Mid-20th Century Evening Dresses and Gowns

Charming vintage YEN YEN OF MALAYA 1960S teal blue and lime green paisley and brocade print silk A-Line dress! I have had the pleasure of owning a handful of d...

Breathtaking mid-1950's creme silk satin ballgown attributed to Pierre Balmain. This iconic designer created a very sculptural quality which was always allied with a ladylike essence. His garments have a body and a shape of their own. This absolutely stunning French couture dress is fashioned from the most luxurious materials and of the finest craftsmanship, resembling Pierre Balmain's "Jolie Madame" collection. In 1947 he opened a boutique on the ground floor of his couture house, which he named "Jolie Madame". These pieces were not out-sourced nor factory mass produced. They were made a few at a time, in the designer's own workroom, exactly as if a client had ordered multiple duplicates of a couture design with Balmain's extraordinary workmanship still readily apparent. The bodice is a seductive fully-boned twisted knot shelf-bust with gorgeous pleating. Sumptuous embroidery and beadwork add sensational 3-dimensional richness to the silhouette. The hourglass drop-waist full skirt construction finished this ballgown with the perfect ethereal vibe. I totally see this satin couture show-stopper gliding down the red carpet. Measurements Bust:33-34 inches Waist:25 inches Hips: Free Sweep Total Length:60 inches This couture ballgown...

Vintage 1960s Black, yellow, red botanical floral print rayon wrap dress with bishop sleeves. sturdy rayon-blend faille with a crisp satin finish. The sleeves are gathered to extende...

Vintage from the 1960s Hand Done Chantilly Lace Partially Lined in Brown Back Metal Zip, Hook and Button Closure Marked Size: Not Marked Estimated Size: Small-Medium Color: Bla...

Woven plaid coat dress by Oscar de la Renta Boutique from the 1960s! Black fabric trim and long sleeves. Details Partially Lined Front and Back Zip Closure Circa: 1970s Labe...

A mid-1960s Pierre Cardin haute couture brown chiffon halter dress with neck bow and Ostrich feather trim. Constructed from chocolate brown bias-cut silk chiffon, this cocktail dress...

Black wool crepe dress with a round neck and fitted bodice. The skirt is embellished by four all around satin strips which form into fixed bows at the side. Closure is by way of a co...

A colorful 1960s Emilio Pucci silk jersey print dress with waist band, V neckline and zippered back.

A gorgeous 1960s Roger Milot for Fred Perlberg autumnal lame paisley cocktail dress with wide ruffled hem and cuffs. Matching belt.

A fantastic 1950s Mr. Blackwell 2-piece cocktail dress and vest. Black silk crepe spaghetti strap sheath with an incredible and finely wrought beaded and embroidered crest in metall...

Charles James magenta taffeta faille cocktail dress with intricate tuck and drape at bodice and faux "apron" panel concealing deep unpressed pleats. Unlabelled.

White satin and ivory taffeta "Lampshade" gown by Charles James with custom bugle beaded decoration. Oversized boned and crinolined flounce. The armature underneath allows the aerod...

This incredible Galanos gown from 1965 is featured in the Galanos Retrospective book. The strapless bodice is heavily beaded and stoned with gold, red, green and clear stones and bea...

A beautiful James Galanos 1950s column gown with silk satin skirt and "petal" layered crimson velvet pieces, each meticulously beaded around the edge with heavy jet black beading. H...

A fantastic 50s silk jacquard cocktail dress in black with a floral pattern: zips up the back with a square neckline, 3/4 fitted sleeves, deep V back, a gat...

Elsa Schiaparelli was well connected into the avant-garde artistic and intellectual circles of New York and Paris in the 1920s and 30s. She regarded fashion as art and thought of herself as an artist. She was the first and arguably the most influential designer to explore irony in dress, collaborating frequently with fellow Surrealists Jean Cocteau, Salvador Dali, and Man Ray. One is reminded of the famed Dali-Schiaparelli organdy Lobster dress...

A gorgeous very early example of James Galanos' fine work. Label style indicates it was made between '51 and '55. Very simple but extremely structured wool strapless bodice and volu...

An exquisite 1960s couture black velvet column gown with a dramatic Asian-inspired beaded and embellished ivory satin obi bow. Heavily constructed bodice with boned underpinnings. An...

A wonderful60s Luis Estévez chiffon cocktail dress with voluminous sheer chiffon sleeves caught up at the cuff with rhinestones! Double layered chiffon over an underskirt flutters a...

This is an amazing early 60s bubble cocktail dress by Bob Bugnand (Paris)!! It is constructed with a silk velvet structured strapless bodice in black with a front-gathered floral embroidered silk bubble skirt. The floral motif in shades of red and gray is beaded also! Size 2 with room for a bit of bust. Inspiration and/or study piece...

1940s Adrian black and white color-block rayon crepe gown with capelet back, slash detail and geometric sequin blocking. An incredible piece from the legendary designer of screen an...