Wow! Look what I discovered today. All in one place, just waiting to be uncovered. It started off with these wonderful late ’60’s/early ’70’s poly shirts – one men’s and one women’s. They both have lovely cloth embroidered labels at the neckline and are in virtually perfect shape. Fabulous collars with internal collar stays and great prints. Love that green geometric and I’m always drawn to paisley, though the patchwork style is not my favorite so it won’t be a keeper.

I turned to another bin and look what was hiding – a sparkly mid-century handmade evening clutch, 2 high-quality leather wallets and a leather card case. The bag is from Hong Kong (always one of the best) with faux jet highly reflective faceted beads woven together as a mesh over a silk or rayon lining. Very simple and tailored with one inside pocket and a metal zipper close. The dark brown wallet and card case are made with a paper-thin leather that I see only once in a while. Often it was called “Morrocan leather” and made in the U.K. or elsewhere overseas. The wallet here was a Tilley product and even has a zippered coin compartment on one side and slots for 3 cards on the other. Bills go inside and it has a metal snap closure. As always, Tilley products are uber-practical and exceptionally well-made. The card case is very similar but unbranded. It folds once and has two window slots inside as well as the card slots on the outside. Lastly, a beige leather ladies’ wallet in two tones, by Buxton. It is fairly slim, too, which is always nice inside a purse and has features I love like an external coin purse with a kiss closure and a decorative tab lock with a metal snap. 3 inside card slots place it in the later part of the mid-century since earlier styles usually had cellophane sleeves to hold cards, photos, etc. They can be a little messy to access and didn’t stand up over the long-term. This one’s an elegant beauty. I like to match the colors with my vintage handbags.

As with the case of fur or reptile skins, I don’t buy anything made of leather at retail, either. But when I happen on a beautiful secondhand vintage piece I will collect and use it until it’s journey is done because quality design and craftsmanship should be honored. Buying vintage, secondhand doesn’t support the market for animal products and their production will end when we stop purchasing them new, so that’s my path and the one that I encourage.

You just never know, and that’s the adventure. She’ll have fun, fun, fun . . . . . . . . . . ..so stay tuned. . . . ..

MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY

BLOG: MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM

As always, there it was. Crocheted and assembled in the 1960’s or early 1970’s is my best guess. The yarn appears to be a more “modern” acrylic, but it also resembles very similar bags I have discovered which were made in the Depression/War-time era of 1930 – 1945.

Also as usual, this one seems to have been carried very little. Women who have lived during any time of some deprivation, whether due to historical and cultural events or simply a time of budget crisis in their own lives, have tended to care for their wardrobe items very conscientiously. The gal who made this purse had good needlework skills and even took the extra step of constructing and adding dividers to create 4 separate compartments made of matching fabric and some type of poster board. Very practical use of what was at hand.

It has a bit of storage wear, but the color is still a vibrant, dark navy (please overlook the camera and sunlight wash-out) and the stitching is very sound. Of course I had to pick up this one-of-a-kind accessory piece which tells it’s own story. But, who was She? Sometimes you just never know . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY

BLOG: MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM

As you can see, I’m not at Headquarters and haven’t been doing any real espionage lately BUT the clues are still out there. During recent investigations I’d been losing sight of 1940’s and 1950’s lingerie slips, which used to be commonly sighted before the Pandemic. Alas, as the former generations leave the scene, their precious wardrobe items also start to disappear. So, can you imagine my excitement when this lacy nylon slip came into view?!

It’s not a luxury item, but see the pretty embroidered label, the wide ribbon straps with metal hardware and abundant lace trim. The nylon fabric is substantial and slinky, the bodice is shaped with seaming and pointy cups and a panel of the floral-patterned lace and mesh has been appliqued under the bustline and down the front to below the waist. An interesting plus about this particular piece is that it has a short length, which is quite unusual for slips made in the 1950’s to very early 1960’s. There’s been no alteration to the original hemline so it may have been manufactured as a petite size. At any rate, that makes it much more versatile and it will become a part of my closet.

