What a gorgeous, tailored dress and jacket. Glossy rayon fabric with a shantung – style weave. The bodice treatment is so lovely.
MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY
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MY TRUE VINTAGE 1940’S SHOULDER SEASON FROCK BY LORA LENNOX – FROM KANSAS CITY!
Such a smart-looking little day-dress by Lora Lennox. Apparently, this was a dressmaker label that was common back in the day. The polka dots and big buttons are a lot of fun – plus the vibrant salmon – orange color; not garish and softened just a bit by the pinkish undertone.
I ALWAYS love shoulder pads and the hem flounce is very saucy. These are wonderful when you walk in them.
Doesn’t this dress look fabulous on Stella? I love it. And the fact that I found it in Kansas City – well, that conjures all kinds of possibilities in terms of it’s history . .
MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY
BLOG: MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM
BACK IN TIME AGAIN – 60 OR 70 YEARS. A COTTON HOME-SEWN TRUE VINTAGE FROCK – 1940’S/1950’S
An unusual dark plaid, but a shirtwaist style and definitely for warmish weather. Notice the second layer of skirt, with a little ruffle at the top. I wonder if the fabric she used was sold from a narrow bolt, so she had to piece the skirt for that reason???
It’s so much fun to try and unravel the mysteries that older garments, especially, can pose. Unlike dresses made later, that usually buttoned lower down to make them easy to get into, these earlier ones often button only to the waist. That’s why those side zippers were so necessary.
It also allowed the waist to be kept really tiny, rather than gathered in by the belt – just barely large enough to get shoulders through, with the help of that zipper opening. Ahh, fashion . . . . . . .
MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY
BLOG: MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM
MYSTERY 2-PIECE SKIRT SUIT FROM AUSTRALIA
This surprise find from October, 2014 looks a whole lot better on Stella than when I photographed it on a bed in the condo! I simply cannot date it accurately, though it is true vintage.
Custom-tailored, the padded shoulders and bias-cut skirt panels are a Forties thing, while the bonded knit fabric looks more like Fifties or Sixties (maybe even Seventies) and the buttons are uncertain but the zipper is older. Could it be Eighties Does Forties using some older notions?
Anyway, it’s a cute little casual suit and will be a LOT of fun to accessorize It can be frustrating to be stumped, but you know I love a mystery . . . . .
MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY
BLOG: MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM
ANOTHER LBD FIND – THIS TIME IT’S TRUE VINTAGE ’80’S DOES ’40’S
Black crepe sheath style with a rhinestone buckle at the draped waistline. The true ’80’s touch of shoulder pads with cap sleeves Tailored well and of very good quality. It’s got lines and styling that very closely follow those of true 1940’s sheath dresses that I’ve found.
Eighties dresses with vintage style were often well-made and very interesting, though not the fabulous frocks of the real Forties. Anyway, worth collecting – much superior to more recent garments.
MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY
BLOG: MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM
TRUE VINTAGE/RETRO HEELS THAT ECHO THE FIFTIES
Love the lines of this heel, and the leather construction. Heel caps are nailed on and materials all quality. When true vintage (at least 30 years old) and retro are combined in one piece, it’s all about style and quality to decide whether they’re a good choice or not.
Apparently made by a higher-end line of a popular brand from Brazil, which has done a lot of good vintage/retro styles. I’m guessing these are late ’70’s, ’80’s or maybe early ’90’s. It’s a skill to find old retro items now, that still have some of the good quality.
Rivaling the real 1950’s thing enough to be worth picking up. Such fun!
MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY
BLOG: MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM
TRUE VINTAGE MID-CENTURY SHIRTWAIST DRESS & COSTUME JEWELRY
Classic shirtwaist styled day-dress from the 1960’s or ’70’s, made very special with a choice of jewelry sets from the 1950’s. Necklaces with matching bracelets or earrings (sometimes both) used to be super-popular and really dressed up even the most plain frock.
I love these examples, with enamel, rhinestones and Lucite. Just nice everyday stuff, but so eye-catching and colorful. My favorite would be something that coordinates with my outfit. This time, I’d probably choose the white enameled metal flower. I’ve got lots more to show, so stay tuned . .. . .
MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY
BLOG: MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM
MID – CENTURY ART METAL COSTUME JEWELRY, AND A CUTE 1950’S DRESS
Custom-tailored in the 1950’s of heavy cotton, with ric-rac trim and a back metal zipper. Works perfectly right now with a cute white blouse or even a turtleneck top underneath.
Very cute with distinctive costume jewelry from the 1940’s and 1950’s – copper,brass or nickel enameled in bright colors or sculpted in interesting shapes. These are some of the most fun to wear and are rare finds!
MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY
BLOG: MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM
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FABULOUS TRUE VINTAGE RED ENSEMBLES FROM THE 1940’S AND 1960’S
Now that Stella is part of my modeling crew, I can show more of my gorgeous dresses on more than just a hanger. Madge (bless her heart, she’s beautiful) just can’t get into many of them. These temperatures recently have kept 3-seasons garments in the spotlight!
Lots to tell about these. The sheath on the left is pure mid-sixties mod. The waistline is open, held together with a row of plastic circles that show your midriff. In order to make it a little more versatile, I sewed a silk scarf into the waistline. Easy to remove, but it takes the dress from pure casual to dressy, if necessary. It’s lined and very nicely made.
The printed shirtwaist is 1940’s in rayon – so fabulous to the touch and drapes like a dream! One of my absolute favorite dresses.
The shoes are my choice, today, of what I’d put with them. Johansen pumps from the 1960’s are great with the sheath and some ’80’s does ’40’s slingback peep-toes by NINA are perfect with the shirtwaist. Both leather, of course.
And, for the final touch, anything from this 1940’s – 1950’s assortment of neckaces, bracelets, earrings and pins would be a great addition.
MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY
BLOG: MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM
TRUE VINTAGE KEDS FROM THE 1980’S OR 1990’S
Basic canvas tennis shoes haven’t changed in major ways for decades and the Keds brand is still being made, but the older ones have an edge over what’s been sold more recently. The soles on the old ones, especially, last longer.
There are also slight differences in the silhouette of the older shoes and the design of the insoles. Although 1950’s and 1960’s versions are still the best, as far as I’m concerned, so fun to find an ’80’s or ’90’s pair that may not ever have been worn!
A real classic and still my favorite . . . . . . . .
MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY
BLOG: MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM
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