William Travilla
1980s American Evening Gowns
1980s American Evening Gowns
1960s American Evening Dresses
1970s American Evening Dresses and Gowns
1970s American Evening Dresses and Gowns
1980s American Evening Gowns
1980s American Shift Cocktail Dresses
1970s Unknown Cocktail Dresses
1970s American Wedding Dresses
1970s American Evening Gowns
1980s American Aesthetic Evening Dresses
1980s American Evening Dresses
People Also Browsed
1990s Italian Evening Dresses and Gowns
1980s French Shirts
1990s Evening Dresses
1950s American Wedding Dresses
1950s American Ballerina Dresses
Early 2000s Italian Evening Dresses
1990s Evening Dresses
Early 2000s Italian Top Handle Bags
1970s French Coats
Early 2000s Evening Gowns
Early 2000s Maxi Dress
Early 2000s Italian Evening Dresses and Gowns
1990s French Cocktail Dresses
1990s Italian Day Dresses
2010s Italian Casual Dresses
1990s French Day Dresses
Recent Sales
1970s American Evening Dresses and Gowns
1970s Informal Dresses
1980s American Cocktail Dresses
1970s American Evening Dresses
1970s American Evening Gowns
1970s American Evening Gowns
1950s American Formal Wear
1980s Unknown Cocktail Dresses
1970s American Day Dresses
1970s American Evening Gowns
1950s American Evening Dresses
1970s American Evening Gowns
1980s American Cocktail Dresses
1970s American Cocktail Dresses
1950s Evening Dresses and Gowns
1970s American Evening Gowns
1950s American Day Dresses
1980s American Cocktail Dresses
1970s American Evening Gowns
1980s American Evening Dresses and Gowns
1950s Evening Dresses and Gowns
1970s American Evening Dresses
1970s Shift Cocktail Dresses
20th Century American Cocktail Dresses
1960s American Evening Dresses
1980s American Cocktail Dresses
1970s American Day Dresses
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Finding the Right Evening-dresses for You
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.