This type of decoration with this quality of lace hasn’t been seen in several decades excepting from a very few small and pricey companies that are still trying to keep vintage-style glamor alive. Even though this slip requires a little bit of TLC (just one small mend), I’d rather have an original piece of the REAL THING any day. Naturally, I had to share this find and encourage all sleuths to keep eyes open because you just never know . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY

BLOG: MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM

Out and about at a small estate sale it was fun to browse, but not much of interest until I spotted this mid-century quilted bathrobe. It’s not glamorous, it’s not a Star, but it IS a PERFECT example of a garment which almost everyone’s grandma or great-grandma may have had in her closet in +/- 1950! No doubt it came from an everyday bargain store like Spurgeons, J.C. Penney, Montgomery Ward or Sears & Roebuck. Alas, there is no remaining label, if there ever was one. The scalloped collar hints at the 1940’s, buttons to the mid-calf (modesty covered!), the 3/4 sleeves and tiny rose print were common at various times during wartime and the next 20 years and the pearlized pink plastic buttons with stems are SO Fifties. It’s also in great shape.

Every one of the 6 buttons is present!! The original belt is present!!! The in-seam pocket has no holes!!!! It’s lightweight but cozy-warm without being made of polyester plastic material (I suspect that it is entirely or mostly nylon). It’s clean with no stains and only minor wear, which doesn’t show without close examination.

So, into my closet it hangs as a go-to bathrobe which I will use daily just like Peggy, or Mavis, or Doris, or Annette, or Mary Jane, or . . . .

You just never know .

MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY

BLOG: MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM

As always, it never fails – even when I’m not looking (when am I never “not” sleuthing?); one for the Gents and one for the Divas. Recently, but in two different places on two different days. It’s hard to say that one of these was more surprising and fun, but I’ll start with the second found, because it has the most “seniority”.

Classic costume rhinestones, in a “formal event” necklace. I’ve found a number of these, so why did I decide to collect this one? It’s got to do with the details: hardly a high-end piece, this bit of paste jewelry was made for the common market. It’s very sparkly (the photo doesn’t do it justice) but has a minor flaw or two in the construction. It’s all cool because this necklace appears to be from the 1940’s or 1930’s and would have been a special element of some woman’s jewel box. I can probably correct the flaw with small tools.

The tie is the man’s equivalent. Made in a great attempt to reproduce a 1950’s version, this 100% silk tie is probably from the early 1980’s. Like so many wonderful kitschy wardrobe items, it was likely acquired during a vacation. Watson’s Desert Inn is/was on Canary Island, and now may have disappeared. The tie, however, is very well-made and has great design harking back to the 1950’s Las Vegas era. Take a zoom in to examine the illustration. As with many items purchased at travel destinations, it looks as though it was never used. Perfect!

As I always say, you just never know. So, stay tuned . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY

BLOG: MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM

A beautiful example of a Shadowline housecoat from the 1960’s – early 1970’s. I’ve seen and owned many similar, but this one is special with full length sleeves and hemline. Made from that wonderful mid-century slinky knit nylon, and it also has the small embroidered rosebuds at the neckline which I prefer to the larger variety seen on later styles. Another plus is the fabric-covered buttons. Perfect condition, and in my size!

Shadowline lingerie company was started in 1946 and is still making quality lingerie, but merged with another company in 2008. They have tried to stay true to earlier designs, but apparently many archives were lost in the merger. Some of the 1940’s – 1950’s examples are truly lovely and can still be seen on vintage clothing sites, Ebay and Etsy. Fortunately, they are still using their proprietary 100% nylon fabric “Opacitrique”, which allows for excellent coverage. They also have a version which is sheer for styles which require this and customers who prefer it.

I’m not too familiar with Shadowline’s more modern products so can’t be fair, but I suspect that I haven’t paid attention to them when sleuthing because they just weren’t up to the standard of the older designs. Maybe I’m wrong. At any rate, it’s truly a vintage manufacturer which still makes a good product and should be recommended.

In any case, I will enjoy my mid-century piece and keep eyes open for more – because you just never know . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY

BLOG: MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM