Designer Evening Dresses

From LoveToKnow Womens-Fashion

For decades, nothing has spelled glamour more clearly to women than designer evening dresses. With some careful shopping, you don’t need to be like Carrie Bradshaw and spend a month’s rent on a dress (although you certainly can if you think it’s worth it). Some designer dresses can be found for much lower prices than what was originally suggested.

When it's correctly fitted, nothing is as glamorous as a fabulous evening dress.

History of Designer Evening Dresses

Until the twentieth century, women’s clothes were made by the wearers themselves, or, if they were wealthy, by seamstresses hired specifically for the job. A particularly talented purveyor of women’s clothing might become well known, but the designer as understood today did not take hold in the world of fashion until the 1920s.

The first designer to be famous in the Western world was Coco Chanel, who invented the "little black dress" and whose boxy suits are still prized by fashionable ladies today. By the 1930s, more names were beginning to be known, and most of them were French. Paris, despite a long history of social and political upheavals in France, was considered the first and last word in style for several centuries. An American woman who had a dress from Paris was a woman of distinction.

Paris lost its fashion leadership position during World War II, but regained it soon after and names like Dior and the Italian-born Schiaparelli, along with Italian designers like Valentino, became the must-haves. American designers gained on the European stronghold, and designers like Claire McCardell and Anne Klein combined elegance and practicality, like Chanel before them, to create a bold, new, "American" look – although the bulk of their clothes were popular for day wear only. The evening wear was still mostly Parisian.

Shopping for Designer Evening Dresses

For up to the minute designer wear, you have to shop at a high-end boutique or department store. While you can buy a dress online, this is only advisable if you have no other option – if you are buying a vintage dress, for example. Women may be frustrated investing in a designer evening dress to wear for a great event that doesn't fit properly.

Fashionistas and designers have always known that the right fit is key to a gown’s look. It doesn’t matter how fine the fabric or what sort of intricate detailing there is – if it doesn’t fit perfectly, it won’t look good. You only have to watch the Oscars to understand this. Most actresses have image stylists, yet there will always be one who comes a cropper, and usually because the dress just doesn’t fit quite right. Take the time and make the effort to find a good salesperson at a shop who really understands body shape and fabric so that you will end up with a dress that looks like it was designed specifically for you.

A few evening gown lines to consider include:

Vintage Designer Evening Dresses

Despite the popularity of many modern designers, vintage gowns remain in vogue. There is a lot to love in a vintage dress beyond its uniqueness. From a delicately beaded, flowing gown from the 1920s, to the body-shaping silks of the 1930s and 1940s, to the low cuts and tight bodices of the 1950s – a vintage gown makes a statement. It’s preferable to shop in person where you can, but many web sites carry high-quality vintage gowns or reproduction wear and can advise you on sizing. Some good sites for actual vintage wear include:

If you’d rather go with reproduction clothes, there are some excellent designers out there. Two of the best are:

Both have excellent customer service and will work with you on sizing. Revamp will even make a dress you like in another fabric of your choice, if you desire.

A designer evening dress is an investment, so try to go with what you love, rather than what’s cheapest. In the end, you’ll be glad you did.

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