1960s Mod Brocade Dress, Don Sophisticates
By Don Sophisticates
Located in Alford, MA
Don Sophisticates shift-style dress in silver and peach geometric brocade featuring a front zipper with rhinestone-ball pull up to its mock turtleneck, short sleeves, and small patch...
Alberta Ferretti Vintage Terra-Cotta Silk Chiffon Grecian Gown and Wrap Cardigan
By Alberta Ferretti
Located in San Diego, CA
Stunning vintage ALBERTA FERRETTI silk chiffon dress ensemble! Grecian inspired, from the Terra-Cotta color, to the pleated bodice, to the layers and layers of paperweight thin chiff...
White guipure dress on silk and tulle lining. Valentino
By Valentino
Located in Saint-Ouen-Sur-Seine, FR
White guipure dress on silk and tulle lining. THE NECKLESS ON THE PRIMARY IMAGE IS NOT A PART OF THE DRESS ( AND NOT INCLUDE) SIZE 8
NWT Stunning Stella McCartney Saskia Dress Gown Seen on Emmys
By Chloé, Stella McCartney
Located in Los Angeles, CA
One of the best pieces I've seen from Stella McCartney. Seen at the Emmy's and was a drop-dead knockout! Elegance and high fashion at its best! This colorblock standout gown featur...
Gorgeous Iconic Thierry Mugler Gown SS1999 Evening Dress Silver Lucite Details
By Thierry Mugler
Located in Berlin, BE
Museum worthy collectors piece. This 1999 LES SALADES creation by Thierry Mugler is truly beautiful. The silhouette is gorgeous: a long column that skims the figure with surgical pre...
$790Sale Price|20% Off
Size: 6
Bill Blass Pink White Polka Dot Hand Painted Fit and Flare Vintage Dress, 1990
By Bill Blass
Located in San Diego, CA
Chic 90s BILL BLASS pale pink and white hand painted polka dot fit n' flare cocktail silk taffeta dress! Features large handpainted polka dots throughout. Attached white lace underla...
Loretta di Lorenzo 1980s Vintage Gold Tone Dress Size 42 Italy
By loretta di lorenzo
Located in Capri, IT
Loretta di Lorenzo Gold Tone Tailored Dress Size 42 in italian size range Composition: Acetate Silk
$2,500
Size: USA 6 fits like a 4/6
BADGLEY MISCHKA Vintage Slip Gown w. Delicate Lace Embellished Overlay Maxi
By Badgley Mischka
Located in Leonardo, NJ
Badgley Mischka Vintage USA size 6, fits like a size 4 Excellent Condition Can also be used for bride bridal wedding Vintage Badgley Mischka dresses are literal works of art. They ri...
Scaasi Brown Taffeta Cocktail Dress, 1980’s
By Scaasi
Located in Atlanta, GA
Gorgeous Arnold Scaasi brown silk taffeta cocktail dress with ruched torso and a dramatic neckline accented by puff sleeves. The dress zips at the back side panel and is constructed...
$3,116Sale Price|20% Off
Size: 10
NWT Oscar de la Renta S/S 2019 Poppy Embroidered Stretch-Wool Crepe Dress US 10
By Oscar De La Renta
Located in Montgomery, TX
New Oscar de la Renta Poppy Embroidered Stretch-Wool Crepe Dress S/S 2019 Collection US size - 10 Ivory wool, embroidered applications of poppy flowers , fully lined, back zip closur...
New Atelier Versace S/S 1994 Collection Velvet Lace Purple Pink Dress Gown
By Atelier Versace
Located in Montgomery, TX
New Atelier Versace Velvet Lace Watercolor Purple/Pink Dress Gown S/S 1994 Collection Purple and Pink Watercolor Crushed Velvet and Lace, Corset Style, Fully Lined in Crinkle Silk, S...
Vintage 1950's Cream Soutache & Rhinestone Strapless Dress & Bolero UK 10 US 6
Located in Nashville, TN
This magnificent 1950's cream dress and matching bolero, embellished with trailing soutache and claw set silver rhinestones, is just the piece for that special occasion. The strapl...
Roberto Cavalli 2003 Runway Cut-Out Silk Gown Showstopper Dress
By Roberto Cavalli
Located in Berlin, BE
Holy Grail Archival Cavalli Gown Thie beautiful Roberto Cavalli’s Spring/Summer 2003 gown is an exquisite statement in feminine allure, a masterpiece of fluid elegance. Well documen...
Cotton striped bustier dress JEAN-PAUL GAULTIER JEANS
By Gaultier Jeans
Located in Saint-Ouen-Sur-Seine, FR
Cotton striped bustier dress with branded snap closure on the middle front. Pocket on both side with bow and eyelet. Smocks on the side of the bust. SIZE 38 (Fr) M
$3,694Sale Price|20% Off
Alberta Ferretti Wedding dress size S
By Alberta Ferretti
Located in Gazzaniga (BG), IT
2016 Alberta Ferretti sposa collection Ivory white color Two pieces: - Large epalouette top - Long skirt with trawl Lace top with sequins embroidery rhinestones and applications 7 La...
JEWELS Vintage 1950's Iridescent Beaded Gown Wedding Size 8-12
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This dress is composed of a embellished silk with iridescent beading and sequins in a floral pattern. There is a center back zipper closure. In excellent vintage condition. **...
Dolce & Gabbana White 1990's Lace & Silk with Bow Dress
By Dolce & Gabbana
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Experience vintage luxury with the Dolce & Gabbana 1990's Lace & Silk Dress. The classic, modest design features a delicate lace bodice and flowy silk fabric, perfect for any special...
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.