Vintage-Inspired Dresses: The Decades Behind Today’s Romantic Styles

Many of the dresses we love most borrow from the past. Bias cuts come from the 1930s, swingy shifts from the 1960s, prairie florals from the 1970s. Dôen’s designers often name the decade behind a style, which makes its range a good map of vintage dressing, all in the Dôen collection at Coveti. Use this guide to recognise each era, then browse our designer dresses. For more on the label, read who Dôen is.

Edwardian (1900s to 1910s)

White cotton lawn, inset lace, high necks and pintucks. The style is delicate and covered. Dôen’s Heirloom pieces nod to it directly, as in the Adrienne Dress in Salt and the Esperance Dress in Salt. See our Edwardian blouse guide for tops.

1920s

Dropped waists, straight lines and beading. Dresses hang from the shoulder rather than nipping in at the waist.

1930s

The bias cut arrives: fabric cut on the diagonal so it drapes over the body. Silk satin and crepe, cowl necks and fine straps. The Silvanie Dress in Camille Dot is a good modern example, cut on the bias in silk-viscose twill with a cowl neckline.

1940s

Structured shoulders, defined waists and practical prints, often on rayon. Hems fall just below the knee.

1950s

Full skirts, fitted bodices and small waists. Sweetheart necklines and swing skirts.

1960s

Short, simple shift dresses and baby-doll shapes. Dôen’s Edie Dress in Moondust and Edie Dress in Antique Gold are described by the brand as 1960s-inspired, in glittering metallic lace with a popover silhouette. The Maevie Dress in Rosebud is a 1960s babydoll in silk georgette.

1970s

Long, flowing dresses, prairie florals, peasant blouses and ruffles. This decade is behind much of the romantic dressing of today. Our guide to wearing a prairie dress covers it.

1990s

The slip dress: minimal, bias-cut and worn alone. Dôen’s Zoelle Dress in Larimar is its take on a 1990s slip, in silk satin with lace at the neckline and hem.

How to wear vintage-inspired dresses now

• Pair one vintage piece with modern accessories, so it never looks like fancy dress.
• Choose natural fabrics, which age well and feel right for the style.
• Mix decades lightly: a 1930s slip with a 1970s cardigan works.

Vintage-inspired dresses from Dôen

Every piece below is in stock at Coveti now, authenticated and shipped worldwide. See the full Dôen collection for every colourway.

• Dôen Calanthe Dress in Candlelight, 1570 US dollars. The Calanthe Dress is a fitted dress in georgette.
• Dôen Verity Dress in Petit Posy Calico, 470 US dollars. The Verity Dress is a popover dress in organic cotton voile.
• Dôen Illiana Dress in Blanc Prairie Rose, 690 US dollars. The Illiana Dress is a tiered dress in organic cotton.
• Dôen Georgiana Dress in Salt, 980 US dollars. Cut in organic cotton voile, the Georgiana Dress is a soft dress with a square neckline.
• Dôen Liviana Dress in Salt, 840 US dollars. The Liviana Dress is a soft dress in organic cotton voile.
• Dôen Patience Dress in Salt, 650 US dollars. The Patience Dress is a popover dress in organic cotton poplin, cut with a square neckline.

Frequently asked questions

What does vintage-inspired mean?

A new garment designed to recall the style of an earlier decade, as opposed to a genuine vintage piece made at the time.

What decade are bias-cut dresses from?

The bias cut is most associated with the 1930s and returned as the slip dress in the 1990s.

Which brands make vintage-inspired dresses?

Dôen, Erdem and Zimmermann all draw on historical references. Our list of brands like Dôen has more.