$1,850
Size: none; comparable to size XS
Will Steinman New Look Pink Blue Strapless Back Bow Ballerina Dress - XS, 1950s
By Will Steinman
Located in Tucson, AZ
label: Will Steinman Original size: no size tag present; comparable to modern size XS
Sold
Size: none; comparable to size S
Will Steinman Pink Strapless Asymmetrical Lace Wedding Ball Gown - Small, 1950s
By Will Steinman
Located in Tucson, AZ
), 168” (taffeta slip) label: Will Steinman Original size: no size tag present; comparable to modern
Sold
Size: none; comparable to size XS
Will Steinman Strapless Gold Metallic Brocade Ball Gown w Rear Bow – XS, 1950s
By Will Steinman
Located in Tucson, AZ
: Mary Carter Original by Will Steinman size: no size tag present; comparable to modern size extra small
1940s Vintage B. Altman & Co. Denim Chambray Dress w/ Horse Buttons
By B. Altman & Co.
Located in San Diego, CA
Incredible 1940s B. Altman & Co. Cotton Denim/Chambray dress, with horse buttons up bodice, and at sleeve cuffs! Beautiful lightweight fabric, with a flattering neckline, and full sk...
SADIE NEMSER c.1920’s Art Deco Silk Beaded Cubist Flapper Couture Dress
By SADIE NEMSER
Located in Thiensville, WI
SADIE NEMSER c.1920’s Art Deco Silk Beaded Embroidered Cubist Flapper Couture Dress Circa: 1920’s Label(s): Nemser Original Model Style: Drop waist dress Color(s): Shades of navy ...
2000S Red Wool Hand Knit Native Pattern Sweater
Located in New York, NY
2000S Red Wool Hand Knit Native Pattern Sweater
Unworn 1960s Charles Cooper Vintage 100% Cashmere Houndstooth Mod Shift Dress
By Charles Cooper
Located in Sparks, NV
Unworn with the original tag still attached to the sleeve! Vintage 1960s shift dress by Charles Cooper in super soft beige and off white cashmere. Fully lined with rear zip closure. ...
$1,129Sale Price|20% Off
Jean Paul Gaultier Vintage Fight Racism Newspaper Print Graphic Jacket
By Jean Paul Gaultier
Located in Nice, FR
JEAN PAUL GAULTIER vintage rare and collectable black and white newspaper print graphic jacket with "Fight Racism" slogan. This jacket features : - Faux fur collar, lining and detai...
Amazing 1960s Vintage mollie Parnis Paisley Silk Metallic Babydoll Dress
By Mollie Parnis
Located in San Diego, CA
One of my favorite Mollie Parnis pieces ever! Chic paisley print throughout in vibrant colors (This metallic silk fabric is magnificent!) Features a tie up the bodice, with tiny rhin...
$375Sale Price|21% Off
W 1.25 in
Italian Gilt Metal Jeweled Poured Glass Wide Hinged Cuff Bracelet c 1980s
Located in University City, MO
Italian gilt metal jeweled poured glass wide hinged cuff bracelet c 1980s The elegant jeweled cuff is sheathed with textured, hammered luminous gilt matte metal plating Encrusted wi...
Gold Plate
HERMES Rouge H burgundy leather VIBRATO KELLY 35 RETOURNE Bag
By Hermès
Located in Zürich, CH
Hermes 'Kelly II 35 Retourne Vibrato' bag in Rouge H (burgund) Veau Evercalf leather with multicolor Vibrato panel. Rare limited edition. Lined in Rouge H Chèvre (goat skin) with two...
Hot Pants - Shorts & Wrap Maxi Skirt Mignon 1970s Black & White
By Mignon
Located in Wallkill, NY
Vintage Mignon One Piece Hot Pant with matching wrap maxi skirt. Large Black Floral Motif on a white background. Crochet Top Illusion lined at the shoulders, white backed from the Bu...
Emilio Pucci for Formfit Rogers dress-slip
By Emilio Pucci
Located in New York, NY
This very early Emilio Pucci for Formfit Rogers dress-slip doesn't have the Emilio Pucci name written within the print, but, instead has "EPFR". The center front length measures 29",...
Gianni Versace Sculptural Dress 1990s
By Gianni Versace
Located in Water Mill, NY
A stunning red wool dress by Gianni Versace. It has great lines with square cut armholes, a fitted bodice and fabulous flared skirt with the back a few inches longer and fuller than ...
ALEXANDER McQUEEN A/W 2002 "Supercalifragilistic" Silk Lace Up Pencil Skirt
By Alexander McQueen
Located in Thiensville, WI
DESCRIPTION: ALEXANDER McQUEEN A/W 2002 "Supercalifragilistic" Silk Lace Up Pencil Skirt Brand / Manufacturer: Alexander McQueen Collection: Autumn / Winter 2002; “Supercalifragili...
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 ...
Vintage Black Cape with Bead Detail
Located in London, GB
A great addition to your party wardrobe, this vintage black cape has a stand up collar with bow detail. The outer layer has bead and lace detail and it is silk lined. Measurements: ...
Beautiful Vintage Eletra Casadei Lipstick Red Flutter Dress w/ Rhinestones
By Eletra Casadei, Casadei
Located in San Diego, CA
Beautiful vintage Eletra Casadei lipstic red dress! Casadei dresses are hard to come by, and when they arise, they are scooped up quick! This beauty is a prime of example of that rea...
$1,950
Size: Small / Medium
Vintage Vicky Tiel Couture 1980s Black Silk Jersey + Lace Rhinestone Dress
By Vicky Tiel
Located in San Diego, CA
Gorgeous vintage late 80s VICKY TIEL COUTURE black silk jersey and lace cocktail dress! Features signature flattering gathers and drapes. Sweetheart bodice with a black French Lace a...
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.