1970s Yuki Gnyuki Torimaru Black Silk Batwing Top and Maxi Skirt Suit
By Gnyuki Torimaru, Yuki
Located in London, GB
This dramatic draped three-piece silk ensemble by Yuki is a striking example of designer Gnyuki Torimaru's trademark combination of structure and fluidity in a garment.
Yuki Torimaru pleated columnar evening gown, Circa 1987
By Yuki
Located in London, GB
Yuki is a Japanese fashion designer based in London. Like many fashion designers of his generation he is originally an architect, having trained at the Architecture Art Institute of...
1970s Yuki For Rembrandt Draped Black Jersey Dress With Gathered Waistline
By Gnyuki Torimaru, Yuki
Located in London, GB
This dramatic 1970s black draped jersey dress by Yuki for Rembrandt is a striking example of designer Gnyuki Torimaru's trademark combination of structure and fluidity in a garment.
1970s Yuki London White Gown
By Yuki
Located in London, GB
A lovely gown by Gryuki Torimaru under his Yuki London label. The gown is in a white jersey material with a round neckline with rows of stitching on the front and back.
Dramatic Draped Waterfall Liquid Jersey Dress by Yuki. 1970's.
By Gnyuki Torimaru
Located in University City, MO
Rare waterfall Grecian style draped dress of magenta/deep pink liquid jersey by Yuki. Incredible folds and draping! The color is vibrant fuschia pink which is difficult to photograp...
Yuki draped jersey dress. circa 1970s
By Yuki
Located in London, GB
Yuki Torimaru may not be as familiar as other Japanese designers such as Yohji Yamamoto and Issey Miyake.
$440Sale Price|20% Off
Size: Small - Medium
Vintage Jack Bryan Black Jersey Maxi Dress w/ Intricate Embroidery 1970s 70s
By Jack Bryan
Located in San Diego, CA
The perfect black maxi dress, by Jack Bryan! This jet black jersey dress features embroidery on the flattering bust, and continue onto the waist around the front and back. Sleek long...
Yves Saint Laurent "Rive Gauche" 70s Black Scarf Blouse & Maxi Skirt Set
By Yves Saint Laurent
Located in Antwerpen, Vlaams Gewest
Yves Saint Laurent "Rive Gauche" 1970s/80s black viscose scarf blouse and maxi pleated skirt ensemble Made in France, Size 36 (Small). Note that the skirt's waist has no stretch, co...
Elegant Haute Couture Madame Gres Anthracite Silk Crepe Ensemble
By Madame Gres
Located in New York, NY
Elegant Madame Gres Anthracite Silk Crepe Ensemble from the 1970's. Simple ensemble with underdress and top. Top slips over head with button at neck and open sides. Easy bateau neckl...
1970s Biba Sheer Black Cotton Hostess Gown
By Biba
Located in Toronto, Ontario
Lovely 1970s hostess gown/duster, from the London based brand Biba. The dress features an open V-neckline with an oversized pointed collar. The sleeves are a wide bell shape was a si...
Jean Muir 1970s Vintage Black Jersey Maxi Dress with Asymmetric Hem
By Jean Muir
Located in Port Saint Lucie, FL
An exceptional example of Jean Muir’s signature 1970s aesthetic, this vintage black jersey maxi dress embodies her celebrated mastery of fluid drape, movement, and understated sophis...
$859Sale Price|24% Off
Size: Medium / Large
1970s Lillie Rubin Rhinestone Encrusted Black Knit Wide Palazzo Leg 70s Jumpsuit
By Lillie Rubin
Located in San Diego, CA
Amazing 1970s LILLIE RUBIN black knit rhinestone encrusted wide palazzo leg long sleeve jumpsuit ! Features lines of rhinestones up the front and back. Sleek tailored bodice with wid...
Kenzo Double Face Black Wool Cheongsam Style Coat 1980s
By Kenzo Paris, Kenzo Takada
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Kenzo double face black wool cheongsam style coat from the 1980s. Unusual coat with a high band collar that wraps in the front and closes with double loop and buttons ending there wi...
