2007 Jenny Packham Teal Sequinned Slip Dress
By Jenny Packham
Located in London, GB
From the mainline collection of the renowned British designer and occasion-wear specialist, the dress is in very good vintage condition with minimal losses to the elaborate sequin-wo...
Kathryn Dianos Navy Maxi Dress
By Kathryn Dianos
Located in Alford, MA
Long dress in navy wool/acrylic blend featuring a long torso with metal skate hooks laced with narrow self belt, and a large sailor collar that covers the upper arms and descends to ...
Lillie Rubin New 1950s Silk Damask Dress and Mink Collar Coat Set
By Lillie Rubin
Located in Water Mill, NY
A rare, new 1950s dress and coat set from Lillie Rubin in a black silk damask flower pattern. The dress is semi fitted with a matching belt, a bateau neckline, and a straight skirt. ...
$525Sale Price|25% Off
Moschino Vintage Heart Dress US Size 8
By Moschino
Located in Nice, FR
MOSCHINO vintage black dress featuring a large cut-out red velvet heart shaped breast. This dress features : - Black wool blend fabric. - Large cut-out red velvet heart shaped breas...
Gianni Versace Couture 1990s Bell Sleeve Dress
By Gianni Versace Couture, Gianni Versace
Located in Water Mill, NY
A fabulous black silk jersey dress from Gianni Versace. It has a square neckline with a notched center and long subtly belled sleeves. The dress is semi fitted with inner boning for ...
Chic 1960s Evon Besack Black Crepe + Velvet A - Line Vintage 60s Dress
Located in San Diego, CA
Chic 1960s EVON BESACK black crepe and velvet A-Line dress! Features a flattering square neck with a tailored bodice. Forgiving full skirt with intricate velvet details at hem. Full ...
Lilli Ann New 1940s Asymmetric Neckline Silk Dress
By Lilli Ann
Located in Water Mill, NY
A rare unworn 1940s dress in purple silk from Lilli Ann. It has an asymmetrical front neckline with a V in back, short sleeves and a straight skirt with a back kick pleat. The dres...
1960s B.H. Wragge Vintage Brown Wool Skirt with Box Pleats + Black Cord Trim
By B.H. Wragge, BH Wragge
Located in Sparks, NV
Early 1960s vintage pleated skirt by B.H. Wragge. Brown wool with black cord trimmed box pleats. Unlined with side metal zip and hook closure. Fits like a modern size small. The wais...
1960s Lilly Pulitzer Op Art Splatter Paint Colorful Velvet Vintage Maxi Dress
By Lilly Pulitzer
Located in San Diego, CA
Chic and rare 60s LILLY PULITZER colorful op-art print cotton velvet maxi dress! Features chevron prints in vibrant colors of blues, green and orange. Contrasting thin stripes in bla...
Dolce & Gabbana black spandex figure hugging maxi dress with cut out, c. 1990s
By Dolce & Gabbana
Located in London, GB
Dolce & Gabbana black spandex figure hugging maxi dress with cut out, turtle neck, zip fastening, and pleating down the centre back. c. 1990s
Yves Saint Laurent Padded Chinese Satin Coat Ensemble
By Yves Saint Laurent
Located in New York, NY
Yves Saint Laurent Chinese Padded Satin Coat Ensemble with quilted ruby satin lining. It has a flared tent shape with strong shoulder line, Haute Couture in inspiration with a padded...
Moschino Couture Dress with Hardware
By Moschino Couture, Moschino
Located in Water Mill, NY
A fabulous black light weight wool dress from Moschino Couture adorned with silver metal hardware of varying kinds. It is a sleeveless shift style dress with functional zippers at t...
Dolce & Gabbana Silk One Sleeve Lace up Dress
By Dolce & Gabbana
Located in Water Mill, NY
A fabulous black silk jersey dress from Dolce & Gabbana. The fitted dress has one sleeve and intricate functional adjustable lacing along the top of the sleeve from wrist to shoulder...
1980s Saint Laurent Rive Gauche Houndstooth Skirt Suit
By Yves Saint Laurent Rive Gauche
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Saint Laurent Rive Gauche Wool houndstooth skirt and jacket Black and white Made in France Two lined side pockets Two grey buttons Black silk lining Skirt back vent Two skir...
Miss Ruth Relief Beaded Stretch Wool Sequin Gown Size Small
By Miss Ruth
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This Miss Ruth design is composed of a relief beaded & sequin black wool. Features a center back zipper closure, with scoop back style. Please feel free to ask us any additional ques...
$595
Size: Medium / Large
1970s Blue + Red + White Strawberry Novelty Print Polka Dot Vintage 70s Dress
Located in San Diego, CA
The cutest 1970s novelty print jumper dress! This cotton number features a rich blue with red and white strawberries and mini polka dots throughout. Adjustable sleeve straps can be m...
1930S Black Silk Velvet Long Sleeved Gown With Chrome Art Deco Buckle
Located in New York, NY
1930S Black Silk Velvet Long Sleeved Gown With Chrome Art Deco Buckle
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.