Ella Singh for Escada Limited Edition dress
By Ella Singh, Escada
Located in Алматинский Почтамт, KZ
Ella Singh for Escada Limited Edition dress Ella Singh was famous in Germany in the late 1980s
Ella Singh for Escada Limited Edition dress
By Ella Singh, Escada
Located in Алматинский Почтамт, KZ
Ella Singh for Escada Limited Edition dress Ella Singh was famous in Germany in the late 1980s
Ella Singh for Escada Limited Edition Hand Beaded Cocktail Dress NWT Size 10
By Ella Singh, Escada
Located in Palm Desert, CA
This very limited edition dress was done for Escada by the extremely talented, Ella Singh. She
Luca Luca 1990s Terra Cotta Tan Sz 8 / 10 Virgin Wool Italian Vintage 90s Dress
By LUCA LUCA
Located in San Diego, CA
Chic and classic never worn 1990s LUCA LUCA terra-cotta virgin wool sleeveless sheath dress! The perfect alternative to the little black dress, this gem offers so much versatility. F...
1980's Brown Mink Lightweight Reversible Coat
Located in Toronto, Ontario
Chic 1980's unmarked Canadian brown mink reversible long coat. One side is brown leather patchwork pattern with a fur collar and cuffs. The textured pattern is created by piecing the...
Blue Beaded Silk Flapper Dress
Located in Sharon, CT
Dress has a slip lining. Beadwork, seed pearls at the hem. The accompany belt is 66" x 2". The iridized beads are blue to purple.
$1,330
Size: Equivalent French Size 34
A French Evening Dress in Artificial silk fibrane - Early 1940s
Located in Toulon, FR
Circa 1940 France Evening dress in pink purple and yellow gold artificial silk fibrane from the 1940s. Heavy and very fine fabric with an excellent "drop", slightly stretchy and elec...
Pierre Cardin 1960s Scarf Hem Dress
By Pierre Cardin
Located in Water Mill, NY
An incredible forest green silk maxi dress with red, orange, rust, blue and celery green dots by Pierre Cardin. The dress is sleeveless with a crew neck and attached by a point at mi...
$1,592Sale Price|20% Off
Size: USA 2 also fits 0
PAMELA DENNIS Vintage Black Silk Asymmetrical Evening Gown Maxi Dress
By Pamela Dennis
Located in Leonardo, NJ
Pamela Dennis Late 90's to early 00's Vintage Jet black Floral velour print The thin straps are leather Size USA 2 (fits true to size) Excellent condition, only flaw is at bottom hem...
Yves Saint Laurent Smocked Floral-Print Silk-Chiffon Maxi Dress, SS1977
By Yves Saint Laurent Rive Gauche, Yves Saint Laurent
Located in Geneva, CH
Cut from airy sheer silk chiffon, this rare 1977 Spring-Summer Saint Laurent Rive Gauche maxi dress is shirred from under the chest to the hips for a flattering - though comfortable ...
1920's French Seafoam Sequin and Lame Dress.
Located in New York, NY
Lovely 1920's dress with overall iridiscent seafoam sequins on silk tulle. Appliques of silvery gold lame "leaf" motifs and bias swirls are attached to hip and skirt area. The edges ...
Dolce & Gabbana Black & Cream Lingerie Inspired Evening Gown Spring 2006 Sz 40IT
By Dolce & Gabbana
Located in Saint Petersburg, FL
Dolce & Gabbana Black & Cream Lingerie Inspired Evening Gown. Spring/Summer 2006 Size 40IT
S/S 2003 Gianni Versace by Donatella Runway Oroton Chainmail Lace Mini Dress
By Gianni Versace Couture, Donatella Versace for Gianni Versace
Located in West Hollywood, CA
Presenting an incredible acid green and purple Oroton Gianni Versace Couture mini dress designed by Donatella Versace. From the Spring/Summer 2003 collection, this dress debuted as L...
PAMELA DENNIS 2001 Vintage Gunmetal Silver Evening Gown Maxi Dress
By Pamela Dennis
Located in Leonardo, NJ
Pamela Dennis Evenings 2001 Vintage Metallic gunmetal silver Size USA 12 Pristine condition Measurements in inches laying flat: length 57, pit to pit 17, smallest of waist 17 Final...
2011 Vivienne Westwood blue taffeta off shoulder gown
By Vivienne Westwood
Located in Austin, TX
Vivienne Westwood blue taffeta gown gold label off the shoulder, fishtail train fitted waist Condition: fair, water damage at hem, see video. Bust 34" , Waist 25" , Hips 39", Lengt...
Vintage F/W 2006 Roberto Cavalli Tan Silk Strapless Pheasant Floral Dress
By Roberto Cavalli
Located in Denver, CO
Stunning F/W 2006 Roberto Cavalli Dress Tan silk + elastane fabric with oversized floral + pheasant print Fabric is silk satin in look Hand painted style print with gold accents Slee...
$38,914
Size: approx. FR36 - UK8 - US4
Azzedine Alaia Gold Lamé Couture Gown with Sequin Mosaic Detail, FW 1990
By Azzedine Alaïa
Located in London, GB
This rare, likely one-of-a-kind Azzedine Alaïa couture dress from the Fall-Winter 1990 collection is crafted from metallic gold lamé with a mosaic-like sequin overlay, creating a str...
Zuhair Murad Couture white silver gold beaded sequin mini wedding backless dress
By Zuhair Murad
Located in Milano, Lombardia
LOVE LALI VINTAGE An incredibly rare dress from Zuhair Murad Haute Couture Fall 2006 This really is a work of art, a tasseled flapper style mini dress. The dress is sheer mesh and i...
Ralph Lauren Collection Purple Label Evening Gown with Red Flower S/S 2012 Sz 6
By Ralph Lauren Purple Label
Located in Saint Petersburg, FL
Ralph Lauren Collection Purple Label - Full length white evening gown with dramatic red flower. Spring/Summer 2012 Size 6 US
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.