$695
Size: Medium / Large
1970s Lacoste Knit Zip Front Vintage 70s Knit Shirt Dress Khaki Striped Belted
By Lacoste
Located in San Diego, CA
late 1970s Chemise Lacoste knit tennis dress, capturing the golden era of French leisurewear with a
Mini dress in red knit IZOD LACOSTE
By Lacoste
Located in Saint-Ouen-Sur-Seine, FR
Mini dress in red knit. No fabric tag but the knit is probably a mix of wool and acrylic. SIZE S
Vintage Lacoste Europe Black Racer Back Sport Tank Dress Size Medium
By Lacoste
Located in Palm Desert, CA
A vintage 70s racer back tank dress by Lacoste, France. This sporty dress never goes out of style
DAVID CRYSTAL LACOSTE c.1960's Yellow White Striped Knee Length Polo Sport Dress
By Jean Patou
Located in Thiensville, WI
DAVID CRYSTAL LACOSTE c.1960's Yellow White Striped Knee Length Polo Sport Dress Brand
Vintage LACOSTE DAVID CRYSTAL FASHION Stripe Collar Polyester SCOOTER Dress M/L
By Lacoste
Located in Asheville, NC
Lacoste, David Crystal, Blue Dress, Red and White Stripe, Iconic Alligator, Zipper Front, Polyester
John Galliano Lace Cardigan and 2 Camisoles Set
By John Galliano
Located in Water Mill, NY
A fabulous cardigan and camisole set in black knit lace plus an additional matching red camisole all from John Galliano. The set consists of 2 flower pattern lace knit camisoles one ...
On Hold|$38,646
Size: approx. FR36 - UK8 - US4
Azzedine Alaia Gold Lamé Couture Gown with Sequin Mosaic Detail, FW 1990
By Azzedine Alaïa
Located in London, GB
This rare, likely one-of-a-kind Azzedine Alaïa couture dress from the Fall-Winter 1990 collection is crafted from metallic gold lamé with a mosaic-like sequin overlay, creating a str...
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...
2000s Christian Dior by John Galliano Purple Silk Charmeuse Gown
By John Galliano for Christian Dior, Christian Dior
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
2000s Christian Dior by John Galliano purple eggplant silk charmeuse spaghetti strap with ruching and beautiful drapes. Perfect for holiday or wedding. size : 38F / US 6
Thierry Mugler Couture FW 2001 Coat Red Black Angora Jacket Leather
By Thierry Mugler
Located in Berlin, BE
Extremely rare Thierry Mugler Couture coat. FW 2001 Collection. Pure angora coat, pointy black leather details. Femme fatale - elegant and sexy unique statement piece. Spectacular vi...
$938Sale Price|49% Off
Size: 38.5
New Gucci Stunning Crystal & Suede Leather Platform Heels Pumps Sz 38.5
By Gucci
Located in Conroe, TX
Brand New With Gucci Box Gucci Crystal Suede Leather Platform Heels $1875 Size: 38.5 Black Heel 5" Front Platform 1.25" Peep Toe Leather Footbed Adjustable Ankle Strap Gold Gucci Har...
Dolce & Gabbana S/S 01 burgundy backless tie neck midi maxi slim line dress XS-S
By Dolce & Gabbana
Located in Milano, Lombardia
LOVE LALI VINTAGE Dolce & Gabbana Spring Summer 2001. This dress is an incredibly rare version of Look 5 from the runway, in full length burgundy, a version that is virtually impos...
Michael Kors Collection Black Double Faced Jersey Keyhole Halter Top Size 6
By Michael Kors
Located in San Diego, CA
Amazing MICHAEL KORS COLLECTION Runway Grecian inspired halter top! Anyone who has ever owned a MK Collection piece knows how extremely flattering they are to a woman's body! Feature...
$7,798
Size: approx. FR38 - UK10 - US6
Yves Saint Laurent by Tom Ford Black Silk and Lace Evening Dress, FW 2003
By Tom Ford for Yves Saint Laurent, Yves Saint Laurent
Located in London, GB
▪ Brand: Yves Saint Laurent ▪ Creative Director: Tom Ford ▪ Collection: Fall-Winter 2003 ▪ Fabric: Silk, Lace ▪ Details: This black sheer evening dress is made of silk and lace. It f...
S/S 1997 Ralph Lauren Runway Red Knit Linen Striped Bodycon Halter Maxi Dress
By Ralph Lauren Purple Label, Ralph Lauren
Located in West Hollywood, CA
From Ralph Lauren’s Spring/Summer 1997 collection and seen on Claudia Schiffer on the runway, this red knit linen maxi dress features bold horizontal stripes and a halter neckline. I...
John Galliano S/S 1998 see on Jennifer Aniston SAG Awards Mesh Overlay Dress
By John Galliano
Located in Montgomery, TX
John Galliano S/S 1998 see on Jennifer Aniston SAG Awards Lace Overlay Dress Vintage John Galliano Mesh Overlay Maxi Dress S/S 1998 Collection Jennifer Aniston stole the show with h...
Iconic Tom Ford for Gucci FW 1997 Crystal Embellished GG Logo Monogram Shoes 8.5
By Gucci, Tom Ford for Gucci
Located in Montgomery, TX
Iconic Tom Ford for Gucci Crystal Embellished Shoes Slides F/W 1997 Collection US size 8.5 B - Italian 38.5 B Highly collectible Tom Ford shoes!!! Two tone silver color crystals feat...
Black tulle and lace bustier La Perla
By La Perla
Located in Saint-Ouen-Sur-Seine, FR
Black tulle and lace bustier. Fabric composition: polyamide, polyester, silk, elastane. Underwired bra. Lingerie hook&eye in the middle back (2 lines) Half-padded bra. Adjustable sho...
New Tom Ford Bead-Embellished Black Velvet Ruby Red Heel Boots It. 38 - US 8
By Tom Ford
Located in Montgomery, TX
Luxury, glamour and sophistication are bywords for world-renowned designer TOM FORD. Designer size - 38 ( US 8) Midnight Black velvet, Ruby Red Bead Embellished Square Toe, Silver-t...
1995 Gianni Versace Black Sweetheart Neckline Rhinestone Medusa Black Dress
By Gianni Versace Couture, Gianni Versace
Located in West Hollywood, CA
From 1995, this fitted black Gianni Versace dress debuted on the Spring season's Atelier Versace runway, modeled by Shalom Harlow. This dress was further highlighted by model Claudia...
S/S 2001 Gucci by Tom Ford White Black Striped Logo Bikini Shorts Set
By Gucci, Tom Ford for Gucci
Located in West Hollywood, CA
This chic Gucci bikini set, designed by Tom Ford, is from the Spring/Summer 2001 collection. The set features a triangle top and boy-short bottoms, both in a simple white with black ...
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.