Thimister Silvery Lame Dress
By Thimister, Josephus Thimister
Located in Laguna Beach, CA
This vintage Thimister gown has a seductively revealing, draped back. It offers a heavy metal zipper with dangling ribbon pull and two more delicate ribbons to tie across the back, s...
1997 Balenciaga Sz 0 XS Black Dress Vintage Thimister Final Runway Collection
By Balenciaga, Josephus Thimister
Located in San Diego, CA
The model in video is 5’8 feet tall, and US Size 6 An exceptionally rare Balenciaga black evening dress from the Spring-Summer 1997 collection, designed under the creative direction...
Balenciaga Le Dix by Josephus Thimister Silk Gazar Dress
By Balenciaga
Located in Brooklyn, NY
1990’s Balenciaga Le Dix by Josephus Thimister sculptural silk gazar dress, directly inspired by a design from the A/W 1958 collection.
Balenciaga Josephus Thimister Runway Silk Polka Dot Evening Dress, 1997
By Balenciaga
Located in Boca Raton, FL
Having worked for a several prominent couture houses such as Chanel and Patou, Josephus Thimister brought his modernist design style to the house of Balenciaga.
BALENCIAGA Hot Pink Strapless Polka dot Cocktail Dress by Josephus Thimister
By Balenciaga, Josephus Thimister
Located in Sheffield, GB
Beautiful BALENCIAGA Hot pink Polka dot cocktail dress by Josephus Thimister. This strapless cocktail runway dress is crafted from a Moire silk fabric with a boned upper body, conce...
1997 Josephus Thimister for BALENCIAGA navy runway dress with asymmetrical swag
By Josephus Thimister, Balenciaga
Located in San Fransisco, CA
Rich navy blue silk dress with asymmetrical swag designed by Josephus Thimister for Balenciaga le dix as seen on the runway in spring of 1997.
2010 Thimister Couture Moujik Trousers
By Thimister
Located in Laguna Beach, CA
2010 Couture Josephus Thimister Moujik Trousers featuring a drop crotch waist with red paint stains.
Thimister Acid-Washed Backless Dress
By Thimister, Josephus Thimister
Located in Laguna Beach, CA
Gorgeous dark brown, acid-washed, sleeveless dress from vintage Thimister is 100% silk. The eye-catching deep draping in back is delicately secured by two sets of ribbons tied across...
1980s Balenciaga Mustard Yellow/Acid Green Silk Scarf 30.5x29.5
By Josephus Thimister, Balenciaga
Located in Port Hope, ON
Lovely geometrical pattern silk scarf from Josephus Melchior Thimister for Balanciaga in excellent vintage condition.
1990s Balenciaga Beige Silk Chiffon Column Dress
By Balenciaga, Nicolas Ghesquière
Located in London, GB
We are certain that this dress is from around the time he took over as creative director of the fashion house, after the departure of Josephus Thimister in 1997. An almost identical...
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...
Pink Silk Dress Hand Beaded "Gatsby" Flapper Dress 1920s
Located in Wallkill, NY
They are getting harder to find, and even harder to find in wearable condition. This silk pink dream is all hand beaded. Stunning T back. Bugle beading around the neckline and arms. ...
$4,800
Size: Marked 8 but fits today's size 4
Stunning Bob Mackie Gold & Black Deco Inspired Beaded Dress with Exposed Back
By Bob Mackie
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Resurrection Vintage is excited to present a stunning vintage Bob Mackie gold and black beaded dress with a high neck, open exposed back, a center back zipper, and mini length. The d...
Gianni Versace F/W 2001 Blue Marmot Fur Jacket Coat
By Gianni Versace
Located in Englishtown, NJ
Gianni Versace F/W 2001 Blue Marmot Fur Jacket Coat Seen on Look 8 on the Runway in the beige color and on Kim Kardashian in the cropped version. Size IT 42 Condition: great vint...
