Okay. A couple days ago she packed her swimsuit for the pool and the beach, short shorts and cute top and a skort for casual day play and sightseeing. Good start. Today she’ll concentrate on more sporty day outfits that will take advantage of the tennis court and boardwalk as well as lots of other fun activities.
Can’t forget her 1950’s play-suit! Love the funky drums motif and the cropped top. Very original. This one isn’t a romper – it will even let her go downtown after the badminton game. Can’t forget the matching Keds. When it’s time to go to the dining room, a simple wrap skirt from the ’60’s/’70’s is very appropriate and her cute handbag goes well with all outfits so far!! The white sleeveless top that she packed already is perfect with it. That’s the secret of great packing – mix and match. Oh, yeah – GOT to take her roller skates !!!!! Yes, they’re heavy but gotta have them.
All right. That’s enough for today. Packing always makes her tired with so many decisions and it’s easy to forget something important if she doesn’t take her time. Good choices so far, but there’s still more to do over the next few days. Stay tuned . . . . . . .
Aren’t these fun and beautiful! From the 1940’s to the early 1960’s, women would hardly leave the house without a hat. Straw, suede, velvet, synthetic mesh, wool felt and ribbon were all used frequently. Artificial flowers and real feathers were, too. The combinations and designs were almost limitless. Finding a hat that flattered you and accented your clothing was an epic quest.
Even though I’ve been told that numerous groundhogs predicted an early Spring this year (yay!), I’ll be leaving the Spring fashions for a bit while concentrating on some beloved and practical vintage wardrobe items that have kept women and men warm on frigid days like the one’s we’ve been living with. Stay tuned . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Basic neutral tones will take you around the full year, so these pretty shoes can go along even with some pastel outfits. Back in the day, a pair of black shoes and a pair of brown ones were sometimes the only options a gal had to choose from but, even now, beige and mid-gray will go with almost anything and lighten things up a little. Cutaways, sling-backs and ankle straps have been enduring styles for many decades. Don’t you love the 1940’s high heel take on the traditional black Mary Jane?
I understand that today stiletto heels and open designs are not a good choice in the freezing temps and snow that we have in so many places now. However, in the past when fewer people owned cars, many gals carried their indoor footwear and left snow boots at the door. Public buildings, stores and churches used to routinely have special places to do that. Winter fashion had to start giving way in February, in spite of the weather!
I’ll continue with showing some accessories as well as giving a nod to some cold-weather staple vintage clothing for both women and men. After that, we can’t avoid launching on clothing for the traditional winter vacation before swinging back to Spring dresses. Stay tuned. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..
Here’s another 3-season dress with known history. That’s always SO wonderful. It was passed on to me by the mother of a friend, who made it herself. It is of a lightweight wool, fully lined and beautifully tailored. The lightweight but lined blue and green jacket is a commercially-made piece which I discovered separately, but is a perfect accompaniment in color, style and era.
With this ensemble or with the skirt suit shown yesterday, an early Sixties cellophane hat would also be a perfect accessory. Nothing looks more like Spring to me, and I think we’re more than ready!
A little heads-up: I’ll be having guests over the next month so, though I will try to post daily, the times may be erratic and I may skip a day or two. But, there’s still lots more in the archives, not to mention possible new evidence, so stay tuned . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
The most sophisticated gal would still want some glitz for the party tonight, but would do it in high style from one of the best stores. A jacquard weave shell blouse with a long black skirt and luxurious golden leather clutch purse (with it’s own pocket mirror, of course) make a stunning ensemble for cocktails and dinner beforehand, and which will take her through the whole evening.
Madge shows off the blouse beautifully with her buxom figure and tiny waist. Her bag is of quite good quality and size – larger than most evening bags and more modern than the beaded silk variety which were still popular the year John F. Kennedy was elected President.
The New Year has always represented a time of hope, joy and the anticipation of turning over a new leaf. The moon is awfully bright in the sky tonight – What do you say? Let’s go! . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Sorry to be so late – trouble with my WordPress account, but so far so good.
Here’s a pretty velvet knit gown from the late 1960’s – early 1970’s which I would say is perfect for at-home, though there is a matching purse! Perfect for Boxing Day, which was yesterday in Great Britain and it’s former colonies. That’s traditionally the day to unbox all the gifts, clean up the mess and relax. This easy-fitting, soft and comfy dress allows for movement. Adds warmth, without being restrictive.
Although it’s very plain, the empire waist and embroidered trim, plus the fabric and zipper allow me to date it. The fact that it was custom-made helps, too. I must give kudos to the seamster who took on the project of creating a matching shoulder bag. That requires some skill and, probably a simple machine to attach the hardware. Cool!
Although it’s Christmas Past now, we’re still in a holiday week and the party spirit will continue in the archived files I will show you in the coming days. It’s so fun to review the clues and data from previous sleuthing investigations! Stay tuned . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Let’s start with a velveteen pencil dress and coordinating handbag from the 1940’s. True Forties styling with the pencil cut and skinny sleeves with zippers at the wrists. The dress zips down the back rather than at the side, which began to be seen in the Forties. This dress was probably purchased at retail unless made by an expert tailor. It’s stylish and sophisticated but is frugal with the use of fabric so probably made during wartime.
Other than the wrist zippers, which are almost a necessity with these kinds of sleeves, and the piping finish on sleeves, neckline and waist there are no other embellishments. Piping done this well is not an easy task. In fact, the piping may have saved fabric that otherwise would have been used in hems or facing. Many purses, like the one above, were made of fabric during WWII instead of leather. 1940’s clothing and accessories, especially women’s designs, were very creative. Women and clothing companies came up with lovely fashions while coping with rationing and a limited economy. While not formal, a garment like this would have been appropriate for any dressy event from dinner to cocktails.
Stay tuned for more frocks in this category, from the mid-century . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Here’s a sampling of my dozens of beautiful lingerie slips from several eras. True vintage lingerie is essential to wearing your dresses, blouses and skirts with their best fit and comfort. Slips can be fine cotton, rayon, silk, acetate or nylon. Designs can be highly decorated or very sleek and plain. It pays to have every type you can find in different lengths and colors. Some are so gorgeous they can be worn alone as “slip dresses”.
Matching your undergarments to your dresses in a way that minimizes binding, getting too hot or having some unsightly see-through makes all the difference in the final presentation of your outfits and your enjoyment of wearing them. Usually, you’re the only one who knows how truly beautiful your full or half-slip really is. Sometimes it’s fun to allow just a corner of lace trim to show beneath a hemline or at a neckline. In other words, have fun. Have a beautiful Thanksgiving holiday and stay tuned . . . . . . . . . . ..
These are just 3 out of my collection of lovely kitchen aprons, but perhaps a bit more interesting and seasonal than others I have, which are more generic, like a cotton gingham check without any specific theme. Many aprons, like the first one here, were specifically themed for a particular holiday or fashion era. It’s a great example, with bright color and a novelty print for Thanksgiving. Although it’s definitely trendy and targeted, it is also at least somewhat practical because of the machine-washable fabric, wraparound style, secure ties and big pocket. It could actually do the job of keeping the cook’s skirt clean. The most useful styles also covered the bodice.
The usefulness is really important, but I love the novelty print. It’s always good to play the hostess in something that also makes people smile. The two aprons following are entirely different in their purpose. These are made from a much more delicate fabric and would be best washed by hand, both because of their delicacy and because they are hand-painted. They were made for and gifted to my grandmother by a relative who at least did the painting herself, if not the sewing job. Gifts like this were common in her day, and cherished. These aprons were made not so much to protect clothing as to be pretty. Grandma might have worn them when she had her friends in for tea or a card game, maybe even for hosting an at-home cocktail party. The messy part of the hostess job would have already been done when she made the cake or other refreshments beforehand.
Aprons were much more commonly worn in decades past and were a significant part of a woman’s household wardrobe, like housedresses worn on cleaning day. Most women’s (especially married women’s) lives were organized around a routine of household duties throughout the week and each one usually required a different kind of outfit – one for cooking, one cleaning, one for tending plants, one for doing the weekly shopping. Special accessories to these outfits were needed for certain jobs, such as gloves of various kinds, hats of various kinds, nursing bras and pads to protect clothing from breast milk and burping babies. Housewives were trained to be very practical and were rewarded by Society for a job well-done. The home was their workplace and the role defined them, so their household wardrobe had a central place in their lives. For better or for worse, that was the way it was. Do we want that again? Think about it and keep your eyes on the clues . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
It’s still Fall, guys, but a skiff of snow on my car this morning brought me back to reality. Although we’ll have more warmish days, it’s time to get out some of the woolies. I’m not ready, yet, to throw on one of my wonderful wool coats but capes are more versatile at in-between times. Here are two of my mid-century favorites.
This beautiful red one is tailored and perfect for smart casual to business styles. It is lined and detailed like a good coat would be. Made in the decade from 1955 to 1965. The classic style makes it difficult to pinpoint a year, but there are always clues. A brand label really helps. Buttons and zippers can tell a story. If you study costume design or are a super sleuth the fabric, certain tailoring details or photos of trends published in newspapers and magazines can narrow the window to a more specific time frame. The next cute and unusual cape is a perfect example.
A reversible garment is so much fun! The second cape is much more casual and in a Boho style. It’s a nice, substantial wool but has no lining or pockets. The only complications to the design are the pattern woven into the fabric and the little tufted string tie at the neckline. It’s also from the same decade as the red cape but I can narrow the time period closely because of the color clue. There were one or two years from 1962 – 1964 when the blue and green color combo went viral. It was on everything from clothing to housewares and graphic design. Styles were also loosening up around then, with Mod edging in on classic and traditional. I’ll bet that this cape was made and sold during those 3 years, possibly exactly 1963.
So, these will keep me warm and the freezing temps are likely to minimize the risks of moth damage. However, it’s always a good idea to protect your treasured woolen garments since those moths can sometimes surprise you. I have more capes to show you, but that may come later in the year or even next year since we’ll be turning the New Year’s page before we know it. Stay tuned . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Magicvintagespy 