Beautiful Jack Bryan 1960s 1970s Pale Yellow Heavily Beaded Lace Dress
By Jack Bryan
Located in San Diego, CA
Gorgeous late 1960s / early 1970s pale yellow vintage lace dress. Heavily beaded in ways which compliment and match the lace. Thousands of beads and sequins throughout this wonderful...
Thierry Mugler Sweetheart Neckline Dress
By Thierry Mugler
Located in Berlin, BE
In this stunning dress, Thierry Mugler once again proves that fashion is not merely worn - it’s performed. A masterclass in theatrical femininity, this mid-century-inspired silhouett...
$537
H 8.75 in W 8 in D 1.5 in Dm 8.5 in
A carved Bakelite framed golden velvet handbag, France, 1920s
Located in Greyabbey, County Down
A charming and highly decorative handbag, made from golden/amber silk velvet, which has a veil, or netting, layer over the top , giving a delicacy and depth to the handbag. Topped w...
Celine Brown Cut out Back Dress with Bead Trim S/S 2003
By Celine, Michael Kors
Located in Water Mill, NY
A very chic brown jersey dress by Michael Kors for Celine. It has rows of brown wooden bead adorned fine straps emanating from the front neckline which extend over the shoulders cros...
1920s Yellow Floral Print Day Dress
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
1920s Silk Dress in orange, purple black eye susan sun flower print. Some flaws inside lining ( collar) see image attached Bust: 36 inches/ Waist: 32 inches/ Hip : 36 inches/ Dress l...
$595Sale Price|20% Off
Size: Medium
Chic 1960s Yellow + Orange + White Short Sleeve Belted Vintage 60s Mod Day Dress
Located in San Diego, CA
Chic early 1960s yellow, orange, burnt orange and white geometric abstract belted short sleeve day dress! Flattering fit, with a detachable belt to form a waistline. Hidden metal zip...
$550
Size: none; comparable to size L
Red Silk Sleeveless Cocktail Dress w Convertible Draped Scarf Back - L, 1960s
Located in Tucson, AZ
An ingenious design, this dress features a draped shoulder-to-shoulder scarf that may be worn in the back, the front, or even on the head for three different and completely captivati...
1920s Yellow and Brown Floral Print Silk Dress
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
1920s Yellow and brown floral print silk day dress. Size: 6-8 dress comes with silk belt As is! Fragile
GIVENCHY Couture A/W 1998 ALEXANDER McQUEEN Ruby Red Wool Button Front Dress
By Givenchy, Alexander McQueen
Located in Thiensville, WI
GIVENCHY Couture A/W 1998 ALEXANDER McQUEEN Ruby Red Wool Knit Fitted Button Front Dress Circa: 1998 Label(s): Givenchy / Couture / Made In France / Paris / 8HG 8520152830 Desig...
NWT Tom Ford for Yves Saint Laurent FW 2004 Chinoiserie Collection Skirt Suit 38
By Tom Ford for Yves Saint Laurent, Yves Saint Laurent Rive Gauche
Located in Montgomery, TX
Tom Ford for Yves Saint Laurent Chinoiserie Collection Skirt Set - New and Very Rare!!! F/W Runway 2004 Chinoiserie Collection Jacket French size - 40 Skirt French size - 38 Chinoi...
$1,200
Size: One size fits all
1940s Mathilde Model Black Felt Tilt Toy Hat w Exotic Feather Spray & Veil
Located in Gresham, OR
1940s Mathilde Model Black Felt Tilt Toy Hat w Exotic Feather Spray & Veil: Feather detail is styled like a bird with an upright stance. Full black dramatic veil. Back of felt hat i...
Jean Paul Gaultier asymmetrical tier jacket ensemble
By Jean Paul Gaultier
Located in New York, NY
This ensemble is pure Gaultier! Jean Paul Gaultier black two piece asymmetrical-style ensemble consists of a jacket with multi-tier peplums with an asymmetric cut. The skirt has a...
1960 Christian Dior By Marc Bohan Black Feather & Quill Structured Cocktail Hat
By Christian Dior, Marc Bohan
Located in Gresham, OR
A gorgeous 1960s Christian Dior hat by Marc Bohan: A structured turban-style cocktail hat covered in iridescent blue pheasant feathers is enhanced by crisp black feathers that appear...
Christian Dior by John Galliano Green Knit and Satin Evening Ensemble, SS 1999
By John Galliano for Christian Dior, Christian Dior
Located in London, GB
A two-piece ensemble from Christian Dior by John Galliano, Spring-Summer 1999, consisting of a fitted cable-knit sweater and a coordinating column skirt in a muted seafoam green hue....
Pale green cocktail dress with belt Christian Lacroix Jean's
By Christian Lacroix
Located in Saint-Ouen-Sur-Seine, FR
Pale green cocktail dress with belt. Main fabric: 56% cotton, 44% rayon. No indication for the lining composition but probably rayon. High-waisted belt and belt-loop. Zip closure on ...
ALEXANDER McQUEEN A/W 2002 “Supercalifragilistic” Silk Lace Up Pencil Skirt
By Alexander McQueen
Located in Thiensville, WI
ALEXANDER McQUEEN A/W 2002 “Supercalifragilistic” Silk Lace Up Pencil Skirt Brand / Manufacturer: Alexander McQueen Collection: Autumn / Winter 2002; “Supercalifragilistic” Style...
$4,396Sale Price|20% Off
Size: 42IT
NWT F/W 2005 Alexander McQueen Corseted Black Satin Halter Tie Runway Gown
By Alexander McQueen
Located in West Hollywood, CA
From the Alexander McQueen Fall/Winter 2005 collection, a version of this black silk satin gown debuted on the season's runway as look 38, modeled by Mariacarla Boscono. This sleek ...
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.