Christian Dior Nightgowns

History of Christian Dior Nightgowns

During World War II, there were such severe restrictions on clothing, British women felt unpatriotic for having clothes only to wear while sleeping. Everything was simple and no adornments were allowed because all energies were focused on the war effort. Immediately following the war, there was no money for new clothes. However, by 1947, economies and outlooks were starting to improve, and designer Christian Dior introduced his famous New Look, which brought back the hourglass figure and an extravagant amount of fabric.

Dior said his mission was to make every woman look and feel like a duchess, no matter where she was in society. It was only fitting, therefore, that she be as elegant when she went to bed as when she went on the town. Most Christian Dior nightgowns were very long, made of silk or satin, trimmed with lace and delicately embroidered. For women who had spent several years wearing threadbare pajamas or chemises to bed, this was an unheard of opulence, and happily embraced.

Shopping for Dior Nightgowns

When you’re looking for a good price and selection, you’re better off shopping online, where a simple Google search will yield you a list of decent choices. The advantage you have with buying a nightgown online is that, unlike with most clothes and vintage lingerie, it’s not so fitted that you need to try it on. So long as the seller has given the measurements clearly, you can feel confident in going through with a purchase.

The following are a list of some Web sites that offer quality lingerie and Christian Dior nightgowns:

• Midnight Glamour
  • Midnight Glamour is a beautiful site selling all sorts of elegant things, from vintage coats and evening gowns to peignoir sets and robes. They post excellent pictures of their merchandise and describe it thoroughly, including any flaws that must be expected with a vintage piece. That said, they do not accept returns, so you want to be sure of your choice before purchasing. Their prices are very reasonable; they currently have three wonderful Dior nightgowns all for $100.

• Vintage City Clothing
  • While they currently only have one nightgown available, it’s a beautiful 1940s-style gown for only $17.99. This is another example of the detailing you get from fine designer lingerie. The lace bodice is delicate and very sexy, and the skirt flows.

• Lady in Red Fashions
  • Because the photos show the gown hanging on a hanger rather than on a dress dummy, you don’t get a sense of its shape and beauty, but the site describes the gown well and details its condition. They have a lot of good pieces and the prices are fairly low.

Designer Nightgowns on eBay

Buying anything on eBay is always a risk, because while most sellers are upright and honest, you really never know what you’re likely to get. However, eBay is where you’ll find the best prices from either individual sellers or those who have eBay shops. A lovely long nightgown with a V-neck, buttons and cap lace sleeves, charming enough that it could be worn as a vintage evening dress, is offered at $11.75. A classic nightgown from the 1970s starts at 19.99, and with its tied waist, fitted bodice and charming embroidered daffodils, it almost begs to be seen in public.

If, however, you prefer to wear your new purchase as it was originally meant to be worn, you can at least be sure that you’ll look forward to going to bed, and that you’ll sleep in luxury.