Wilson Abbott Wilson Folmar 1950 Coral Gold Bead & Sequin Gold Lame Sheath dress
By Edward Abbott
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
1950s Coral & gold beads with gold sequins, gold lame sheath cocktail dress by Wilson Abbott Wilson Folmar. This is an amazing dress that has survived time in very good wearable cond...
1970s Wilson Folmar Red and Gold Gown
Located in Toronto, Ontario
1970's Wilson Folmar sleeveless Indian sari influenced gown.
Wilson Folmar for Edward Abbott Cocktail Dress
Located in New Hope, PA
Wison Folmar designed for Jay-Thorpe and Maurice Rentner before moving to Edward Abbott in the 1950's. This dress is a gorgeous example of his feminine evening dresses.
The b...
Wilson Folmar for Edward Abbott Vintage 1960s 60s Black Ruffle Cocktail Dress
By Edward Abbott
Located in Sparks, NV
Flattering vintage cocktail dress by one of our favorite vintage designers: Wilson Folmar for Edward Abbott. Simple and chic with ruffles that accentuate the tiny waist on this dress...
Wilson Folmar for Edward Abbott Metallic Cream Floral Print Dress, Late 1950s
By Edward Abbott
Located in San Francisco, CA
Wilson Folmar for Edward Abbott late 1950's metallic cream, pink, green, and gold floral print dress.
Edward Abbott Vintage 1960s Metallic Gold Brocade Coat
By Edward Abbott
Located in Sparks, NV
Details: Fully Lined Front Button Closure Marked Size: Not Marked Estimated Size: S-M Fabric: Brocade Label: Edward Abbott/ Wilson Folmar Measurements: Bust: Up To 42"...
Vintage 1960's Edward Abbott Black Silk Cape Train Draped Dress
By Edward Abbott
Located in Sparks, NV
Stunning asymmetrically draped silk cocktail dress by Wilson Folmar for Edward Abbott. The ruched silk fabric drapes perfectly across the bias for the most flattering cut.
La Perla vintage silk nightgown dress
By La Perla
Located in Алматинский Почтамт, KZ
La Perla vintage silk nightgown dress Size 3 Excellent condition, a couple of micro-spots, see photo
Black silk wrapped top ALEXANDRE VAUTHIER
By Alexandre Vauthier
Located in Saint-Ouen-Sur-Seine, FR
Black silk wrapped top . Rhinestone Button and buttonhole on the sleeve edge SIZE 36/38 SAMPLE
F/W 1996 Ralph Lauren Collection Prototype Black Stretch Leather Backless Gown
By Ralph Lauren
Located in West Hollywood, CA
This Ralph Lauren Collection gown from the Fall/Winter 1996 collection is cut in a long, fitted column silhouette. It is constructed in black stretch viscose with a high halter neckl...
$1,629
Size: Marked IT44 but fits 36FR
Blumarine Couture Spring 2004 Runway Butter Yellow Beaded Silk Dress & Slip
By Blumarine
Located in Charenton-le-pont, FR
An enchanting piece of runway history from the Blumarine Couture Spring/Summer 2004 collection. This delicate butter yellow tank dress is crafted from 100% silk and features intricat...
Gold lace cocktail dress with sequin embellishment CHANEL BOUTIQUE
By Chanel Boutique, Karl Lagerfeld for Chanel
Located in Saint-Ouen-Sur-Seine, FR
Gold lace cocktail dress with sequin embellishment . Lace composition: 81% polyester, 19% nylon. Silk lining. Invisible zip closure on the middle back. Branded button on the sleeve b...
New Roberto Cavalli Buckle Stiletto Heel Black Leather Platform Boots 37 - US 7
By Roberto Cavalli
Located in Montgomery, TX
New Roberto Cavalli Black Leather High Heel Boots Designer size - 37 Style - BQS023-PZ220 Smooth Black Leather, Multiple Straps, Gold-Tone Buckles with Engraved Logo, Inner Half Zip...
