Author Archives: Morgana Martin, the magicvintagespy

BEAUTIFUL MID-CENTURY HAT IN EMERALD GREEN – TRUE VINTAGE MADE IN FRANCE

IMG_1508Just recently, I’ve encountered a string of true vintage accessory items.  Here’s one of the cutest . . . . .

A tiny toque style hat that sits on top of the head – not quite a Forties doll hat, but almost.  Perhaps closer to a Sixties pillbox style, but not quite that, either. Good guess that it may come from the 1950’s.

Don’t know what they would have called this design in France, but we can be sure that it was on the leading edge of fashion when it was made, because the French always have been.

Emerald green wool felt, with a grosgrain ribbon and bow detail.  A simple style that packs a punch.  Always fun for St. Patrick’s Day, but this gorgeous color is such a beautiful accent anytime – especially when it enhances the coloring of the wearer to perfection . . . . . . .

MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY

BLOG:  MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM

BOOK:  HOW TO FIND THE BEST IN VINTAGE FASHION – AVAILABLE ON AMAZON.COM

TRUE VINTAGE 1960S – ’70s GREEN FLORAL PRINT HAWAIIAN DRESS

TRUE VINTAGE 1960S – ’70s GREEN FLORAL PRINT HAWAIIAN DRESS

TRUE VINTAGE 1960S - '70s GREEN FLORAL PRINT HAWAIIAN DRESS

What’s special about this find?  Aside from being about 40 years old, it is made in Hawaii – which used to mean beautiful, quality cottons and rayons and lovely workmanship.  This one doesn’t disappoint.  It has a back zipper with a small bow trim there. The neckline has piping around it and the heavy cotton material drapes nicely.  As usual, the print and color saturation are wonderful in these fabrics.

A straight, mu-mu style is very versatile and flattering to most figures.

Are you planning to attend or host some casual event this weekend, or just a laid-back day at home?  In keeping with the green spirit of this St. Patrick’s holiday, I suggest a dress like this one.  As long as it’s warm enough where you are, a dress like this can be worn almost anywhere, to do anything.  It’s even possible to dress it up with jewelry, shoes and bag.

Vintage made in Hawaii has always been so distinctive – it’s a special look all its own.  It does tend to follow style trends a bit, but some of the classic looks don’t change. I’ll be showing others that are older, too.  These have been so popular over the years that they sometimes turn up in my searches and I’m always thrilled to find them.  Just putting one on takes me to an exotic time in my mind and then, well you just never know . . . . . . . . . . . . .

MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY

BLOG:  MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM

LOVELY LONG GREEN SHEATH DRESS FROM THE EARLY 1960’S

LOVELY LONG GREEN SHEATH DRESS FROM THE EARLY 1960'S

For a Spring cocktail party or a dressy date, here’s a lovely gown custom-tailored in the early Sixties.  Blue and green combined was a big trend at that time.

In a mid-weight embroidered fabric, with back zipper and simple lines. Purely sophisticated and elegant, but not a bit stuffy.

Tomorrow I’ll show some embroidered pumps that you might wear with this gown, or with the one that I’ve picked out for the  St. Patrick’s dance!

More pretty Spring fashions to come – stay tuned . . . . . . . . . .

MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY

BLOG:  MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM

BEAUTIFUL MID-CENTURY SHERBET GREEN LINGERIE SLIP

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Woops, I DID find a green one!  It will look best on Stella, but you can see the beautiful detail here, as well.  I know, I know, I know – I’ve collected so many gorgeous true vintage slips during my escapades, but  just can’t help myself!  When this wonderful Spring color and pretty lace showed up, that was it – cannot resist the pastel colors from the 1950’s and early 1960’s.

Beautifully-made by Vassarette.  What more can I say?  It’s undoubtedly a little bit different from other similar ones I own and will go perfectly with some particular dress – maybe for St. Patrick’s Day . . .

MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY

BLOG:  MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM

GREEN MOD MINI-DRESS FROM THE 1960’S

Just re-published the full description and tags for today’s St. Paddy’s post. Ah, the ups and downs of internet publishing – the photo had been eliminated from my archived original. So, there you have it in full. Sorry for any confusion.

MORGANA MARTIN

ANOTHER NEW FIND – MOD TRUE VINTAGE 1960’S LIME GREEN DRESS

Lime green was a huge color in the mid to late-’60’s.  Some gal decided to whip up a little mini dress in that hue for Spring or Summer.  The style is almost like the tent dresses that were popular then, too, but with more fitting on top.  It’s a little small on Stella, but the basic fit is right.

Again, it’s made of the looser-weave hopsacking kind of material that I’ve talked about before, used a lot in the Sixties.  You can’t see them well, but I also love the opalescent plastic vintage buttons.   Plain design, but a very distinctive true vintage style and cute, cute, cute!

It’s the right dress to wear when you want to be very COOL, in more ways than one . . . . . . . . . . . ..

MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAESPY

BLOG:  MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM

BOOK:  HOW TO FIND THE BEST IN VINTAGE FASHION – AVAILABLE ON AMAZON.COM

ANOTHER GREEN MID-CENTURY FIND – RARE RIBBON SKIRT FROM THE 1950’S!

Perfect for lunch out or a special St. Paddy’s dinner date.  Yes, a very rare construction to find.  My grandmother had a dress in brown made this way and I have a black suit in my true vintage closet, but that’s it.  Ribbon sewn in swirls over mesh.  Can you imagine the time taken to construct a garment this way if done by hand?  Though the fabric was, I believe, done by machine, still very painstaking.

It’s always nice to have beautiful separates.  This looks marvelous with some of my mid-century dressy blouses.

MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY

BLOG:  MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM

Source: ANOTHER GREEN MID-CENTURY FIND – RARE RIBBON SKIRT FROM THE 1950’S!

BEAUTIFUL EMERALD GREEN TRUE VINTAGE 1960’S-1970’S GOWN BY A NEW YORK DESIGNER

BEAUTIFUL EMERALD GREEN GOWN BY A NEW YORK DESIGNER

Just right for summer “formal-ish” events and dances, and what could be better for St. Patrick’s Day?  This one is pretty dressy, but I could just as easily see someone wearing it as a hostess ensemble for an elegant at-home event.  It’s very well made and fully lined, but has a casual feel about it, too.  Must be the color.

The tag says Tee-ca New York. Never heard of them, but the dress is lovely in a heavy knit with beads embellishing the neckline. That color was very popular in the late ’60’s, too.  It’s kind of MOD, James Bond and all of that.

Like yesterday when I discovered the 1940’s dresses (and they all fit me!), it’s just such a thrill to run across an item that immediately transports you to another time and place.  That’s half the fun of it all – where you’ll be “going” tomorrow.  You just never know . . . . . . . . . .

Morgana Martin, the Magicvintagespy
Blog: Magicvintagespy.com

GEARING UP FOR ST. PATRICK’S DAY, 2021

I’m in the midst of a post-run, heading toward St. Paddy’s Day – anything with Green from my true vintage closet. If you’re planning your own outfit for “the day”, check out these ideas from the 1940’s to the 1980’s.

MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY

BLOG: MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM