Designer Cocktail Dress
1950s American Cocktail Dresses
1950s American Cocktail Dresses
1990s American Cocktail Dresses
1950s American Aesthetic Evening Dresses
21st Century and Contemporary Cocktail Dresses
2010s Italian Cocktail Dresses
1990s Italian Cocktail Dresses
2010s Italian Cocktail Dresses
2010s Italian Cocktail Dresses
2010s Italian Cocktail Dresses
1960s British Cocktail Dresses
1980s Irish Cocktail Dresses
1980s British Cocktail Dresses
1970s British Cocktail Dresses
Mid-20th Century British Cocktail Dresses
1980s American Cocktail Dresses
1960s French Cocktail Dresses
2010s Italian Cocktail Dresses
1980s American Cocktail Dresses
20th Century Cocktail Dresses
1980s British Cocktail Dresses
1980s Italian Cocktail Dresses
Late 20th Century British Cocktail Dresses
20th Century Cocktail Dresses
Mid-20th Century British Cocktail Dresses
20th Century Cocktail Dresses
1970s British Cocktail Dresses
1960s Cocktail Dresses
1950s Cocktail Dresses
2010s Italian Cocktail Dresses
1980s French Cocktail Dresses
2010s Cocktail Dresses
1980s French Cocktail Dresses
1950s French Cocktail Dresses
1980s American Cocktail Dresses
1950s American Cocktail Dresses
1960s American Cocktail Dresses
1960s French Cocktail Dresses
Late 20th Century American Cocktail Dresses
1970s American Cocktail Dresses
1960s American Cocktail Dresses
1980s British Cocktail Dresses
1960s American Cocktail Dresses
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Cocktail Dresses
1980s Italian Cocktail Dresses
1960s British Cocktail Dresses
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Cocktail Dresses
1960s Cocktail Dresses
21st Century and Contemporary Chinese Cocktail Dresses
21st Century and Contemporary Hungarian Cocktail Dresses
2010s Italian Cocktail Dresses
1980s French Cocktail Dresses
1980s European Cocktail Dresses
1990s French Cocktail Dresses
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Cocktail Dresses
1990s French Cocktail Dresses
2010s Bulgarian Cocktail Dresses
1950s British Cocktail Dresses
1990s Cocktail Dresses
1990s French Cocktail Dresses
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Finding the Right evening-dresses for You
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.
- 1stDibs ExpertFebruary 13, 2023The difference between a dress and a cocktail dress is mainly the specificity of the term. A dress is any garment that has a bodice attached to a skirt. The term cocktail dress refers to a dress designed for events in the late afternoon and early evening. Many feature hemlines that fall between the knee and calf. On 1stDibs, shop a collection of cocktail dresses from some of the world's top boutiques.
- 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022A classic cocktail dress is a garment worn for special occasions that usually take place in the evening. Although its name comes from "cocktail party," the dresses are suitable for other types of gatherings. Designs vary greatly, but most cocktail dresses feature a hemline that falls close to the knee. On 1stDibs, shop a large collection of vintage cocktail dresses.
- 1stDibs ExpertFebruary 22, 2021Cocktail dresses usually finish above or at the knees and are paired with high heels. This dress should be party-ready such as dressy separates or a little black dress.
- Who designed the Revenge dress?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2024Christina Stambolian designed the “revenge” dress, the dress that Princess Diana wore to a dinner at the Serpentine Gallery in Kensington Gardens in 1994. Stambolian had actually created the evening gown for the Princess of Wales three years before. It was a black off-the-shoulder piece made of silk. On 1stDibs, shop a collection of evening gowns from some of the world's top boutiques.
- 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022Cocktail dresses first rose to prominence in the 1920s and onward, with each era making its own mark on the practical and fashionable garment. You’ll find a collection of vintage and contemporary cocktail dresses from some of the world’s top boutiques on 1stDibs.
- 1stDibs ExpertMarch 15, 2024Norman Hartnell designed the Queen's coronation dress. The British designer actually produced eight different dresses for Queen Elizabeth II to consider. Ultimately, she opted for one made of white satin that featured intricate gold embroidery. Hartnell also created the dress the Queen wore when she married Prince Philip on November 20, 1947. On 1stDibs, find a range of Norman Hartnell apparel.
- 1stDibs ExpertApril 26, 2024Narciso Rodriguez designed Carolyn Bessette's wedding dress. When he created the dress in 1995, the American designer was working for Cerutti. Bessette commissioned him to create her wedding gown because the two of them were friends. In 1997, Rodriguez launched his own eponymous fashion label. Explore a collection of Narciso Rodriguez apparel on 1stDibs.
- 1stDibs ExpertApril 26, 2024William Travilla designed Marilyn Monroe's pink dress. The iconic strapless dress appeared in the 1953 film Gentlemen Prefer Blondes. An accomplished costume designer, Travilla won an Academy Award for his work on the 1948 film The Adventures of Don Juan and was nominated for Oscars three more times across his career. Explore a variety of William Travilla apparel on 1stDibs.
- 1stDibs ExpertMay 3, 2024Peter Pilotto and Christopher de Vos designed Princess Eugenie's wedding dress. It featured a shoulder-hugging, plunging V-neckline and a long, full train. For the reception, the princess sported a champagne-colored embroidered silk dress created by Zac Posen. Shop a wide range of wedding dresses from some of the world's top boutiques on 1stDibs.
- 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022Elizabeth Hurley’s famed 1994 safety pin dress, which the actress wore to the premiere of Four Weddings and a Funeral, was designed by Versace. The dress was made with revealing slits in the sides that were held together with oversized gold safety pins. On 1stDibs, shop vintage and contemporary Versace pieces from top sellers worldwide.
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Barbra Streisand Channeled Klimt’s ‘Woman in Gold’ in This Shimmering Dress
Costumer to the stars Ray Aghayan brought the famed painting to life with his spectacular design.
A Chanel Obsessive’s Cache Extends Well beyond Her Walk-In Closet
From handbags and heels to jackets and jewels, Sharon Coplan Hurowitz has a deep admiration for (and collection of) all things Chanel.
Behind the 1970s and ’80s Glam of ‘Halston’ with the Hit Show’s Costume Designer
Jeriana San Juan explains how she undertook the intimidating project of designing costumes for the new Netflix series about the New York fashion legend. (Hint: She found vintage Halston on 1stDibs!)
A Short History of Capri Pants, on the 100th Birthday of Their Inventor
Once considered a controversial item of clothing, fashion designer Sonja de Lennart's creation is now a bona fide classic.
How the Chanel Jacket Forever Changed What Women Wear
The classic tweed garment has been a wardrobe staple of chic women around the world since the 1950s.
A Pair of Shoes — Heels or Flats — Can Tell an Impactful Story
Amanda Benchley and Bridget Moynahan teamed up to explore the relationship between powerful women and their most significant footwear.
You Saw It at the Met Ball. Here’s What Camp Fashion Is Really About
This year's Costume Institute exhibition is all about embracing the eccentric.
The V&A Takes a Fresh Look at the New Look’s Pioneering Progenitor, Christian Dior
Ballrooms, Bar Suits and British royals — in a sweeping exhibition, the London museum looks back on 70 years of the French fashion house, as well as its illustrious founder and his fondness for the United Kingdom.