1980s Oleg Cassini Size 14 / 16 Purple Beaded Silk Chiffon Vintage 80s Dress
By Oleg Cassini, Black Tie by Oleg Cassini
Located in San Diego, CA
Beautiful vintage 80s OLEG CASSINI purple beaded silk chiffon drop waist handkerchief hem sequins dress !
$850
Size: vintage 10; comparable to size S
Oleg Cassini Black Heavily Beaded Illusion Power Gown w Trumpet Skirt - S, 1980s
By Black Tie by Oleg Cassini
Located in Tucson, AZ
A power gown that goes "all in" on 1980s details, from wide shoulder pads to a trumpet skirt to a drop waist in between. It even has beaded fringe that keeps moving long after you st...
Vintage 1970s Victoria Royal Purple Sequin 70s Silk Chiffon Maxi Dress Gown
By Victoria Royal, Lillie Rubin
Located in San Diego, CA
Approximately Size Medium Model in video is US Size 6 and 5’8 feet tall Measurements Bust: 36 to 38 inches Waist: 28 to 30 inches Hips: up to 42 inches Length (top back shoulder se...
$1,650
Size: Small - Small Medium
Alfred Bosand 1970s Vintage Purple / Lavender Sequin Silk + Lace 70s Gown
By Alfred Bosand
Located in San Diego, CA
Absolutely stunning vintage Alfred Bosand strapless gown! Bodice is boned, with lace over silk, with hundreds of sequins hand encrusted throughout. Chic lace ruffle at bust. POCKETS ...
Emanuel Ungaro 1980s Purple Silk Jacquard Asymmetrical Evening Gown
By Emanuel Ungaro
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
1980s Ungaro silk jacquard purple asymmetrical neckline evening gown with side brooch . Fit size 4/6 Measurement Bust : 34” Waist 28" Hip 35"
Vintage Eletra Casadei 1980s Black Sequined Beaded Silk Chiffon 80s Midi Dress
By Casadei, Eletra Casadei
Located in San Diego, CA
Beautiful vintage early 1980s (1982) ELETRA CASADEI black silk chiffon cocktail dress! Features a strapless bustier dress, with attached chiffon overlay. Thousands of hand-sewn sequi...
Vintage Oleg Cassini Size 6 1990s Royal Blue Silk Sequin Beaded 90s Mini Dress
By Oleg Cassini
Located in San Diego, CA
Stunning vintage OLEG CASSINI royal blue silk long sleeve beaded mini dress! Features thousands of hand-sewn sequins, beads, pearls and rhinestones throughout. Flattering tailored fi...
Vintage 80's Bob Mackie Navy Blue Fully Embellished Long Dress Gown size 10
By Bob Mackie
Located in Montgomery, TX
Vintage Bob Mackie Fully Embellished Long Dress Gown Designer size 10 ( pls. check measurements). Hand Beaded, 100% Silk, Navy Blue Beads and Multicolor Sequins Over the Black Tulle....
$875
Size: Small - Small Medium
Vintage 80s Victor Costa Neiman Marcus Purple Metallic Silk Taffeta Dress + Belt
By Victor Costa
Located in San Diego, CA
Incredible vintage 1980s / 80s VICTOR COSTA for NEIMAN MARCUS purple silk taffeta strapless dress and sash belt! Features accordian pleated ruffle along the bodice, down the front si...
1980's Oscar de la Renta Lavender Chiffon Beaded Evening Dress
By Oscar De La Renta
Located in Toronto, Ontario
Lavender silk chiffon beaded evening dress by Oscar de la Renta. Fabric has an all over devoree leopard print with white iridescent beading at the neckline and along the waistband. F...
$845
Size: Medium / Large
1980s Diane Freis Purple Regal Flowers and Jewels Printed Long Sleeve 80s Dress
By Diane Freis
Located in San Diego, CA
Chic 1980s DIANE FREIS purple flower and jewel printed long sleeve midi dress ! Features a beautiful purple background color with flowers ( maybe hibiscus ) in pink, with jewel print...
1970S LORIS AZZARO Black & Purple Viscose Jersey Slinky Disco Trained Gown
By Loris Azzaro
Located in New York, NY
Missing a few crystals off the strap 1970S LORIS AZZARO Black & Purple Viscose Jersey Slinky Disco Trained Gown
Vintage Liancarlo Couture Size 12 90s Black Silk One Shoulder 1990s Sequin Dress
By Liancarlo, Liancarlo Couture
Located in San Diego, CA
Beautiful vintage 1990s LIANCARLO COUTURE black silk sequined one shoulder dress! Features a black silk backdrop, with thousands of black hand-sewn sequins throughout. Layers of mesh...