Annacat Black Satin Gown with Sheer Bell Sleeves Circa 1960's
By AnnaCat
Located in Toronto, Ontario
Stunning late 60s Biba-esque dress by the highly collectible British label Annacat. Fitted bodice with a fuller skirt featuring striped velvet details on the lower half. Decorated ha...
$600Sale Price|20% Off
1970's Anna Beltroa Black Jersey Maxi Dress and Jacket Set
Located in Toronto, Ontario
1970's Anna Beltrao black rayon jersey dress and jacket set with white lettuce edge trim. Ms. Beltrao was a contemporary of Ossie Clark, Janice Wainwright and Jean Muir. Sexy black ...
1970s Yves Saint Laurent Black Rayon Jersey Dress Square Moroccan Braid Trim
By Yves Saint Laurent
Located in Gresham, OR
A beautiful 1970s Yves Saint Laurent black matte rayon jersey maxi dress with Moroccan-inspired style and braid trim at neckline. Draw string cord empire waist. Wide button and loop ...
Donald Brooks Black Crepe Dress
By Donald Brooks
Located in New York, NY
Simple and easy heavy weight crepe dress by Donald Brooks with dozens of covered buttons running down the front. Bateau neck with full gathered kimono sleeves and attached self sash....
$1,450
Size: 12 fits like a small
Geoffrey Beene Sheer Black Silk Tie Neck Blouse/High Waist Silk Maxi Skirt Set
By Geoffrey Beene
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Geoffrey Beene sheer black silk lacquered jacquard tie neck blouse and coordinating high wide waist mid weight silk & wool maxi skirt from the 1970s. This beautiful set is perfect fo...
1980s Romeo Gigli Black Shirt and Skirt Ensemble
By Romeo Gigli
Located in Toronto, Ontario
1980s Romeo Gigli black natural cotton ensemble. Long tunic blouse with a knit collar and small grey mother of pearl buttons. Loose fit through body, but tapers towards hem. High wai...
BodyMap black viscose cotton jersey maxi dress, c. 1980s
Located in London, GB
▪ BodyMap black jersey maxi dress ▪ 52% Viscose, 48% Cotton ▪ Three front button fastenings belted at the hips ▪ High neck with elastic collar ▪ Size Medium ▪ c. 1980s
Black ALFRED SHAHEEN Asian Maxi Dress 1970s
Located in Wallkill, NY
Alfred SHAHEEN MAXI Dress *Huge & Long ANGEL Sleeves *Hand Painted looking silk screening. buttons run diagonal down the front yoke. Mandarin collar. Hook closure at the neck. Measu...
Yoshi Yamamoto Asymmetric Maxi Skirt
By Yohji Yamamoto
Located in New York, NY
This wonderfully asymmetrical cut maxi skirt has a asymmetric invisible zipper measuring 10". The total length measures 44", waist is 31", hips are 50". 100% silk, sized 44/Italy...
Chinese Hand Embroidered Silk Shawl with Flowers and Exotic Birds
Located in New Hope, PA
A stunning and unusual Chinese silk shawl is hand embroidered with silk thread on black silk, with a deep macrame topped fringe on all four sides. The unusual thing is that all of th...
Victoria Beckham Women's Asymmetric Draped Midi Dress in Fig Sateen
By Victoria Beckham
Located in London, GB
Stunningly cut, sexy chic Victoria Beckham Asymmetric Draped Midi Dress. Bought for £990 and new with tags. Made from semi glossy Fig coloured acetate mix sateen with super modern fe...
Art Deco Silk Chiffon Chevron Lace Day Dress
Located in New York, NY
Charming Art Deco Silk Chiffon Chevron Lace Day Dress from the 1930's. Navy silk chiffon bias cut bodice with striped lacey mesh inserts flowing into full ballon sleeves. 2 large inv...
1970 OSSIE CLARK black moss crepe halter dress
By Ossie Clark, Ossie Clark for Radley
Located in San Fransisco, CA
A rare Ossie Clark halter dress in black moss crepe, dating from the 1970s. The dress has a plunging neckline with wide straps that tie at the shoulders, and a fitted high waist th...