Roberto Cavalli S/S 2003 Crinkled Silk Shirt with Tattoo Heart Embroidery
By Roberto Cavalli
Located in Paris, FR
Crinkled silk shirt Roberto Cavalli featuring distinctive textural treatment throughout the fabric. Cut in a fitted silhouette with classic collar and button front closure secured wi...
1998 ATELIER VERSACE haute couture silk floral mini RUNWAY dress
By Gianni Versace, Atelier Versace
Located in San Fransisco, CA
A rare Atelier Versace couture mini dress from the Spring/Summer 1998 runway collection, made of lustrous silk with a sleek, body-skimming silhouette. The piece is cut sleeveless w...
D&G Yellow Printed Ruched Chiffon Corset
By D&G by DOLCE & GABBANA
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This D&G Yellow Printed Ruched Chiffon Corset is an elegant choice for sophisticated daytime occasions. Crafted with delicate ruched chiffon fabric, it drapes beautifully to enhance ...
Ralph Lauren Purple Label Gold Chain Evening Dress, SS 2008
By Ralph Lauren
Located in London, GB
▪ Brand: Ralph Lauren ▪ Creative Director: Ralph Lauren ▪ Collection: Spring-Summer 2008 ▪ Fabric: Metal, Silk, Tulle ▪ Size: US4 - UK8 - FR36 ▪ Made in: United States ▪ Condition: E...
$22,476
Size: FR42 - UK14 - US10
Christian Dior by John Galliano Gold & Olive Metallic Silk Dress & Fur, FW 2004
By John Galliano for Christian Dior, Christian Dior
Located in London, GB
▪ Brand: Christian Dior ▪ Creative Director: John Galliano ▪ Collection: Fall-Winter 2004 ▪ Fabric: Silk, Fox ▪ Size: FR42 - UK14 - US10 ▪ Made in: France ▪ Condition: Excellent ▪ Ma...
Roberto Cavalli Vintage F/W 2006 Red Halter Fringe Gown Dress
By Roberto Cavalli
Located in Melbourne, VIC
Prémode presents Roberto Cavalli F/W 2006 Red Halter Fringe Gown Roberto Cavalli Fall/Winter 2006 collection, shown to classical violin at the Arco della Pace in Milan, is widely co...
Roberto Cavalli Neon Green Velvet & Fur Evening Dress & Cape Ensemble FW 1999
By Roberto Cavalli
Located in London, GB
▪ Brand: Roberto Cavalli ▪ Creative Director: Roberto Cavalli ▪ Collection: Fall-Winter 1999 ▪ Fabric: Rabbit, Shearling, Silk, Velvet ▪ Size: Small ▪ Made in: Italy ▪ Condition: Exc...
$32,011
Size: FR36 - UK8 - US4
Christian Dior by John Galliano Black Lace and White Silk Evening Dress, FW 2005
By John Galliano for Christian Dior, Christian Dior
Located in London, GB
▪ Brand: Christian Dior ▪ Creative Director: John Galliano ▪ Collection: Fall-Winter 2005 ▪ Fabric: Lace, Silk ▪ Size: FR36 - UK8 - US4 ▪ Made in: France ▪ Condition: Excellent ▪ Man...
Vintage Paco Rabanne S/S 2004 Translucent PVC Mini Dress
By Paco Rabanne
Located in London, GB
Vintage Paco Rabanne Spring Summer 2004 PVC transparent mini dress. This iconic piece is constructed from translucent circular discs linked together with fine metal rings, it reflect...
A/W 2002 Roberto Cavalli runway leather floral patches sheer dress
By Roberto Cavalli
Located in Milano, Lombardia
A/W 2002 Roberto Cavalli runway leather floral patches sheer dress Runway A/W 2002 Roberto Cavalli sheer dress featuring leather floral patches cascading across the body. The long, ...
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.