No single designer made the shift dress. Instead, the style evolved over time. Many fashion historians credit Coco Chanel's little black dress as an important precursor to the modern-day shift dress and Mary Quant for popularizing the style in the 1960s. Designer Lilly Pulitzer reinvented it with colorful, bold prints, while Yves Saint Laurent elevated it with a color block motif inspired by the painting Composition with Yellow, Red, Black, Blue, and Gray by Piet Mondrian. Explore a diverse assortment of shift dresses on 1stDibs.

What the dress style was called in the 1960s varied, as there were several types of dresses that were fashionable during the decade. At the start of the 1960s, many women wore swing dresses featuring fitted bodices and full skirts. Collared, button-up belted dresses called shirtwaist dresses were also popular, as were loose-fitting, flowy shift dresses. By the late 1960s, new styles emerged, such as flared, flowing tent dresses, sleeveless jumpers usually styled over sweaters and blouses and drop-waist dresses, which had their waist seams at the hips rather than the natural waist. Find a varie

The dresses they wore in the 1960s varied depending on the time of day and the occasion. For everyday wear, many women opted for simply tailored frocks called shift dresses. They often featured bold geometric prints in eye-catching colors. In the evening, women tended to opt for gowns with plunging necklines, fitted waists and flowing full skirts. On 1stDibs, shop a diverse assortment of vintage dresses from the 1960s.