$1,035Sale Price|20% Off
Size: 12
Vintage Wayne Clark Size 12 Hot Pink Fuchsia + Black Silk Strapless 1990s Gown
By Wayne Clark
Located in San Diego, CA
Gorgeous 90s WAYNE CLARK fuchsia and black strapless mermaid evening dress! Features a flattering tiered ruffle bodice, with a black silk flower appliqué on the back. For fitting ski...
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Size: See Description
Vintage Wayne Clark Green Silk Chiffon Strapless Evening Dress With Wrap Shawl
By Wayne Clark
Located in Portland, OR
This elegant full length green silk chiffon Wayne Clark dress was purchased at the couture boutique Harriet Kassman in Washington DC. The dress is strapless with a ruched bodice and ...
$595Sale Price|25% Off
Size: Medium
Amazing 1970s Vintage One Shoulder Black Sequin Silk 70s Evening Dress Gown
By Mike Benet Formals, MIKE BENET
Located in San Diego, CA
Incredible vintage 1970s one shoulder black sequin silk Grecian inspired Toga evening dress! Features thousands of hand-sewn sequins and beads throughout the entire bodice. Soft blac...
$5,795
Size: 40 / US 6
NWT $7.5k Roberto Cavalli Fall 2006 Black Sequin Zebra Print Plunging Back Gown
By Roberto Cavalli
Located in San Diego, CA
Brand new with original $7,500 tags sexy ROBERTO CAVALLI black sequin gown ! This dress has so much attention to details. Thousands of hand-sewn black sequins form a zebra print thro...
F/W 2001 Gianni Versace by Donatella Runway Saddle Brown Leather Backless Gown
By Donatella Versace for Gianni Versace, Gianni Versace
Located in West Hollywood, CA
TheRealList presents: an incredible caramel brown Gianni Versace gown, designed by Donatella Versace. From the Fall/Winter 2001 collection, this gown debuted on the season's runway a...
$2,792Sale Price|20% Off
ALAIA black leather TRENCH COAT Jacket 38
By Azzedine Alaïa
Located in Zürich, CH
Alaia trench coat in black lambskin. With wide notch colar, belt loops at the waist, two flap pockets on the front sides, box pleat on the back, and woven seams. Closes with flat let...
NWT Vintage Bob Mackie Size 8 Black and White Color Block Sleeveless Gown Dress
By Bob Mackie
Located in San Diego, CA
Beautiful and flattering brand new with original store tags vintage BOB MACKIE black and white color block Size 8 evening gown! Features blak crepe at bust, white crepe at waist, and...
1920s Peachy Pink and Silver Lame Coat with White Cuffs
Located in London, GB
This show stopping flapper coat was couture made in the mid 1920s. Truly a rare piece to find, especially in such flawless condition and it's one of the best we've handled for nearly...
ALEXANDER McQUEEN A/W 2006 “The Widows of Culloden” Tartan Layered Blazer
By Alexander McQueen
Located in Thiensville, WI
ALEXANDER McQUEEN A/W 2006 “The Widows of Culloden” Tartan Layered Blazer Brand / Manufacturer: Alexander McQueen Collection: Autumn / Winter 2006 “The Widows of Culloden” Design...
Roberto Cavalli F/W 2006 Embellished Beaded Fringed Flapper Open Back Mini Dress
By Roberto Cavalli
Located in Naples, FL
Roberto Cavalli F/W 2006 Embelished Beaded Fringed Flapper Open Back Mini Dress Size IT 40
$2,795
Size: Small / Medium
Vintage Bob Mackie 1980s Plunge Low Back 80s Long Sleeve Evening Nightgown Dress
By Bob Mackie
Located in San Diego, CA
Sexy vintage 1980s BOB MACKIE for SAKS 5th AVENUE black and white plunging low back evening nightgown or evening gown! Features a sheer black and white mesh bodice, back and sleeves....
Oscar de la Renta Embroidered Silk Caftan with Matching dress New!
By Oscar De La Renta
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Oscar de la Renta 2 piece silk caftan Fashioned of rich tomato red silk with matching slipdress. Neckline adorned with heavily embellished gold embroidery. Both pieces have high...
1990s Badgley Mischka Couture Size 6 8 Lilac Grey Beaded Fringe Crystal 90s Top
By Badgley Mischka
Located in San Diego, CA
Stunning vintage late 90s BADGLEY MISCHKA Couture for BERGDORF GOODMAN lilac grey beaded fringe blouse! Beautiful lilac gray color is super versatile, and appropriate any time of ye...
Vintage Bob Mackie Size 8 / 10 Black and Pink Beaded French Lace Evening Gown
By Bob Mackie
Located in San Diego, CA
Gorgeous vintage BOB MACKIE black and pink beaded French lace evening gown! Features a light pink taffeta underlay. Black French lace covers the pink, and a semi sheer black chiffon ...
$531
Size: 38 (German Vintage Size)
Von Fürstenberg Munich 1950s Bow Embellished Red Silk Couture Cocktail Dress
Located in Munich, DE
This is an enchanting and elegant couture dance dress by Von Fürstenberg from the 1950s. The "New Look" was in full swing at that time and the excessive use of fabric and the full sk...
Torso Creations Canary Silk Crepe Micro-Mini Dress w Extravagant Ostrich Trim
By Torso Creations
Located in Gresham, OR
Torso Creations Canary Silk Crepe Micro-Mini Dress w Extravagant Ostrich Trim: Tank cut neck, fully lined and zippered back. Would be perfect for any costume ball! US size 4-6.
1990s CHANEL Black Bustier , Skirt and detachable Sleeves
By Karl Lagerfeld for Chanel, Chanel Boutique
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
1998 3 pcs Chanel by Karl Lagerfeld Black Crepe Bustier Corset and Creme bustle skirt with detachable sleeves and short sash that you can style it as a strap or scarf. Perfect for We...
Christian Dior by John Galliano S/S 2003 Sheer Lace Bondage Knit Black Dress
By Christian Dior
Located in Naples, FL
Christian Dior by John Galliano S/S 2003 Ruffled Belted Sheer Lace Bondage Open Knit Black Dress FR 38
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.