Chanel 1980's Cream Silk Jacket and Skirt Suit
By Chanel
Located in Toronto, Ontario
Chanel 1980's cream silk jacket and skirt suit. Jacket features black silk trim on the four front pockets, sleeve cuffs and stand up collar. Drop pleated skirt in matching cream silk...
Vintage 1940's Black Beaded Peplum Skirt Suit US 6 UK 10
Located in Nashville, TN
A breathtaking silhouette rendered in a stunning black crepe silk with elaborate trailing black bugle glass beadwork, this 1940's tailored skirt set is the perfect statement piece to...
Red bustier Ball gown Circa 1950's
Located in Saint-Ouen-Sur-Seine, FR
Red bustier Ball gown. No fabric composition tag but probably polyester. Boned. Zip closure on the middle back. Bow on the middle back with one snap underneath. Stiff tulle petticoat...
Yves Saint Laurent "rive gauche" 1970s Red Silk Blouse & Signed Tassel Cord Belt
By Yves Saint Laurent
Located in Antwerpen, Vlaams Gewest
This vintage Yves Saint Laurent Rive Gauche blouse from the late 1970s to early 1980s is made from soft red silk. It features a ruffled neckline with a bow tie, long sleeves with but...
$425
Size: I 46/ US 12/ F 42/ D 42/ GB 16
Moschino Vintage 1990s 90s Black Lace Up Grommet Sheath Dress
By Moschino
Located in Sparks, NV
Simple and chic black sheath dress by Moschino. Oversized grommet detail with a lace up front. Details: Unlined Side Zip Closure Marked Size: I 46/ US 12/ F 42/ D 42/ GB 16 Color:...
Thierry Mugler FW 1995 Sculptural Ensemble Blue & Black Velvet
By Thierry Mugler
Located in Berlin, BE
Within the theatrical cosmos of Thierry Mugler’s Fall Winter 1995 Collection, where seduction was sculpted into architecture and glamour radiated with near-mythic intensity, this ens...
Chanel Vintage Fall 1991 Black Wool Skirt Suit by Karl Lagerfeld, FR38
By Karl Lagerfeld for Chanel, Chanel
Located in London, GB
Timeless chic vintage Chanel suit from the Fall 1991 collection, often referred to as Lagerfeld’s hip-hop collection. In excellent vintage condition. Made from black wool (with 1% ly...
Paco Rabanne dress Haute Couture Winter 1999
By Paco Rabanne
Located in SAINT-OUEN-SUR-SEINE, FR
PACO RABANNE - Short rhodoid pastilles dress printed with black and white houndstooth pattern, and assembled with metallic rings. No size indicated, it fits a 34FR/36FR. Prototype fr...
Yves Saint Laurent Rive Gauche Iconic 1970's Vintage Plum Velvet Toggle Coat
By Yves Saint Laurent
Located in Antwerpen, Vlaams Gewest
Iconic late 1970s Yves Saint Laurent toggle coat in rich plum velvet, featuring braided frog closures and a dramatic hood. A luxurious interpretation of the classic duffle coat, desi...
Versace by Donatella FW 1998 Black Purple Pinstripe Suit With Leather Trim
By Donatella Versace for Gianni Versace, Versace
Located in Antwerpen, Vlaams Gewest
Rare early Donatella Versace for Versace Fall Winter 1998 suit in a deep purple pinstripe wool & silk fabric with a touch of stretch. (57% wool - 40% silk - 2% spandex) The double-...
Grey green cotton skirt-suit ALAIA
By Azzedine Alaïa
Located in Saint-Ouen-Sur-Seine, FR
Grey green cotton skirt-suit . Lining composition: acetate & bemberg . Button and buttonhole closure on the middle front and on the cuffs. Shoulder pad. Pocket on both side + one ch...
Emanuel Ungaro Green and Yellow Plaid High Collar Skirt Suit., 1990s
By Emanuel Ungaro
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Chic skirt suit by Emanuel Ungaro circa 1990's. Looks as if she walked right off the set of Clueless. Boucle knit jumbo plaid in shades of forest green and ochre yellow. Smart tailor...
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.