$2,236Sale Price|20% Off
Size: 6 / 8
1990s Stephen Yearick Size 6 / 8 Silver Gunmetal Gray Beaded Silk Gown + Shawl
By Stephen Yearick
Located in San Diego, CA
Stunning vintage 90 STEPHEN YEARICK silver / gunmetal silk lace beaded evening gown and large shawl World renowned celebrity dress maker! Barbara Streisand, Cher, Beyoncé, Britney S...
1980s Stephen Yearick Black Dress Heavily Beaded Silk With Open Back Drape
By Stephen Yearick
Located in Portland, OR
This is a stunning vintage dress designed by Stephen Yearick in the 1980's. The dress came from the estate of a 93 year old retired California judge who had an incredible wardrobe fi...
Yves Saint Laurent by Tom Ford 2004 Chinoiserie Tuxedo Smoking Evening Suit 34
By Tom Ford for Yves Saint Laurent, Yves Saint Laurent
Located in Switzerland, CH
Yves Saint Laurent by Tom Ford Black Tuxedo Evening Suit An extremely rare piece from his final collection in 2004 for Yves Saint Laurent Stunning piece consisting of pants and jacke...
1970's Guy Laroche Haute Couture Cream Silk Beaded Gown
By Guy Laroche
Located in Toronto, Ontario
Amazing 1970's Guy Laroche couture cream silk gown. High neckline, billowing sleeves and empire waist. Simple almost religious lines, this elegant piece appears highly influence by B...
$840Sale Price|20% Off
Size: Medium
Vintage Mollie Parnis 1970s Blue and White Novelty 70s Linen + Cotton Dress
By Mollie Parnis
Located in San Diego, CA
From the queen of dressing First Ladies, comes this wonderfully chic 1970s vintage MOLLIE PARNIS blue and white nautical linen/cotton dress ! Features the perfect linen/cotton blend ...
Yves Saint Laurent Burgundy Velvet Jacket
By Yves Saint Laurent
Located in Amsterdam, NL
This vintage YSL "Rive Gauche" jacket is made of soft bordeaux velvet with 5 black buttons at the front, no pockets. Size is marked EU 42 but fits like a EU 40/ US 10, please refer t...
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...
$1,036Sale Price|20% Off
Size: Medium
Sylvia Ann 1970s Rose Print Pink Ivory Chiffon Vintage 70s Maxi Dress Gown
By SYLVIA ANN
Located in San Diego, CA
Chic 1970s SYLVIA ANN pink, ivory and green chiffon ruffled maxi dress / gown! Features rose bouquets in various sizes throughout. Flutter sleeves, with a flowy layer of chiffon drap...
Chic 1960s Evon Besack Black Crepe + Velvet A - Line Vintage 60s Dress
Located in San Diego, CA
Chic 1960s EVON BESACK black crepe and velvet A-Line dress! Features a flattering square neck with a tailored bodice. Forgiving full skirt with intricate velvet details at hem. Full ...
$1,275
Size: Small / Medium
1970s Holly's Harp China Stencil Buttons Hand Painted Cold Shoulder Silk Dress
By Holly Harp
Located in San Diego, CA
Rare 70s HOLLY'S HARP purple hand painted boho cold shoulder dress ! Features a beautiful medium shade of purple. Hand painted tress, leaves and rainbows throughout. Vibrant colors o...
Tom Ford for Gucci Olive + Khaki Zebra Safari Print Silk Off Shoulder Dress
By Gucci, Tom Ford for Gucci
Located in San Diego, CA
TOM FORD for GUCCI olive green and khaki zebra print silk chiffon and leather asymmetrical off the shoulder dress ! Features adjustable leather strap at top back left shoulder. Hidde...
$1,550
Size: 36 ( 2 / 4 )
1990s Christian Lacroix Avant Garde Size 36 2 /4 Vintage Black 90s Skater Dress
By Christian Lacroix Paris, Christian Lacroix
Located in San Diego, CA
Chic early 90s CHRISTIAN LACROIX Avant Garde black rayon skater dress! Features a tailored boned bodice with curved edges at each armpit. Hidden zipper up the back with hook-and-eye ...
$895
Size: Small / Medium
Amazing 1970s Joseph Magnin Vibrant Colorful Abstract Mosaic Vest 70s Maxi Dress
By Joseph Magnin Co.
Located in San Diego, CA
Amazing 1970s vintage JOSEPH MAGNIN vibrant colorful abstract mosaic sleeveless vest / maxi dress! Features bright hot pink fuchsia, blue, purple, green, yellow, and grey throughout....
Vivienne Westwood black jersey draped slip dress, ss 1997
By Vivienne Westwood
Located in London, GB
Vivienne Westwood black jersey slip dress with drapery across bust held together with a snap button. Spring-Summer 1997
Victorian Cream Cotton & Lace High Swan Neck Blouse With Trim Sleeves Hand-Made
Located in New York, NY
Victorian Cream Cotton & Lace High Swan Neck Blouse With Trim Sleeves Hand-Made Buttons
Emanuel Ungaro 1980s Wrap Silk Dress
By Emanuel Ungaro
Located in Water Mill, NY
A gorgeous blue and off white elaborate abstract pattern silk damask wrap dress from Emanuel Ungaro Parallele. It has a V neckline with a wrap semi fitted hip length bodice tying at...
Vicky Tiel Draped Illusion and Matte Jersey Gown
By Vicky Tiel
Located in New York, NY
Vicky Tiel's chic and sexy draped stretch illusion gown on a matte jersey base. The illusion is ruched at shoulder and is gathered across bodice and releases to a gathered panel whic...
1970s Halston Couture Black Silk Chiffon Beaded Long Sleeve Vintage 70s Dress
By Halston
Located in San Diego, CA
Exceptional vintage 70s HALSTON Couture black silk chiffon beaded dress and sash belt or head scarf! Features a separate black silk chiffon slip with three layers of chiffon and nude...
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.