F/W 1999 Gucci by Tom Ford Sheer Black Lace Leather Trim Sleeveless Top IT42
By Gucci, Tom Ford for Gucci
Located in West Hollywood, CA
From Gucci’s Fall/Winter 1999 collection under Tom Ford, this sleeveless top features a sheer black mesh base intricately embroidered with swirling floral ribbon appliqués. The high-...
Gianni Versace F/W 1996 Runway Vintage Silk Brown Top
By Gianni Versace
Located in Englishtown, NJ
Gianni Versace F/W 1996 Runway Vintage Silk Brown Top IT 42 Gianni Versace silk brown top featuring logo embellishments at straps and concealed zip closure at back.
1950S Black Nylon/Lace Bullet Bra
Located in New York, NY
1950S Black Nylon/Lace Bullet Bra
1986 AZZEDINE ALAIA iconic hooded RUNWAY dress
By Azzedine Alaïa
Located in San Fransisco, CA
1986 Azzedine Alaïa hooded runway dress Extremely rare and highly collectible hooded runway dress designed by Azzedine Alaïa dating to 1986. This design is one of Alaïa’s most iconi...
ALEXANDER McQUEEN S/S 1995 Striped Crosshatch Button Front Men's Dress Shirt
By Alexander McQueen
Located in Thiensville, WI
ALEXANDER McQUEEN S/S 1995 Striped Crosshatch Button Front Men's Dress Shirt Brand / Manufacturer: Alexander McQueen Collection: S/S 1995 Designer: Alexander McQueen Style: butto...
UNWORN Emilio Pucci by Peter Dundas 2011 Navy Crochet Knit Maxi Dress Gown 42
By Peter Dundas, Emilio Pucci
Located in Switzerland, CH
ABSOLUTELY INSANE EMILIO PUCCI MIDNIGHT BLUE CROCHET KNIT CUTOUT GOWN DESIGNED BY PETER DUNDAS SOLD OUT IMMEDIATELY WORN BY TOPMODELS AS CLAUDIA SCHIFFER, MIRANDA KERR AND MANY OT...
New Yves Saint Laurent Spring 2008 Size 40 / US 8 Black Silk Strapless Dress
By Yves Saint Laurent, Stefano Pilati for Yves Saint Laurent
Located in San Diego, CA
Chic brand new with tags YVES SAINT LAURENT Spring 2008 black silk strapless dress! Features intricate interior corset boning that holds everything in place. Hidden zipper up the sid...
Thierry Mugler SS 1997 Gorgeous Black Evening Dress
By Thierry Mugler
Located in Berlin, BE
In this stunning black dress, Thierry Mugler marries his signature sculptural precision with motion. The silhouette is razor-sharp, hugging the body with a surgeon’s precision, while...
Vivienne Westwood red wool and gold 'PAGAN KISS' beret, ss 1988
By Vivienne Westwood
Located in London, GB
Rare Vivienne Westwood red wool beret with gold leaf 'PAGAN KISS' and signature Orb logo. Made for the 'Choice' tour with Sara Stockbridge in 1988. Pagan I, Spring-Summer 1988
S/S 1992 Gianni Versace Light Green Ribbed Knit Bodycon Mini Dress Cap IT42
By Gianni Versace
Located in West Hollywood, CA
This ribbed bright green Gianni Versace mini dress, designed by Gianni Versace for the Spring/Summer 1992 collection, is a form-fitting bodycon piece. It features off-the-shoulder pe...
2015 Celine By Phoebe Philo cinnamon and black knit dress with flounced hemline
By Phoebe Philo, Celine
Located in San Fransisco, CA
Celine by Phoebe Philo, Pre-Fall 2015 Very rare knit dress in marled cinnamon and black designed by Phoebe Philo. The textile is a lightweight fine-gauge knit with a soft, fluid fee...
Verheyen London Leather Trench Coat in Taupe Brown
By Verheyen London
Located in London, GB
Verheyen London Leather Trench Coat in Taupe Brown Handmade in London, made with 100% Italian Lambs Leather this luxury item is an investment piece to wear for a lifetime. This pi...
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.