Louis Feraud Beaded Silk Gown 1990s
By Louis Feraud
Located in Water Mill, NY
This is a gorgeous sapphire blue sequin and beaded gown by Louis Feraud. It has a rounded neckline in the front with a deep V in the back. The chest, upper arms and back V are fra...
1980s Geoffrey Beene Size 8 10 Avant Garde Black Purple Sequin Lace Silk Dress
By Geoffrey Beene
Located in San Diego, CA
Avant Garde vintage late 80s GEOFFREY BEENE black silk, lace and purple sequin cocktail dress! Features statement worthy strong shoulder with shoulder pads that could easily be remov...
$434
Size: 36 DE / 6 US / 10 UK / 38 FR
1980s Louis Féraud Black Velvet & Satin Sequin Beads Embellished Cocktail Dress
By Louis Feraud
Located in Munich, DE
This is an exquisite 1980s elaborately beaded and sequined Louis Féraud black pure cotton velvet and vibrant coloured satin cocktail dress. The knee-length dress features an abstract...
1980s Purple Silk Beaded Sequin Large Size Flapper Style Vintage 80s Dress
Located in San Diego, CA
Amazing 1980s purple silk chiffon beaded and sequined flapper style cocktail dress ! Features thousands of hand-sewn sequins and beads throughout. Sheer chiffon bellow the neck. Hidd...
1990s Oleg Cassini BlackTie Sequin Mini Dress - Silk & Turquoise Embelli
By Black Tie by Oleg Cassini
Located in Charenton-le-pont, FR
A dazzling cocktail piece from the 1990s BlackTie line by Oleg Cassini. This mini dress is masterfully crafted from 100% silk, entirely adorned with shimmering black sequins and high...
Iconic Vintage Janice Wainwright Black Flapper Style " Roaring 20s" Jersey Dress
By Janice Wainwright
Located in San Diego, CA
Incredible vintage Janice Wainwright black jersey and purple velvet dress! Iconic piece, that reflects Wainwright's incredible attention to detail, which in turn flatter the body in ...
Gold beaded cocktail dress BLACK TIE by OLEG CASSINI
By Black Tie by Oleg Cassini
Located in Saint-Ouen-Sur-Seine, FR
Gold beaded cocktail dress with bead fringes . Main fabric composition: 100% silk. Lining: 100% rayon. Padded bra. Invisible zip closure on the middle back + hook&eye. Size on tag 6 ...
Luxurious and versatile, designer day dresses are as well suited to tea at an upscale hotel as they are to your next garden or rooftop party.
Today’s featherlight unisex day dresses — as well as the vibrant vintage day dresses of the 1950s and ’60s — look quite different from the heavy, fabric-rich de rigueur garments of the Victorian era. In the late 19th century, a woman of a certain standing might have multiple dresses to wear throughout the day: specifically, one or two for the daytime and one for the evening. For example, a long-sleeve silk dress with a prominently flared back and a round collar of gold beaded lace that hugs the neck would be suitable for stepping out during the day, while a velvet gown trimmed in silk embroidery but overall comparatively informal in appearance would be worn for afternoon tea at home. At night, a silk velvet evening dress could feature natural world motifs such as butterflies (a characteristic of Art Nouveau design) and have short sleeves adorned with lace and ruffles and a scooped neckline — the perfect attire for the theater.
During the 1920s, after all the chores were done, a woman would change from her housework clothing into a more fashionable day dress to run her errands or socialize. Some 1920s day dresses were brightly colored and featured bold patterns — a cotton dress with a dazzling floral print, perhaps, or, in the case of the more venturesome Art Deco apparel sold in high-end couture fashion boutiques of the era, semi-sheer silk garments embellished with three-dimensional beadwork or rich metallic gold lamé.
Today, a closet full of casual vintage day dresses is a must-have. Whether you opt for black, crimson or beige, day dresses bring an element of glamour to your next appointment, and in the summer, who doesn’t love a wonderfully simple, lightweight day dress cut in cotton and linen?
Because different fashion designers of every decade have offered their own take on the widely loved day dress, you’ll be able to find a variety of vintage and designer day dresses on 1stDibs. Search by creator to find enduring designs by the likes of Emilio Pucci, Pierre Cardin, Yves Saint Laurent and Christian Dior, or browse by period to uncover a scintillating collection of cotton and satin patterned dresses of the 1950s and ’60s.