Category Archives: dress

FABULOUS FIND! EARLY 1950’S COCKTAIL FROCK

Iconic evening style of the time – 3/4 length sleeves with fur cuffs. This one has the bateau neckline that I love, with a deep plunge in back. The hemline is below-the-knee, but not quite midi.

An off-the-rack piece with only an inventory label, but very lovely. The tailoring is quite good, with a full lining, underarm gussets and the overall condition is exceptional. Obviously, the owner considered it a spacial frock and guarded it carefully over the decades.

More to come, tomorrow . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY

BLOG: MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM

AUTHENTIC LATE 1960’S CUSTOM-TAILORED HOUSE-DRESS

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Very simple, but with the 1960’s bona-fides.  This fabric can’t be found today, no matter that some modern materials may be lookalikes at a glance.  Maybe some girl made this as a first project for Home-Ec class, though whoever it was did a pretty good job.  Not fancy; no bells and whistles, but sturdy, useful and very cute.

The elastic neckline is still stretchy and there are no stains, so someone stored this for a long time and didn’t use the heck out of it.  It’s our good fortune that many great true vintage garments were cared for this way by our moms and grandmothers, let alone the generations before.  Our current throw-away culture has played havoc with the quality of items that we can buy as well as any encouragement to keep things.  However, prices just keep going up and up out of all proportion.

Well, la-dee-da  –  not so much of a problem for the Magicvintagespy.  Wonder what’s next . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ?

MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY

BLOG:  MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM

 

 

MYSTERY PATIO HOSTESS GOWN WITH SUCH INTERESTING BACKGROUND . . . .

Long, sweeping gown in a beautiful, heavy cotton(?) – the photo on left shows the cut while the photo on right gives the true color and close-up of the interesting print.  This dress has many construction contradictions; some point to 1940’s and some to 1960’s.  Undoubtedly, it was custom-tailored.

Maybe our mid-century tailor was very experienced and knew how to use various methods to achieve exactly the slinky, hourglass fit she wanted.  The bell sleeves and commercial braid trim say 1960’s but the mid-back zipper placement, dip in the front waistline and fabulous art print fabric say 1940’s.  Looks like a film noir hostess gown.    I love a mystery!

Anyway, it’s an absolute beauty and fits me like a glove.  Dresses with the zipper placed mid-back are always a trick to get into and out of – pays to understand the method.  However, when the fit is right and the construction good, it’s a snap.  Tomorrow I’ll show you a cute shift with a clear Sixties pedigree.  Stay tuned . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY

BLOG:  MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM

BEAUTIFUL 1950’S VIOLET BLUE EMBROIDERED DAY DRESS

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Love this pretty frock.  The rayon(?) weave drapes so nicely and the embroidery is gorgeous.  The belted style with cap sleeves is very flattering and front buttons make it very easy to dress.

This garment was modestly-priced back in the day as the construction is not high-end, but even in these everyday items the vintage makers usually tailored really well.  That is one of the delights of finding and wearing day dresses like this one.  Stay tuned – not near done yet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..

MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY

BLOG:  MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM

WHAT A FUN LITTLE 1950’S – EARLY ’60’S COTTON DAY DRESS

I always love these frocks, but what makes this one so extra-wonderful? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Take a close-up look at the print – the little illustrations are all characters from the Alice in Wonderland tale.  How cool!

More to come . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY

BLOG:  MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM

SO EXCITING. A RARE, ANTIQUE, HANDMADE DRESS FROM THE 1920’S – EARLY 1930’S

Sheer cotton “lawn”(?) – I don’t know.  A beige color with delicate flower and leaf embroidery on the collar and skirt.  Closes with snaps, hooks & eyes on the left and has partially-gathered sleeves and a two-tier skirt.  Such interesting design details, so different from any styles we usually see, vintage or not.

So delicate.  This will be worn with great care.  The waist isn’t right for most dresses made in the 1920’s so it could, possibly, have been an earlier style made for a teen or someone who was very petite.  But – early 1930’s could be the most accurate.  Must do some more in-depth research.

Anyway, what a treasure!

MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY

BLOG:  MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM

MADE FOR A BOND GIRL? . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

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The most interesting dress – by Lawrence Kazar  New York and it looks like a “daring” mid-’60’s design to me, but may be 1980’s as I can’t find any earlier history on this designer.  The fit is slinky and small but the armholes are cut very low and it’s styled to wear without a bra.  That’s a trick to do effectively but this design succeeds.  If your dimensions are right, it’s a knockout!!

Besides the bra-less top, the most distinctive feature is the peek-a-boo waistline which was sometimes seen around 1965 or so.  It’s very nicely tailored and such a gorgeous color.  So, Mod or Dynasty, I really couldn’t care less.  Oh, James . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY

BLOG:  MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM

LET’S DANCE!

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What a beautiful Kennedy era party frock.  With beads and rhinestones at the waist, and a swing and sway two-layer skirt.  This dress is made by Carol Craig, New York – a well-known brand name of the time.

Pretty, pretty, pretty – and in perfect condition.  Someone loved it very much.  See what else we love, tomorrow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY

BLOG:  MAGICVINTABESPY.COM

ANOTHER 1960’S COTTON DRESS! HOW CUTE IS THIS . . . . . . . . . . . . ..

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A frock with some of the best elements of 1960’s casual style – soft cotton fabric, empire styling, ric-rac trim, vintage sculpted buttons and gathered sleeves.  So comfy and can go from house-dress to patio party to any basic everyday event.

I’m suddenly on a roll again.  Not sure when the next find may be but, you just never know . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY

BLOG:  MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM

“NEW” FIND TODAY – 1960’S VERY LADY-LIKE PATIO FROCK

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Yes, it’s a summer dress but how could I resist?  We don’t usually find them with all these pretty details – a very Victorian Prairie thing for a hot-weather girl.  Looks like it was commercially-made, but there are no tags.  I may end up selling it next year but, you just never know . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . .

MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY

BLOG:  MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM