Category Archives: dressy

AUSTRALIAN TRUE VINTAGE SPECIAL OCCASION DRESS IN SILK – 1950’S (OR BEFORE)

IMG_1056     This very pretty frock has an unusual neckline.  The collar is of 3 layers, and each one is bordered by covered wiring which allows the wearer to shape the neckline as desired.  A friend of mine said that she remembers dresses of this type from the 1950’s.  The style would certainly fit in with early ’50’s and late 1940’s fashion.

It’s also very tiny, so it all points to a time when average women’s figures and clothing sizes were much smaller than they are today.

The fabric appears to be silk.  So lovely and flattering.  Obviously, this dress was made to be worn to a party or other special occasion.  Imagine my delight when I discovered it!

MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY

BLOG:  MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM

 

ANOTHER GREAT DISCOVERY! FABULOUS FIFTIES FROCK WITH FUR TRIMMING

IMG_3845

CUSTOM-TAILORED 1950’S PARTY FROCK WITH RABBIT TRIM

Although this dress looks very cute on Stella’s figure, it really must have been sewn for a petite woman much shorter.  I can’t quite imagine a style like this with fur and rhinestone trim made for a teen or a child in the 1950’s.  At any rate, the average height of a Fifties lady would have been 5 or 6 inches shorter while still perhaps being a tiny vintage size 10, like Stella.

Imagine my surprise to see this rare garment!  If you’ve been with me for a while, you may remember that several years ago I encountered a similar frock in ivory brocade with mink trim on the 3/4 sleeves.  That seems to have been a popular early 1950’s trend. In this case, we are seeing very pretty rabbit fur, with a little rhinestone trim nestled in the bodice ornament.

Another surprise is that this frock, despite it’s elegant style and up-scale materials, appears to have been hand-made.  It’s construction demonstrates the handiwork of someone who was very skilled, so perhaps it was made by a professional tailor rather than a home-based seamstress.  However, who actually knows?  With no labels to point the way, it’s just another delicious mystery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY

BLOG:  MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM

LATEST FIND – A LOVELY LACE BEADED DRESS FROM THE EARLY 1960’S . . . . . . .

m

About 4 – 5 sizes too big for Stella, but it has to be shown on a model because of the swishy skirt and the way it drapes.  Lace overlay was very popular in the Kennedy era and much more nicely-done than the cheap versions we’ve seen lately.  The fabric is glossy substantial, and there are pearl bead accents sewn all over.

Another great part of the design is the way that the back swoops toward the waist.  So, it’s not a drop-your-champagne-glass-when-you-see-it type of frock but it’s a lovely, classicaly-tailored garment that was worth collecting (and a design that is easy to alter!). .

MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY

BLOG:  MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM

FABULOUS TRUE VINTAGE JACKIE KENNEDY EARLY 1960’S SKIRT SUIT

IMG_0985    This suit is so iconic of that era.  Gorgeous yellow wool in a loose weave, with a cute little vintage mink collar.  If the collar is too dressy, it can easily be removed with just a snip-snip because it is hand-basted onto the neckline.

It’s easy to wear and the two pieces can be very versatile.  True vintage suits are worth investing in for many reasons – the styles are usually quite elegant; tailoring is superb and the quality of materials are unavailable today.  Because the designs are classic, the jackets and skirts can usually be worn in a variety of ways that would never have been thought of decades ago.

Love the big covered buttons and pencil skirt.  So pretty, and a nice alternative to dark, somber colors for Fall and Winter.  Being on the prowl is so much fun, because you just never know . . . . . . . . ..

MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY

BLOG:  MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM

STUNNING 1950’S MINK-TRIMMED DRESS

IMG_0943
This dress/gown/frock was such fun to discover – it’d been a while since I had run across a fur-trimmed garment with sleeves like this, and never on a dress.  This is more than a cocktail dress, but not quite formal.  Was this specially made for a visit to the Queen?

Like one of my 1940’s  wedding gowns, it is a brocade-type fabric, though a bit less heavy. I am puzzled as to what type of event this dress would have been worn to.  Time for some research.  Any ideas?

MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY

BLOG:  MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM

TRUE VINTAGE 1950’S ATOMIC WHITE & GOLD EVENING GOWN

IMG_0921
We’re approaching the time of year – Homecoming – Holidays – when gowns and formal-wear are most popular (until we get into Mardi Gras and Prom time!).  This dress is so gorgeous and unique – a white evening gown with a splash of gold comet-dust across the bodice and down the skirt.

I’ve seen so many ceramic and plastic items from the Fifties (I have a lamp like this!) that are white or black and decorated with gold this way.  It was so much fun to find it on a dress.

It’s a rayon or acetate sheath with a defined waist, draped all over with tulle netting. Very ’50’s and perfect for a Princess of the Galaxy, or the Magicvintagespy . . . . . . .

MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY

BLOG:  MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM

TRUE VINTAGE LATE SIXTIES CRUSHED VELVET PARTY MINI- DRESS

IMG_0907

Yes, it is really crushed!  Needs a trip to the cleaner or, maybe, a good steaming.  Doing this at home can be tricky, however, with true vintage garments.

Reminds me so much of photos I’ve seen from the late 1960’s and early 1970’s – a typical dress for the Homecoming dance.

Crushed velvet and panne’ velvet were really popular then, plus dresses with Victorian or Edwardian tailoring details. Funny how fashion really swings back and forth from modernistic to old-style, sometimes combining the two in one garment.

In this case, I love the long sleeves and vintage-style bodice with lacy trim at the neck and a mini-skirt combined. I see a lot of that in my investigating experiences – so interesting!

MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY

BLOG:  MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM

TRUE VINTAGE 1960’S HAND-DYED SILK BELTED TENT DRESS

IMG_0862
Custom-tailored in a popular style of the mid-late Sixties, batik dyed silk tent dress that I like to wear belted. It also has a shawl made of the same material that completely transforms the look.

Wearing it un-belted is also a completely different look, but not my style. This cut can work for almost any figure, but really looks great on curvy Madge. That’s her edge over slender Stella, so they’re getting along fine .. . . . . . .

MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY

BLOG:  MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM

HERE’S MY LATEST RETRO 1940’S JUMPSUIT

IMG_3659

1980’s true-to-the-Forties retro New Wave styling.  Fun club and party-wear.

MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY

BLOG:  MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM

SUPER PHOTOS OF A RECENT FIND – KENNEDY ERA DRESS AND COAT ENSEMBLE

Isn’t this a beautiful set?  Made by a Toronto dressmaker.  I knew you’d want to see these improved pictures.  More to come . . . . . . . .

MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY

BLOG:  MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM