1950s MGM Mme. Etoile by Irene Sharaff Couture Ball Gown in Deep Teal Silk
By Irene Scharaff
Located in Gresham, OR
1950s MGM Mme. Etoile by Irene Sharaff couture ball gown in deep mauve and teal silk tulle and horsehair : Irene Sharaff, 5-time Academy Award Winner for costume design, made this go...
Lanvin Alber Elbaz Turquoise Red Crocodile Effect Woven Chain Bag Spring 2009
By Lanvin Paris
Located in Boca Raton, FL
Moroccan-born designer Alber Elbaz is remembered as much for his love of people as he is for his astounding talent and creative philosophy. Credited with revitalizing the French fash...
Walborg Black Puddle Beaded Vintage Purse Handbag
By Walborg
Located in New York, NY
Walborg Black Puddle Purse Handbag vintage Very good condition especially considering the age of this beautifully beaded novelty purse. Please see detailed pictures.It’s a must have...
1970s Yellow Vintage Flower Print Striped Long Sleeve 70s Boho Prairie Dress
Located in San Diego, CA
Chic 1970s yellow flower and stripe printed long sleeve boho prairie jersey dress! Fitted bodice with a drawstring waist and A line skirt. Long sleeves feature elastic at each cuff, ...
Gianni Versace Silk Strapless Jumpsuit 1980s
By Gianni Versace
Located in Water Mill, NY
A fabulous purple silk strapless bustier jumpsuit from an early Gianni Versace collection. The fitted, micro pleated, boned bustier bodice crosses and wraps at the bust. The slim pan...
Vintage Paste & Velvet Crown 1950s
Located in Wilmslow, GB
A Vintage Paste Crown most likely dating to the mid century and possibly earlier. A rare find. Hand set with rhinestones the crown can be worn with or without the velvet lining. Remi...
1960s French Batik Rainbow Silk Sleeveless Dress
Located in London, GB
This French couture dress was designed in the late 1960s and is tailored from a watercolour rainbow printed silk chiffon using a batik technique. The dress has a fitted top with tiny...
New Badgley Mischka Beaded Evening Dress Gown Sz 4
By Badgley Mischka
Located in Conroe, TX
Badgley Mischka Gown Brand New with Tags Size: 4 100% Black Nylon Overlay 100% Silk Fuchsia Shell Fuchsia Silk & Black Nylon Overlay Dress Fuchsia Silk Shell Shows Through the black...
Rare 1980s Krizia Baloo " Jungle Book " Novelty Print Vintage 80s Jumpsuit
By Krizia
Located in San Diego, CA
Rare and collectible KRIZIA Baloo "Jungle Book" print one piece jumpsuit! Features Baloo, the sloth bear, in various poses around the front and back bodice. Color block with bright t...
Ralph Lauren S/S 2012 Purple Label Bias Cut Silver & Floral Print Dress
By Ralph Lauren Purple Label
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Whether you are a bride-to-be, or looking for that unique bias cut dress to add to your wardrobe for a special occasion, this Ralph Lauren Purple Label dress covers all basis.Origina...
Hermès Birkin 30 Rose Pourpre Togo
By Hermès
Located in West Hollywood, CA
This Birkin 30 in Rose Pourpre is featured in a classic togo leather. The bag features rolled leather top handles and palladium hardware.The top opens to a matching goatskin leather ...
NWT $6950 Roberto Cavalli Tiger Silk Beaded Embellished Kimono Dress Gown It. 38
By Roberto Cavalli
Located in Montgomery, TX
Roberto Cavalli Silk Embellished Kimono Dress. Italian size 38. Tiger pattern dazzling black dress with golden and metallic handcrafted beads. Classy and chic, this Kimono style d...
CHANEL black & gold leather 19A NEW YORK GRAFFITI OVERKNEE Boots Shoes 41
By Chanel
Located in Zürich, CH
This 100% authentic Chanel boots in black leather with metallic gold ancient egypt inspired Graffiti print embody bold house codes. Designed with an over-the-knee shaft, they feature...
New Badgley Mischka Beaded Evening Dress Gown Sz 4
By Badgley Mischka
Located in Conroe, TX
Badgley Mischka Gown Brand New with Tags Size: 4 100% Black Nylon Overlay 100% Silk Midnight Blue Shell Midnight Blue Silk & Black Nylon Overlay Dress Midnight Blue Silk Shell Shows...
Louis Vuitton 30 Ramages Speedy bag 2015
By Louis Vuitton
Located in SAINT-OUEN-SUR-SEINE, FR
LOUIS VUITTON -(Made in France) 'Ramages' monogram coated canvas 30cm Speedy bag with natural leather, golden brass, a padlock and keys. A 2015 Collection - limited edition. Conditi...
Deep Violet lambskin gloves with gold hardware
Located in New York, NY
Daniel Silver fr Marie France Deep Violet lambskin gloves is accented with multi-sized ringlets of gold hardware. The gloves are lined with silk in black. The gloves are size 7, ...
$25,179
H 7.49 in W 9.85 in D 3.55 in
Hermès 2010 Geranium Epsom Leather Kelly 25cm Sellier Top Handle Bag
By Hermès
Located in Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire
Hermès Geranium Epsom Leather Kelly 25cm Sellier Product Details Xupes Ref: CB868 Brand: Hermès Model: Kelly 25cm Type: Top Handle, Shoulder Serial Number: [N] Age: 2010 Accompanied...
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.