves Saint Laurent 'Rive Gauche' YSL black dress! Quite possibly the most flattering dress I have ever seen! This rare beauty does wonders for the body! Co...
Bobbie Jerome 1950s Sculptural Velvet Handbag with Bakelite Handles
Located in Water Mill, NY
A gorgeous rich black silk velvet handbag with rounded deep orange Bakelite top handles. It has a gently curved top and gold clasp closure. The bag is lined in black silk with 2 Ins...
F/W 1993 Karl Lagerfeld Dark Green Backless Halter Point Hem Chiffon Dress
By Karl Lagerfeld
Located in West Hollywood, CA
This incredible deep green dress by Karl Lagerfeld is from the Fall/Winter 1993 collection and features an intricate skirt design featured heavily on the season's runway. This ultra-...
1970's Tan Shearling Embroidered Coat
Located in Toronto, Ontario
Winter warm 1970's tan sheepskin shearling fur coat by San Francisco manufacturer Furs by Max. Beautiful embroidery throughout the front and seams of coat. Coat hits right below the ...
$495
Size: one size; compare to size M
Boho Rust Sweater Dress Sailor Pullover and Midi Skirt Set - M, 1970s
Located in Tucson, AZ
A member of the Royal Society of Arts, fiber artist Kay Cosserat was one of the most prominent and decorated knitwear designers of the 20th century. Her untimely death left few piece...
Rare 1960s Paco Rabbane Chainmail Jacket
By Paco Rabanne
Located in New York, NY
Rare 1960s Paco Rabbane Chainmail Jacket; Comprised of gold-tone linked metal discs. Open front with no closure.
Roberto Cavalli Gold Sequin, Pailette & Beaded Mini Flapper Dress
By Roberto Cavalli
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Resurrection Vintage is excited to present a vintage Roberto Cavalli gold flapper-style mini cocktail dress featuring gold sequins and paillettes, heavy beading at the yoke and dropp...
Amazing 1960s Turquoise Blue Chiffon Vintage Wiggle 60s Dress w/ Attached Cape
Located in San Diego, CA
Incredible vintage early 1960s turquoise / teal blue chiffon wiggle dress, with attached chiffon caplet! Wonderful flattering fit, with heavy attention to detail. Attached bow belt f...
$1,675
Size: Extra Small
Beautiful 1960s Extra Small XS Couture Black Silk Chiffon Vintage 60s Gown Dress
Located in San Diego, CA
Beautiful 1960s demi couture black silk chiffon sequin evening gown! Features thousands of hand-sewn black sequins throughout the sleeves and skirt. Thin spaghetti strap underlay wit...
Tom Ford for Gucci New Silk Velvet Dress F/W 2001
By Tom Ford, Gucci
Located in Water Mill, NY
A gorgeous black silk velvet dress from Gucci as worn in a 2001 ad campaign. It has a square neckline with the center bust highlighted with sheer areas which contrast with the rich v...
$1,800Sale Price|20% Off
Size: 37
New Tom Ford for Yves Saint Laurent YSL Lotus Heels Final Collection 2004 Sz 37
By Yves Saint Laurent
Located in Conroe, TX
Yves Saint Laurent Heels Brand New * Tom Ford Lotus Runway Ad Heels * This was his last collection for Yves Saint Laurent. He was inspired by the Chinese Collection of 1977... His Fi...
Azzedine Alaia F/W 1986 Jacket Skirt and Pants Suit
By Azzedine Alaïa
Located in Water Mill, NY
An amazing iconic fine black wool 3 piece skirt, pant and jacket suit from Azzedine Alaia as displayed in SCAD Fashion Museum in Atlanta. The spectacular front wrapping jacket is a...
Eygptian Revival Deco Purse, 1920's
Located in New York, NY
Eygptian revival butter silk faille with scarab tinsel embroidery in silver and gold threads. Large emerald cut citrine paste and clear stones set into frame. Beautiful quality impor...
Thierry Mugler FW1986 'Hiver Russe' Sweetheart Dress Black Velvet & Sequin Heart
By Thierry Mugler
Located in Berlin, BE
This stunning Thierry Mugler cocktail dress captures the Designer’s unrivalled ability to transform the female silhouette. Cut from sumptuous black velvet, the dress sculpts the body...
$14,847
Size: FR40 - UK12 - US8
Christian Dior by John Galliano black bias-cut satin evening dress, fw 2000
By Christian Dior, John Galliano for Christian Dior
Located in London, GB
▪ Christian Dior evening dress ▪ Creative Director: John Galliano ▪ Fall-Winter 2000 ▪ Constructed from bias-cut black crêpe back satin ▪ Asymmetric draped bodice ▪ Cowl neck ▪ High...
Comme des Garçons is one of the world’s most innovative and trailblazing fashion brands, helmed by its inimitable founder, Japanese designer Rei Kawakubo (b. 1942), who has a penchant for breaking fashion and cultural norms. The only living designer apart from Yves Saint Laurent to have a retrospective at the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute, Kawakubo has permanently changed fashion with designs that challenge traditional ideas of beauty with a creative and transgressive exuberance.
After studying art and literature at Keio University in Tokyo, Kawakubo worked as a freelance stylist before establishing her own label in 1969. Comme des Garçons — which is also known as CDG — officially launched in 1973, and Kawakubo opened her first store in Tokyo three years later. She has since been instrumental in pioneering many concepts now familiar in contemporary fashion.
One of Kawakubo's most iconic moves was her introduction of androgynous styles (Comme des Garçons means “like the boys” in French) with asymmetrical, twisted silhouettes that envelope the body. While she told the New York Times that the “basics of clothing lie in men’s fashion,” Kawakubo believes in the concept of humanness in clothes (she titled her spring 1995 show “Transcending Gender”).
In the 1970s, when color-blocking was the norm, Kawakubo stuck to her monochromatic color palette dominated by shades of black with uncompromising dedication, although with evocative and powerful use of red and white.
Comme des Garçons is also known for an often shocking take on fashion. Deconstructed tailoring, violently slashed fabric and sculptural shapes are some themes that run through the brand’s collections, but Kawakubo never explains the meaning of her conceptual pieces, which fall somewhere between art and fashion.
Designer Junya Watanabe, who worked alongside Kawakubo for nearly a decade, operates an atelier based within the Tokyo headquarters of Comme des Garçons, and he established a line under Kawakubo's label in the early 1990s. Since then, even though the brand has launched additional lines and more commercial offshoots like PLAY, known by the iconic heart motif with eyes, the premier men’s line Homme Plus and the multilabel Dover Street Market that opened in 2004, the essence of Comme des Garçons remains Kawakubo’s otherworldly and undefinable creations, which are impossible to ignore.
Find vintage Comme des Garçons shirts, jackets, day dresses and other clothing on 1stDibs.
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.