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...
Vintage Thierry Mugler Black ' Silver Bullet ' Avant Garde 1990s Dress
By Thierry Mugler
Located in San Diego, CA
Remarkable vintage Thierry Mugler black dress! Features silver metal 'bullets' at collar, cuffs, and on one side of the skirt hem (at slit). Attached belt that fastens in the back, w...
South Sea Pearl and Ethiopian Crystal Opal in 14K Solid Yellow Gold
By Renate Exclusive
Located in Naples, NY
Luxurious South Sea Pearl Earrings (15mm) with Ethiopian Crystal Opal (3.5mm-4.5mm). Magnificent and wonderful earrings that are worth a look! Total length 2 inches. Earwires: 10m...
Crystal, Opal, South Sea Pearl, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
$445Sale Price|22% Off
Size: Refer to measurements
Yves Saint Laurent Rive Gauche Avant-Garde Hooded Dress c 21st C
By Yves Saint Laurent Rive Gauche
Located in University City, MO
Yves Saint Laurent Rive Gauche Avant-garde hooded dress The edgy boxy tunic style dress is designed with a subtle textured crinkled pattern that emulates reptile scales The unique ...
$278Sale Price|60% Off
Size: xl
Versace Vintage 1980s Black Yellow Wool Acrylic Unisex Jacket, Size XL
By Versace
Located in Capri, IT
Versace Jeans Couture black yellow jacket totally made in italy composition: Wool , acrylic and others size: Xl but fits really small
$150Sale Price / set|50% Off
W 0.15 in D 0.17 in L 1.78 in
Silvorra Modern 4.25 Ct Amethyst Long Linear 925 Silver Earrings Christmas Gift
Located in New York, NY
These 925 sterling silver earrings feature 16 natural amethyst gemstones, expertly cut in octagon and round shapes. The gems range in size from 5.3 x 4.3 mm, 4.5 mm and 1.8 mm, with ...
Amethyst, Silver, Sterling Silver
Sleeveless "mermaid" blue and green sequin evening dress ALEXANDRE VAUTHIER
By Alexandre Vauthier
Located in Saint-Ouen-Sur-Seine, FR
Sleeveless "mermaid" blue and green sequin evening dress. Black rayon lining. Invisible zip closure on the middle back. Middle front lenght : 120cm Side lenght : 132cm SIZE M / SAMPLE
Vintage Yves Saint Laurent ' Rive Gauche ' Short Sleeve Belted Black Linen Dress
By Yves Saint Laurent
Located in San Diego, CA
Superb vintage YSL "Rive Gauche" black double-faced linen dress, w/ detachable tie belt. Functional black + gold buttons down the front, w/ hidden hook and eye closure at bust + wais...
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...
New Giuseppe Zanotti Red Leather Gold Tone Studs Platform Shoes Pumps 40 - US 10
By Giuseppe Zanotti
Located in Montgomery, TX
New Giuseppe Zanotti Leather Studded Platform Pumps Designer size 40 - US 10 ( This brand typically runs a half size small ). Red Leather, Gold-tone Stud Embellishment, Leather Insol...
Yves Saint Laurent Black Cocktail Gown with Sequin Smocked Waist Size 38
By Yves Saint Laurent
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This Yves Saint Laurent cocktail dress is composed of a black crepe and features a smocked waistline with iridescent navy sequins. The sleeves are a drape style and there are gathers...
New $2700 Tom Ford Bead-embellished Black Velvet High Heel Boots 38 - 8
By Tom Ford
Located in Montgomery, TX
Luxury, glamour and sophistication are bywords for world-renowned designer TOM FORD. Designer size - 38 ( US 8 ) Black velvet, Bead embellished square toe, Silver-trimmed heel 4.25 i...
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...
Chic 1950s Pocket Watch Novelty Print Red White and Blue Silk 50s Shirt Dress
Located in San Diego, CA
Chic vintage 1950s silk novelty pocket watch print silk fit n' flare nautical shirt dress! Features pocket watches printed throughout in red, white and navy blue. Buttons up the fron...
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...
$300
Size: none; comparable to size large
Navy Floral Silk *Large Size* Sailor Collar Luncheon Trumpet Dress – L, 1960s
Located in Tucson, AZ
In light-as-air floral silk, this ladylike dress begs to be worn to a shoreline lunch or to the Derby with a perky hat. A charming mix of modesty and femininity, it glides over the b...
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.