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
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...
$716Sale Price|20% Off
Size: Medium
1970s Hiroko Salmon / Coral Color Blocked Slinky Vintage 70s Bias Maxi Dress
Located in San Diego, CA
Slinky 1970s HIROKO salmon and coral color blocked jersey bias cut maxi dress! This beauty simply slips over the head and stretches to fit. Slimming diagonal stripes on the front and...
$199Sale Price|20% Off
Size: 2
1990s Diane Von Furstenberg ' Leaf ' Print Safari Strapless Cotton Blouse
By Diane von Furstenberg
Located in San Diego, CA
Beautiful 90s Diane Von Furstenberg green and white cotton strapless top! 3-D leaf print, with a trapeze/free flowing waist. Buttons at top back. Can easily be dressed day to night. ...
1970s Luis Estevez Silk Jersey Lipstick Red Strapless Vintage 70s Grecian Gown
By Estevez
Located in San Diego, CA
Beautiful mid 1970s LUIS ESTEVEZ lipstick red silk jersey strapless Grecian gown / maxi dress ! Features an intricate gathered boned bodice. Full metal zipper up the side with hook-a...
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...
Vivienne Westwood black and gold mesh 'Open 24hrs' corset, fw 1993
By Vivienne Westwood
Located in London, GB
Vivienne Westwood black mesh corset with 'Open 24hrs' gold leaf print. Internal boning designed to cinch the waist and push the breasts up. Anglomania, Fall-Winter 1993
Gucci Silk Gown with Cut out Waist, Swarovski Crystals and Hardware SS 2010
By Gucci, Frida Giannini
Located in Water Mill, NY
A gorgeous black silk knit gown from Gucci's S/S 2010 collection as worn on the cover of Vogue by Linda Evangelista. It is fitted, has long sleeves with zipper wrists and fabulous s...
$600Sale Price|20% Off
Size: 7.5
New 1970s Connie Smith Bullocks Wilshire Size 7.5 Gold Metallic Strappy Heels
Located in San Diego, CA
Sexy vintage never worn CONNIE SMITH for KIMMEL at BULLOCK'S WILSHIRE gold metallic Size 7.5 strappy sandals / high heels! Gold metallic leather adds just the right amount of splash ...
$1,575
Size: Medium / Large
1970s Loris Azzaro Crimson Red Silk Jersey Grecian Inspired Vintage 70s Dress
By Loris Azzaro
Located in San Diego, CA
Chic 1970s LORIS AZZARO crimson red silk jersey Grecian Inspired spaghetti strap dress! Features flattering and forgiving draped bodice with ties at the bodice and waist to adjust fo...
1980s Louis Feraud Size 4 Lipstick Red Silk Chiffon 80s Vintage Dress + Shawl
By Louis Feraud
Located in San Diego, CA
Beautiful vintage late 1980s LOUIS FERAUD lipstick red silk chiffon sleeveless dress and large shawl! Features a flattering ruched bodice with thin spaghetti straps at each shoulder....
Christian Dior Haute Couture Black and White Dress, Betsy Bloomingdale 1980
By Christian Dior
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This is a black and white long "sailor" style day dress by Christian Dior Haute Couture, from 1980. This dress has a full skirt with gathers at the hip, and a 16" zipper on the side ...
$595
Size: Small - Medium
1970s Teal Blue + Gold + Pink Hand Painted Boho Vintage 70s Halter Top Shirt
Located in San Diego, CA
Beautiful vintage late 1970s teal / turquoise blue hand painted cotton halter top! Features a vibrant teal blue backdrop with hot pink / fuchsia, purple, green and gold leaf througho...
Sexy 1990s Lane Davis Size 8 Beverly Hills Hand Made Red Avant Garde Dress
Located in San Diego, CA
Sexiest 1990s Lane Davis of Beverly Hills red Avant Garde dress! AMAZING cut, that looks to die for on! Lipstick red, with matching red rhinestones throughout. Couture quality! Asymm...
1970s Burgundy Polka Dot Cut-Out Flared Leg Vintage 70s Halter Jumpsuit
Located in San Diego, CA
Amazing 1970s Fredericks of Hollywood burgundy / maroon one piece jersey cut-out disco jumpsuit! Features tiny white polka dots on the halter bodice. Cut-out below the bust, and just...
1990s Moschino "Roman CarWash" Bandage Bodycon Top
By Moschino
Located in Scottsdale, AZ
A rare style from Moschino early 90's "Roman Carwash" Bandage bodycon top with black piping at the seams. This top as 3 thick straps that makes a sexy cap sleeve marked a size 8 but ...
Numbered Courreges Haute Couture Trousers Suit Ensemble
By André Courrèges, Courrèges
Located in Geneva, CH
This ultra chic late 60’s - early 70’s haute couture Courrèges ensemble, is made up of a fitted tunic-top and high waisted trousers. Constructed in dark blue wool, this fully lined s...
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.