Category Archives: dress

FOUND YESTERDAY – THE CUTEST TRUE VINTAGE CHRISTMAS DRESS IN THE WORLD!!!

IMG_1686IMG_1687Well, probably – it would certainly have a huge chance of winning the contest!  Don’t you love the collar?  And the bright red wool.  It’s party time!

There’s no label – I suspect the dress was custom-tailored.  And, for a woman a lot shorter than Stella – the hem should at least be at the knee and the sleeves a tiny bit longer because I’d date it about 1960.

It’s finds like this that make my day – but there’s lots more . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY

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STELLA SHOWS OFF MY “NEW” TRUE VINTAGE FIFTIES FROCK

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This is one of the dresses which I recently found out West and it deserves a better photo so that you can see what a great find this was and why I’m so excited by it.  Look at that iconic Fifties fit!   In “real life”, the color is a bit warmer but still a light beige and it feels like a linen/rayon blend.  Who knows for sure?  Mid-century synthetics were so beautiful but they remain very mysterious . . . .

There are such beautiful tailoring details. The bodice is tucked and fitted, there are gussets under the arms to improve the fit and the satin ribbon trim is very artfully applied, with no visible seams. Pleats and faux slash pockets at the hip seams add style and enhance the fit, too.  These faux pockets are interesting – they’re about 1″ deep – too shallow to use, but they look real and add a bit of fullness to the hipline.  Vintage tailoring tricks were very creative and added incredibly to the style of garments that would otherwise seem ordinary.

In this picture, I have included a belt which would have been close to the original.  I’m convinced that the original belt was covered with the same fabric as the dress, so I plan to do that.  Some extra fabric can be taken when the hem is finished, without making the dress too short.  It’s a tiny size – about a 0 – 2 in modern numbers – and really would fit better someone without Stella’s 5’8″ stature.  The proper length should be below the knee.

So, you see why I gasped with delight when this one showed up.  My investigations are always peppered with moments like this that keep life in the shadows very interesting . . . . . . . . .

MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY

BLOG:  MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM

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TRUE VINTAGE MID-CENTURY DAY DRESS – THE FINDS KEEP COMING . . . . . . . .

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERAHere’s another T.V. day frock that I love. To an uneducated eye, it looks like something modern. Actually, this dress is from the late 1960’s to mid-1970’s. Very sweet and simple style and totally practical for everyday wear.

I’d much rather have it in my wardrobe than any of it’s similar lookalike cousins that were made recently. Until you’ve experienced the difference, you won’t know how much better it feels. Until you’ve owned one and used it, you won’t appreciate it’s superior qualities and how they can improve your life.

Sometimes the differences are subtle, but always valuable. The material is nicer, details of better quality and the cut is a little better. Which means – that it will fit in a more flattering way, last longer, perform better in the wash and feel better to wear. If you’re also helping the planet and your budget while preserving fashion history and quality workmanship, what could be better? Well, we’ll get in to that another time . . . . . . .. . . .

MORGANA MARTIN,THE MAGICVINTAGESPY
BLOG: MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM
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MOST EXCITING FIND YESTERDAY! – TRUE VINTAGE 1950’S DRESSY DAY DRESS WITH LOTS OF CLUES . . . . . . . .

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA Yesterday I found 3 more true vintage garments and none of them look exciting in the photos. But, if you know more about them and can “see” where they came from, each one is great!

This is a dressy frock for day, a date or a significant appointment. It should look fabulous on Stella because it’s tiny, as are many from that era. There are tailoring details that told me it was not a modern copycat and set my thrill-meter going.

Looks like a rayon/linen blend that needs a press and light cleaning, but it’s in great shape. The facings and hem need to be stitched down, but that’s a fast job that anyone can do by hand and doesn’t intimidate me at all. I’ll probably make a replacement belt from some fabric in the hem, which does take more time, but it’s not hard and is worth it for a dress like this because I’m almost certain that was the original look.

Since there’s no label, I’m wondering at this point if the dress was custom-tailored and maybe hadn’t even been quite finished yet. If so, the tailor was a real professional and it’s such fun to trace the story through the clues in the details.

Well, there’s another episode in fashion history when I get to experience the story from someone’s years-ago closet and lifestyle. It’s a great way to time-travel . . . .

MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY
BLOG: MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM
BOOK: HOW TO FIND THE BEST IN VINTAGE FASHION – AVAILABLE ON AMAZON.COM

TRUE VINTAGE SIXTIES DAY DRESS – IT’S A MAD, MOD, MID-CENTURY WORLD

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA What a fun find! Classic black and white knit dress by Caron of Chicago, in the most marvelous mod, op-art design.

It’s a beauty! Haven’t seen one by this brand name in a while, so I love catching up with a previous acquaintance. Although this classic style will never go out of fashion, the graphic is so eye-catching that it will always seem new and avant guarde.

What a great example of fashion artistry!! We always love the “timelessly elegant” design that is never flashy, but eternally beautiful and ageless no matter when it was made – but there’s also this category of knock-your-socks-off great designs that look fabulously new and fresh, even though they’re 50 years old!!!

No wonder its first owner took such good care of it, but then, treasure is always worth safeguarding. Quality true vintage – just like a pot of gold . . . . . . . . . . . . .

MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY
BLOG: MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM
BOOK: HOW TO FIND THE BEST IN VINTAGE FASHION – AVAILABLE ON AMAZON.COM

TRUE VINTAGE MID-1960´S PARTY FORMAL – FOR PROM OR ANOTHER SPECIAL OCCASION

SWEET SIXTEEN IN THE SIXTIES

SWEET SIXTEEN IN THE SIXTIES

I´d love to have Stella here now!  This innocent, cotton-candy gown is just right for a petite figure like hers – made to fit a teen-age girl like Buddy Holly´s Peggy Sue, but about 10 years later.  Lace and bows and sheer pastels, plus an ankle-length hem  – all the things that used to be standard for a Prom dress back in the day.

It´s just so iconic of that time – in between some of the sophistication that was coming out in the late Fifties and very early Sixties, and before the Mod fashions hit hard.  Less elegant or frilly, a little more casual, but VERY sweet and girly.

We´re so lucky that many women of the Sixties and before tended to hang on to their favorite ¨special¨ dresses for decades, preserving them for fashion archivists and those of us who adore true vintage today!  The best treasure is usually buried pretty deep . . . . . . . . . ..

MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY

BLOG:  MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM

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

TRUE VINTAGE 1970´S PRAIRIE DRESS – WITH ALL THE FRILLS

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERAThis is the sweetest thing from that era, and very well-made, in a peachy-pink tone.  It´s all lined, in beautiful sheer fabric, covered with lace and details.

Not sure if this might have been a Prom dress years ago, or just for a special occasion.  It´s a possibility for street wear now.

So iconic of that time, I just had to pick it up – like another that will be shown in a day or two . . . . . . . . .

MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY

BLOG:  MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM

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

TRUE VINTAGE MID-CENTURY SHIRTWAIST DRESS BY HENRY LEE

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERAWell, this computer has distorted my image a bit, but use your mind´s eye.  I haven´t run across a dress of this style for some time, so I was excited to see it.  It`s also a name brand that I have discovered before, so it was double fun!

Midi-length shirtwaist style with round, faceted black plastic buttons that look like jet.  The print is black on red and it´s made of a swishy synthetic fabric.  Designed with a classic tie at the neckline – very traditional, but smart.  No shoulder pads this time.

I always enjoy finding this style, which has been popular since the 1930´s and keeps showing up in new incarnations each decade.  It was a lovely surprise when I was scouting in new territory.  As always, you just never know . . . . . ..

MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY

BLOG:  MAGICVINTAGSPY.COM

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

NEW FINDS! TRUE VINTAGE DRESSY DRESS AND MID-CENTURY EARRINGS IN EMERALD

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Both true vintage, but from very different eras. This sophisticated late 1980’s/1990’s Maggie London silk dress is an uptown and toned down version of Eighties does Forties(with modest shoulder pads and 3/4 sleeves) that reflects a flashier side of the city chic style going on at that time, when “black was back”. I love black, but am so happy to report that the monotone of that decade was broken by vivid, jewel colors, too. Silk was also popular then and some very good quality was still being used.

Speaking of vivid and jewels, I also found this beautiful pair of faux emerald costume clip-on earrings from the Fifties that are a perfect complement. Beautiful stones, in excellent condition – I have others that would go with the dress, but these seemed perfect! I’m usually very selective when collecting evidence . . . . . . .

MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY
BLOG: MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM
BOOK: HOW TO FIND THE BEST IN VINTAGE FASHION – AVAILABLE ON AMAZON.COM

LOVE TO DANCE? HERE’S THE PERFECT TRUE VINTAGE MID-CENTURY DRESS. . . . . . . . . . .

Source: LOVE TO DANCE? HERE’S THE PERFECT TRUE VINTAGE MID-CENTURY DRESS. . . . . . . . . . .