1980s James Galanos Strapless Fishtail Black Wool Crepe Gown w/ Sinuous Crystals
By James Galanos
Located in Gresham, OR
1980s James Galanos Strapless Fishtail Black Wool Crepe Gown w/ Sinuous Crystals: Boned and structured bodice with inner zipper and side closure. Red crystal florals and rhinestones ...
OLEG CASSINI 'Black Tie' Beaded Gown Size 6
By Oleg Cassini
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This Oleg Cassini gown is composed of a beaded and sequin silk. Features a center back zipper closure. Some beading missing, overall great condition. **Please cross-reference meas...
1980s Travilla Size 10 Black Matte Silk Jersey Rhinestone Vintage 80s Gown Dress
By Travilla
Located in San Diego, CA
Beautiful and timeless WILLIAM TRAVILLA black matte silk jersey rhinestone encrusted long sleeve evening gown ! Features flattering ruching throughout the bodice. Interior shoulder p...
Fendi 365 for Neiman Marcus Vintage 1970s Black Evening Gown with Back Train
By Fendi
Located in Sparks, NV
Rare Fendi label! Fendi 365 for Neiman Marcus vintage black linen blend gown with a halter neckline and back train that can be buttoned up and down as you like. Plunging neckline and...
1993 Valentino Runway Black Crepe Velvet Ribbon Sheer Evening Gown, Size 4
By Valentino, Valentino Garavani
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
1993 Valentino Runway Black Crepe Velvet Ribbon Sheer Evening Gown A documented Fall/Winter 1993 Valentino runway evening gown combining transparency, texture and sculptural draping....
$1,450
Size: Small / Medium
Vicky Tiel Couture Vintage Black Silk Mesh Strapless 1990s Strapless Gown Dress
By Vicky Tiel
Located in San Diego, CA
Classic vintage 90s VICKY TIEL COUTURE black silk mesh strapless mermaid gown / maxi dress! Features signature Tiel pleating detail at the bust. Great fit that stretches to fit the b...
$850
Size: Small - Small Medium
1970s Lilli Diamond Black Jersey Rhinestone Vintage 70s Wrap Maxi Dress Gown
By Lilli Diamond
Located in San Diego, CA
Sexy, yet classic 1970s LILLI DIAMOND black jersey rhinestone encrusted faux wrap jersey plunging Grecian halter gown / maxi dress! Features a fitted crossover bodice with a flatteri...
Lilli Diamond Vintage 1970s Black Sequin Knit Evening Gown Size M
By Lilli Diamond
Located in Port Saint Lucie, FL
Authentic, preowned vintage Lilli Diamond of California evening gown, likely dating to the late 1970s. Crafted in the USA from a stretchy black knit densely covered in black sequins,...
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...
JEAN PATOU Black Wool Full Length Draped Neck Halter Dress Size 10
By Jean Patou
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This Jean Patou dress is composed of a light weight black wool. Features a draped halter style neck with open back, and waist tie. There is a zipper closure. In excellent vintage c...
1950's Mollie Parnis Black Gown with Illusion Beaded Sleeve
By Mollie Parnis
Located in Toronto, Ontario
1950's Mollie Parnis black rayon and chiffon long sleeve gown with unique asymmetrical shear chiffon and beading shoulder. The intricate beaded pattern, made up of rhinestones and bu...
1960s Cavanagh's Couture Black Silk Shantung Rhinestone Beaded Vintage 60s Gown
Located in San Diego, CA
Beautiful early 1960s CAVANAGH'S black silk shantung rhinestone and beaded black gown / dress ! Features thousands of hand-sewn black seed beads and rhinestones around the neck and u...
HAUTE COUTURE INTERNATIONAL 1960's Black Beaded and Sequin Lace Gown Size 6
By HAUTE COUTURE INTERNATIONAL
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This Haute Couture International gown is composed of a black beaded and sequin lace. There is a side slit and center back zipper closure. In excellent vintage condition. **Ple...
1970S CEIL CHAPMAN Black Rayon & Silk Velvet Plunging Halter Neck Gown With Sli
By Ceil Chapman
Located in New York, NY
Please note that the rhinestone belt is not included with the dress. 1970S CEIL CHAPMAN Black Rayon & Silk Velvet Plunging Halter Neck Gown With Slight Train
Ceil Chapman Vintage Black Empire Waist Gown with Beaded Bodice, c 1950 sz 6-8
By Ceil Chapman
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This is a fine vintage evening dress made by Ceil Chapman. It has an empire waist with a heavily beaded bodice at the bust. The jersey body of the dress has a sheath silhouette and a...
Ceil Chapman Vintage 2pc Black Beaded Gown, Circa 1960
By Ceil Chapman
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This is a vintage two piece black beaded gown with a matching top by Ceil Chapman, from the 1960's. The dress has a silk bodice with spaghetti straps, slit in the back,and zipper up ...
Vintage Halston Beaded Black Jersey Evening Gown
By Halston
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Vintage Halston black jersey bias cut evening gown with asymmetrical beaded panels, low neckline, deep V at back, long sleeves, and slit. Excellent Vintage Condition. Measurements ...
Vivienne Westwood Velvet Blouson Jacket
By Vivienne Westwood
Located in Berlin, BE
Beautiful velvet Vivienne Westwood Jacket. Cut in a stunning velvet that seems to absorb and refract light like oil on water, the piece balances romance and rebellion with signature ...
Marchesa pink strapless wedding bustier silk layered dress gown with train 10
By Marchesa
Located in Milano, Lombardia
LOVE LALI VINTAGE A incredibly dreamy dress by Marchesa in soft petal pink Strapless cut with an inner boned corset that zips up separately inside the dress Composed of four layers ...
Christian Dior by John Galliano 2005 Silk Nude Embellished Dress Fr. 42 US 10
By Christian Dior, John Galliano for Christian Dior
Located in Montgomery, TX
Vintage Christian Dior by John Galliano Silk Embellished Dress 2005 Collection French size 42 ( US 10 ) Silver tone beads over the beige silk, Signature Galliano little buttons closu...
1997 Gucci by Tom Ford Semi-Sheer Black Extra Long Gown Dress
By Tom Ford for Gucci
Located in Baar, CH
Rare 1997 Tom Ford for Gucci dress with original gold-tone "Illusion" hook belt, crafted from thick, body-molding jersey. - From the 1997 Cruise collection. - Comes with original ...
Fall 2005 Alexander McQueen 'The Man Who Knew Too Much' Full Lace Back Dr Runway
By Alexander McQueen
Located in Алматинский Почтамт, KZ
BLACK SILK JERSEY DRESS FROM ALEXANDER MCQUEEN 2005 WITH A LOW LACE BACK This is a stunning evening dress made of black stretch jersey with sheer lace on the back. This gorgeous, ic...
Versace Iconic Sequins and Beads Multicolour Long Dress
By Versace
Located in Capri, IT
Versace Iconic Sequins and Beads Multicolour Long Dress Unique and rare long multicolour dress totally made in italy in italian size range 40 Beads and sequins all over
MAXWELL SHIEFF 1950's Pink Heavily Embellished Drape Gown Size 2 4
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This Maxwell Shieff gown is composed of a pink embellished silk, with rhinestone and bead applique. There is a center back zipper and drape. In excellent vintage condition. **P...
Thierry Mugler Sculptural Ensemble 1992 Semi Sheer Black Suit Jacket and Skirt
By Thierry Mugler
Located in Berlin, BE
The perfect blend of pure Eelegance & Drama! Extremely rare FW 1992 Thierry Mugler ensemble, jacket and skirt. In this exquisitely tailored two-piece, Thierry Mugler once again d...
NWT $ 12350 Oscar de la Renta 2008 Collection Champagne Fully Beaded Dress US 8
By Oscar De La Renta
Located in Montgomery, TX
New Oscar De La Renta Champagne Tulle Dress Gown US size - 8 2008 Collection Double tulle - white on the top of champagne - finished with white pearl-looking round beads and two tone...
Thierry Mugler Couture Pink Flame Beaded Silk Gown
By Thierry Mugler, Thierry Mugler Couture
Located in Concord, NC
This early 2000’s vintage Thierry Mugler gown features a halter neckline with a plunging V-front. The dress transitions from vibrant fuchsia to deep red, with flame-like cutouts ador...
Iconic Thierry Mugler FW 1988 / 89 Les Infernales Red Dress
By Thierry Mugler
Located in Berlin, BE
Thierry Mugler never simply designed clothes - he sculpted fantasies, built armor for the bold, and turned fashion into a force of transformation. His Fall/Winter 1988/89 Les Inferna...
Beautiful Rare Thierry Mugler Devoré Silk Velvet Dress Black
By Thierry Mugler
Located in Berlin, BE
Manfred Thierry Mugler distilled the drama of midnight velvet and the intrigue of bare skin into this impossibly rare devoré cocktail dress: a piece that feels less like clothing and...
Iconic Archival Alexander McQueen SS 2012 Laser Cut Silk Lace Dress
By Alexander McQueen
Located in Berlin, BE
Absolutely iconic Alexander McQueen SS 2012 Laser Cut Spine Lace Dress. Exuding an enigmatic allure that's both cutting-edge and timeless, the Laser Cut Black Leather Lace Dress fro...
Thierry Mugler SS 1989 LES ATLANTES Ensemble Black Skirt Suit
By Thierry Mugler
Located in Berlin, BE
Emerging from Thierry Mugler’s legendary LES ATLANTES Collection 1989, this extraordinary ensemble is a masterclass in sensual architecture. Rooted in the deep-sea fantasy and armor...
$5,800
Size: size: 38 but fits to size 8
Thierry Mugler Glitter Goddess Entrance Dress Gown NWT Sold Out
By Mugler, Thierry Mugler
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Quite substantial. Very dramatic. And Sold Out! Impressive Mugler beaded color way of silver, pale blue and sapphire blue butterfly wings inspired bodice. Plunging neckline incl...
Jenny Packham Black Silk Embellished Waist Halter Maxi Dress
By Jenny Packham
Located in Boca Raton, FL
coming soon
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.