Embroidered Cotton Dresses
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21st Century and Contemporary American Empire Waist Dresses
1970s American Maxi Dresses
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1960s French Cocktail Dresses
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Early 1900s American Maxi Dresses
1920s French Mini Dress
1970s American Cocktail Dresses
1970s American Maxi Dress
1970s American Maxi Dress
Late 20th Century French Day Dresses
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1960s Unknown Evening Dresses
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1920s French Evening Dresses
20th Century Moroccan Kaftans
1970s American Kaftans
21st Century and Contemporary Unknown Wedding Dresses
Late 20th Century Italian Evening Dresses and Gowns
Early 2000s Babydoll Dresses
1970s Caftans
2010s British Day Dresses
21st Century and Contemporary Cocktail Dresses
2010s Unknown Cocktail Dresses
1990s American Cocktail Dresses
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Cocktail Dresses
1960s Indian Cocktail Dresses
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Finding the Right Evening Dresses and Gowns 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.
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A Chanel Obsessive’s Cache Extends Well beyond Her Walk-In Closet
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A Short History of Capri Pants, on the 100th Birthday of Their Inventor
Once considered a controversial item of clothing, fashion designer Sonja de Lennart's creation is now a bona fide classic.
How the Chanel Jacket Forever Changed What Women Wear
The classic tweed garment has been a wardrobe staple of chic women around the world since the 1950s.
A Pair of Shoes — Heels or Flats — Can Tell an Impactful Story
Amanda Benchley and Bridget Moynahan teamed up to explore the relationship between powerful women and their most significant footwear.
You Saw It at the Met Ball. Here’s What Camp Fashion Is Really About
This year's Costume Institute exhibition is all about embracing the eccentric.
The V&A Takes a Fresh Look at the New Look’s Pioneering Progenitor, Christian Dior
Ballrooms, Bar Suits and British royals — in a sweeping exhibition, the London museum looks back on 70 years of the French fashion house, as well as its illustrious founder and his fondness for the United Kingdom.