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...
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...
NWT Stunning Stella McCartney Saskia Dress Gown Seen on Emmys
By Stella McCartney, Chloé
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...
1940s Vintage Black Velvet Cocktail Dress with Collar + 3/4 Cropped Sleeves
Located in Sparks, NV
Flattering vintage 1940s cocktail dress in black velvet with a draped collar and 3/4 length sleeves. Unlined with side metal zip closure. Fits like a modern size small. The bust meas...
$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
$1,265Sale Price|24% Off
Size: Medium
Sensational 1950s Demi Couture Crimson Red Crushed Velvet Vintage Mermaid Gown
Located in San Diego, CA
Sensational 50s demi couture crimson red crushed velvet full length mermaid evening dress! Features luxurious crushed silk velvet, with a form fitting bodice and skirt. Dramatic flar...
Morton Myles Vintage 1960's Silk Metallic Rhinestone Bib Dress
By Jeunesse, Morton Myles
Located in Sparks, NV
Cream crepe bib dress by Morton Myles for Jeunesse. Darling metallic brocade bib collar with sparkling rhinestone studding and bronze floral appliques. Fully lined. Back metal zip an...
$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...
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...
1960's Silk Chiffon Halterneck Dress
Located in Geneva, CH
A wonderful example of early 60’s couture, this halterneck steel blue dress will fit perfectly for a wedding or any party event ! Constructed both in silk and satin silk, this piece ...
Jiki Monte Carlo Creations Off White Lace Maxi Shift Dress
By Jiki Monte Carlo
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Jiki Monte Carlo Creations off white lace maxi shift dress. Sleeveless, jewel neck maxi dress of off white textured lace, trimmed in off white satin. Slip on dress closes at the shou...
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...
$3,731Sale 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...
Vintage 1960's green paisley beaded Pat Sandler Cocktail dress UK 6 US 2
By Pat Sandler
Located in Nashville, TN
A vision to behold, this original 1960's Pat Sandler for Highlights dress, rendered in a wonderful peacock palette silk paisley patterned brocade, and embellished with iridescent gre...
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.