1970s Sandine Originals I. Magnin Black Embroidered Colorful Cotton Maxi Dress
By I. Magnin
Located in San Diego, CA
Beautiful Sandine Originals I. Magnin 1970s black maxi dress! Colorful weaving at neck, and
1970s Sandine Originals I. Magnin Black Embroidered Colorful Cotton Maxi Dress
By I. Magnin
Located in San Diego, CA
Beautiful Sandine Originals I. Magnin 1970s black maxi dress! Colorful weaving at neck, and
Loris Azzaro 1970s Silk Jersey Vintage Pink Empire Dress Gown
By Loris Azzaro
Located in San Diego, CA
Stunning vintage 1970s Loris Azzaro pink silk jersey gown! Beautiful bodice, with a draped, Grecian/Empire feel to the body. Zipper works great, just could not fit the dress form. In...
1970s Ronald Kolodzie Navy Blue Orange Green Long Sleeve Vintage 70s Maxi Dress
By Ronald Kolodzie
Located in San Diego, CA
Amazing 1970s RONALD KOLODZIE navy blue, orange and green long sleeve jersey maxi dress! Features a tropical Hawaiian print in vibrant colors of neon orange, green, peach and light p...
Amazing 1970s Colorful Flowers Stripes Sleeveless Vintage 70s Cotton Maxi Dress
Located in San Diego, CA
Amazing 1970s colorful cotton maxi dress! Features vibrant colors of pink, green, yellow, orange, white navy blue in flowers and stretch. Fitted bodice with a full body. Fully lined ...
1940s Vintage Black Velvet Cocktail Dress with Collar + 3/4 Cropped Sleeves
Located in Sparks, NV
Flattering vintage 1940s cocktail dress in black velvet with a draped collar and 3/4 length sleeves. Unlined with side metal zip closure. Fits like a modern size small. The bust meas...
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...
$179Sale Price|66% Off
Size: 6
Vintage Floral Party Cocktail American Neckline Long Green Handmade Dress 1980s
Located in Brindisi, Bt
Long dress for women, green with colorful floral patterns. American neckline, sleeveless. Made in Italy. Excellent vintage conditions. Size: 40 It 6 Us 8 Uk Shoulders: 40 cm Chest ...
Issac Mizrahi New Crochet Cardigan with Appliques and Bead Trim 1990s
By Isaac Mizrahi
Located in Water Mill, NY
A very pretty black crochet cardigan from Issac Mizrahi. It has long sleeves, applique matching crochet flowers around the neck, front, hem and on the sleeves. There are black glass ...
1980s Escada Vintage Black + White Polka Dot Striped Print Strapless Dress
By Escada Margaretha Ley, Amen Wardy
Located in Sparks, NV
Vintage 1980s black and white strapless tube dress by Margaretha Ley for Escada with a polka dot and stripe print. Fully lined with rear zip closure. The marked size is 34, and the d...
90s Gianfranco Ferre White Silk V Neck Sleeveless Gown
By Gianfranco Ferré
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
90s Gianfranco Ferre White Silk sleeveless gown with v neck satin lapel. Size: 40italy, fit size 6 US Perfect for wedding or rehearsal dinner. Measurement flat: Bust : 36”/ empire wa...
Chic 1950s Pale Blue Couture French Lace Taffeta Avant Garde Vintage 50s Blouse
Located in San Diego, CA
Chic early 50s demi couture pale blue French Lace wrap blouse top! Features a chiffon backing, with taffeta covered button. Attached taffeta ribbon ties multiple times around the wai...
$1,150
Size: Medium - Large
Beautiful 1970s Silver Metallic Lurex Rhinestone Buttons Sleeveless Maxi Dress
Located in San Diego, CA
Beautiful vintage 70s silver metallic lurex sleeveless maxi dress / gown with rhinestone buttons! Features a soft silver metallic lurex that is both elegant and flattering. Fitted b...
Beautiful 1950s Fred Perlberg Navy Blue + Ivory Rhinestone 50s Vintage Dress
By Fred Perlberg, Fred Perlberg Originals
Located in San Diego, CA
Beautiful 1950s FRED PERLBERG navy blue and ivory lace rhinestone sleeveless dress! Features a pretty navy blue fabric with ivory lace at bust and waist. Sparkly rhinestone sequins a...
$795
Size: Small - Medium
1970s Sirena of California Hot Pink Flowers and Polka Dots Jersey Maxi Dress
Located in San Diego, CA
Awesome vintage SIRENA OF CALIFORNIA hot pink, orange, fuchsia, yellow, purple and navy blue boho maxi dress! Features a lace-up bodice that can adjust to fit an array of bust sizes....
FW 2015 Alexander McQueen Ruffled silk-blend lace Victorian style dress
By Alexander McQueen
Located in Алматинский Почтамт, KZ
Alexander McQueen Autumn/Winter Collection 2015-2016 Ruffled silk-blend lace dress size S made in Italy color: black condition: gently used elastic fabric fabric: 98% silk + 1%...
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...
$795
Size: Small - Large
1970s Pomare Hawaiian Vintage Colorful Tropical Print Halter Wrap 70s Maxi Dress
Located in San Diego, CA
Chic, yet versatile POMARE of HAWAII brightly colored floral wrap halter maxi dress! Soft cotton blend, with bright colors in purple, pink, blue, fuchsia, green and yellow. Criss cro...
Luxurious and versatile, designer day dresses are as well suited to tea at an upscale hotel as they are to your next garden or rooftop party.
Today’s featherlight unisex day dresses — as well as the vibrant vintage day dresses of the 1950s and ’60s — look quite different from the heavy, fabric-rich de rigueur garments of the Victorian era. In the late 19th century, a woman of a certain standing might have multiple dresses to wear throughout the day: specifically, one or two for the daytime and one for the evening. For example, a long-sleeve silk dress with a prominently flared back and a round collar of gold beaded lace that hugs the neck would be suitable for stepping out during the day, while a velvet gown trimmed in silk embroidery but overall comparatively informal in appearance would be worn for afternoon tea at home. At night, a silk velvet evening dress could feature natural world motifs such as butterflies (a characteristic of Art Nouveau design) and have short sleeves adorned with lace and ruffles and a scooped neckline — the perfect attire for the theater.
During the 1920s, after all the chores were done, a woman would change from her housework clothing into a more fashionable day dress to run her errands or socialize. Some 1920s day dresses were brightly colored and featured bold patterns — a cotton dress with a dazzling floral print, perhaps, or, in the case of the more venturesome Art Deco apparel sold in high-end couture fashion boutiques of the era, semi-sheer silk garments embellished with three-dimensional beadwork or rich metallic gold lamé.
Today, a closet full of casual vintage day dresses is a must-have. Whether you opt for black, crimson or beige, day dresses bring an element of glamour to your next appointment, and in the summer, who doesn’t love a wonderfully simple, lightweight day dress cut in cotton and linen?
Because different fashion designers of every decade have offered their own take on the widely loved day dress, you’ll be able to find a variety of vintage and designer day dresses on 1stDibs. Search by creator to find enduring designs by the likes of Emilio Pucci, Pierre Cardin, Yves Saint Laurent and Christian Dior, or browse by period to uncover a scintillating collection of cotton and satin patterned dresses of the 1950s and ’60s.