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 ...
Lilli Ann 1950s Wool Jacket
By Lilli Ann
Located in Water Mill, NY
A great black wool jacket by Lilli Ann. The large collar has ties and is top stitched in a diamond pattern with prong set rhinestones at the points. It is double breasted with self ...
$877Sale Price|35% Off
Size: 7.5
Gucci Suede Black and Gold Ad Runway Platform Heel, Fall Winter 2007 Sz 7.5
By Gucci
Located in Conroe, TX
Gucci Platform Heels Rare Fall Winter 2007 Worn One Time Minor Wear to Sole Only * Stunning Suede Platforms * Black Suede * Gold Wire Threading * Size: 7.5 * Knot Detail at Toe * Le...
$530Sale 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...
$495Sale Price|40% Off
Patrick Kelly Vintage Black White Polka Dot Dress US Size 10
By Patrick Kelly
Located in Nice, FR
PATRICK KELLY vintage black and white polka dotted dress featuring "shawl" sleeves and plunging back. Label reads PATRICK KELLY Paris Made in France. Stretchy fabric. Composition ...
1960s B.H. Wragge Vintage Brown Wool Skirt with Box Pleats + Black Cord Trim
By BH Wragge, B.H. 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...
Vintage BIll Blass Black 1990s Beaded Size 6 / 8 90s Strapless Evening Dress
By Bill Blass
Located in San Diego, CA
Stunning 1990s BILL BLASS black crepe beaded strapless evening gown! Features thousands of slimming black beads hand-sewn throughout. Interior boned bust helps keep everything in pla...
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
Moschino Couture Dress with Hardware
By Moschino, Moschino Couture
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...
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...
Vintage Geoffrey Beene Teal Blue Silk Dress, Size Small, Circa 1970s
By Geoffrey Beene
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
Classic Geoffrey Beene Blue teal silk dress with front zipper. Size: small - 2/4 Bust: 34”/ Waist 24.5” / shoulder 14”
$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...
Thierry Mugler Chain Trim Dress
By Thierry Mugler
Located in Water Mill, NY
A fabulous navy blue dress from Thierry Mugler. It has a scoop neckline with a center slit, cap sleeves and an inset just under the bust line with a strip of 1" large link silver cha...
Beautiful Vintage Vicky Tiel Couture Black Strapless Hi - Lo Sequin Sheer Gown
By Vicky Tiel
Located in San Diego, CA
Beautiful vintage VICKY TIEL COUTURE for NEIMAN MARCUS black strapless hi-lo mesh sequin and beaded evening dress! Features signature flattering ruching with hundreds of sequins and ...
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...
1875 Dramatic Sleeve & Watteau Back Robe Déshabillé In Victorian Floral Print
Located in Gresham, OR
This garment from 1875 features dramatic sleeve and Watteau-back robe déshabillé with train in a gorgeous Victorian floral printed wool challis. Plunging velvet-trimmed neckline. Stu...
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.