Category Archives: cocktail dress

POST-WAR DRESSY DINNER FROCK, CUSTOM-TAILORED IN SOUTH AMERICA

Here’s another dressy frock from Montevideo, Uruguay – probably just a few years younger than her sister shown yesterday.  This dress is stylish, but not as Crawford vampish as the other.  The 1940’s styling has been played down, excepting for the puffy shoulders and embroidered mesh trim.  I forgot to take a picture with the black curly lamb jacket  which was also a recent find, from the early 1950’s.  Would be a perfect wrap over this dress.

No, it is not bare on the bodice.  The mesh has been lined with a flesh-tone panel which is a perfect match for bare skin peeking out at the shoulders.  The tailoring of these mid-century frocks is just astounding, especially when they were hand-made by dressmakers.  The well-to-do ladies in Montevideo would have had much of their clothing custom-made to their specifications and fit.

However, remember the dressing gown from a few days ago?  It was also hand-made, but from France, and probably purchased before the European war.  Many Montevidean women purchased French fashions and accessories back in the day.

MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY

BLOG:  MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM

WARTIME 1940’S DRESSY FROCK, HANDMADE IN MONTEVIDEO, URUGUAY

Though WWII was raging in Europe and Argentina next door was experiencing unrest, the 1940’s were a relatively stable and prosperous time for Uruguay and this shows up in the architecture and antique goods which I discovered there.  The country profited from beef supplied to other countries and the more well-off citizens lived a good life.  Their clothing and household goods reflected that.

This beautiful frock was hand-tailored in a dressmaker’s shop.  All of the embellishment was applied by hand and the tailoring is hand-done, too.  As you can see, it’s loaded with beads and sequins, plus all the little button and loop closures up the back.  Madame must have had a household staff, one of whom helped her dress and looked after her wardrobe.  I love the 1940’s styling with the big, padded shoulders and ruching at the hips.  These funny hip details were flattering only to slim figures, but they’re loads of fun, anyway.

So, a real treasure find.  I’ll show you her younger sister tomorrow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY

BLOG:  MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM

 

SASSY JUNIORS 1960’S COCKTAIL FROCK FIND – SAME ERA AS YESTERDAY’S, BUT A TOTALLY DIFFERENT VIBE

While I was having a run on ’60’s cocktail LBDs, this one presented herself.  Same chiffon drape detail idea, but very sassy chic instead of tailored and ladylike.  So much fun!

I also love discovering these frocks that were worn once or not at all.  And even the ones that saw many the party are often still in quite beautiful condition, as our grandmothers were not in the habit of trashing their clothing.  You won’t see the next one for a while, though, because she needs a zipper replacement.  A breeze . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

In the meantime, there’s lots more to show you . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY

BLOG:  MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM

 

1950’S – EARLY 1960’S KENNEDY ERA LBD COCKTAIL DRESS

Isn’t this one a beauty?!  Another of my “new” finds this winter, when I had a sudden rush of discovering little black dresses from this particular era, most with these interesting drapes of black chiffon.

It’s a keeper for sure!  Though a little long, it fits like a dream and, of course, is very well-tailored.  Love the bodice treatment and little cap sleeves.  The very svelte sheath fit makes up for the poufiness around the hips.  Now I just need to find a cocktail party . . . .

MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY

BLOG:  MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM

 

ANOTHER KENNEDY-ERA DRESS FIND – UNBELIEVABLE!

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This happens to me a lot – finding styles and garments from the same era one after another, with lots of similarities.  Sometimes those similarities are also quite rare!  Here we have another sheath design in a Junior size, with chiffon drapes from the waist.  I’ve seen these drapes before from that time period, but from the neckline on Misses size dresses.   However, the similarities end there . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..

this one is not in black crepe.  It is lined lace with gathers at the waistline and chiffon around the neckline.  More demure and a tad more sophisticated.  Still a cocktail/dinner frock and in perfect condition!  Also in my size.  I wonder what’s next?  You just never know . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY

BLOG:  MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM

MY LATEST FIND – 1960’S BLACK CREPE SHEATH DINNER DRESS

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This style is a very elegant, body-skimming sheath design with back zip and a low plunge behind.  Notice the chiffon drape which hangs from the waist, and the simple embroidery on the bodice.

Although the interior size tag reads 8, an attached paper tag dangling from a side-seam give the sizing as 7/8, meaning that this was a Junior size frock rather than Misses, with a youthful cut.  LOVE IT when original sales tags are present and testify to a garment that has never been worn!!

Knee-length to moderate-mini, depending on the wearer’s height, and with a 3″ hem allowance.  Perfect.  Just my size!  Never fails . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..

MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY

BLOG:  MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM

ELEGANT TRUE VINTAGE SIXTIES COCKTAIL PARTY DRESS

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With all the casual elegance of the mid-1960’s, this metallic frock is the greatest!  I was just thrilled to find this.  It’s fully-lined and in great shape.  I had to tack up the hem and give it a light cleaning – that’s all!

More perfect party-wear.  Couldn’t ask for more this holiday season.  I  enjoyed this one on New Year’s Eve.  Simply-made and easy to wear, that’s the best of the best when it’s also high quality.

Love true vintage . . . . . . . . .

MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY

BLOG:  MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM

 

TRUE VINTAGE 1950’S COCKTAIL SHEATH DRESS

TRUE VINTAGE 1950'S COCKTAIL SHEATH DRESS

While we’re in a New Year mood, here’s a really special dress from, I believe, the 1950’s. It’s more or less a cocktail style, but could go to dinner and dancing, too.

Originally, it had nude netting on the front bodice and upper back, with skinny binding around the armhole area and the neckline.  The purpose is to give a bare look, without the bare.

Very elegant but, unfortunately, the material had some small holes which could not be repaired. I could not locate material of the same type for a replacement, so I reluctantly removed it and restyled things a bit to make skinny straps instead. It works! Being versatile is an indispensable skill.

I love this dramatic pointy accent on the front! The fabric is also very elegant – probably a rayon that looks for all the world like silk shantung. And the hourglass shape!

Worthy of Peggy Lee any day . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY

BLOG:  MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM

 

DRESSY AND FRILLY FROCK FROM THE 1960’S

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So, here’s an earlier version of the dinner dress genre that I showed a couple of days ago.  See again the sheer sleeves and over-skirt and classic design elements (the bow tie, self-belted waist and ruffles).  Though not a specific retro style, it harks back to special occasion frocks that have been made just about forever.

However – and it’s a big however – this design does not have the level of elegance and true timelessness of the black style I just showed.  When you look at it, you know immediately that it is dated.  Pretty, if that’s your taste, but dated.  A truly elegant garment strikes you first with it’s attractiveness and then takes you a while to decide whether it’s new or not, even if you can decide.

Yes, true vintage for sure but the best of the best?  In my opinion, No.  That’s just my style bias and fashion arrogance for the day.  I still nabbed it and consider it a worthy culprit in the True Vintage Intrigues . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY

BLOG:  MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM

I’M OFF TO OLD CHINATOWN

Finding this dress was a real sleuthing success!  I’d been hunting for a vintage silk Cheongsam  style in my size for years, then uncovered this one at a teeny, teeny price.  The original color was a yellowy beige and there were several brown stains and a little rip near the hem.  But –

The Magicvintagespy knows what to do.  So, I mixed a couple of dye colors that I had leftover from another job and expected to have a soft, neutral brown.  Instead, I got this WONDERFUL lavender/bronze color!  LOVE IT!!!  The stains are history and the hem needed raising anyway et voila’.

The moral :  Put out the vibes and never give up.  KNOW YOUR STUFF, and the perfect find will materialize in your wardrobe.

MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY

BLOG:  MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM