MORE FUN! A SISTER PAIR TO THE PUMPS SHOWN YESTERDAY – TRUE VINTAGE POST-WAR BEAUTIES HARDLY EVER OUT OF THE BOX!

TRUE VINTAGE BEAUTIES HARDLY EVER OUT OF THE BOX!

The original price is still visible on the soles, written in grease pencil.  $14.99.  Looks like they may have been tried on and that was it!

Dark coffee brown leather, with pert little bows on a v-shaped vamp – this pair comes from the late Forties to early Fifties.  The Naturalizer brand was a closet staple for well-dressed women.  It was the flagship brand for the Brown shoe company of St. Louis, MO since 1927.

It’s always important to do a background check . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . .

MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY

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EARLY ’50’S NATURALIZER SHOES IN A TIME CAPSULE! WHAT A FUN, FUN, FUN FIND!!

EARLY '50'S NATURALIZER SHOES IN A TIME CAPSULE!  WHAT A FUN, FUN, FUN FIND!!

I absolutely LOVE discovering fashion finds with original documentation – what fabulous clues to many things about them! Original packaging, tags, sales slips – heaven!!  And, fortunately, I’m there many times a year. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Here we have pumps about 60 years old (and very well preserved) in their original box and tissue paper with a small card from the Brown Shoe Company telling about their business and the quality of their merchandise.  The price of $14.99 is even hand-written on the box!

Black calf-skin leather mid-heels with crisp grosgrain bows on the vamps – insoles very neat and clean. Notice how many exclamation points I’ve used as I write about this.   So great to have such beautiful, well-cared-for items with all of these original pieces of the puzzle . . . . . . . . . . . . All the long hours, vague directions, dark alley’s, dusty corners and encounters with shady characters are worth it!

MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY

BLOG:  MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM

ANOTHER CACHE OF WONDERFUL MID-CENTURY HANDBAGS – UNUSUAL FINDS

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Although the purse in the top left corner is similar to others that I’ve come up with recently, I’m glad to have it in a less-often-found silver fabric.  The others are worth telling you about one at a time.  Let’s start with the white beaded bag on top:

a very lovely little convertible clutch bag that can go from dressy day to summer evening and also would stand out as part of a bridal ensemble.

Just to the right of it is a fabric coin or lipstick purse made in Italy.  Though it is just a purse accessory, the black satin and art print on front, as well as the filigree hardware make it a special keeper.  Italian-made purses and shoes from the Fifties and Sixties were of the highest quality and design and are to die for.

At the bottom is a pretty little brocade purse that could be an accessory but is meant to stand on its own, when only the barest essentials are necessary.  It’s very tiny, but unsnaps again to allow room for just a little more than the coin purse alone.  Although you probably can’t read it, in the corner to the left of the top snap is embossed in gold script “B. Dainty”.  Sweet!

Finally, the duchess of the lot is a fully-beaded clutch with a zipper top and silk lining.  Of the finest materials and displaying the most hand-done workmanship, it’s probably the oldest.

Although I’ve been happy to discover so many evening bags recently, especially with thoughts of this year’s holiday season beginning to creep into mind, I most love the special pieces like these – makes the day’s adventure really fun . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY

BLOG:  MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM

PERFECT! TRUE VINTAGE EARLY 1960’S KENNEDY ERA COAT AND DRESS ENSEMBLE

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Although it looks beige in the photo, this outfit is actually a lovely pink color, in a dressy fabric with matte and silvery metallic shine finishes together.  The dress is an elegant sleeveless sheath with an ornamental notched neckline.  Both the dress and coat are fully lined.

The best of dressy styles from that era – beautifully-tailored and in virtually perfect condition.  What a find!

MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY

BLOG:  MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM

JUST FOUND – 1980’S NEW WAVE 1940’S DRESSY DRESS

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This pretty raspberry-colored midi frock has nice details.  Love the shoulder treatment that broadens without the heavy shoulder pads!  The coat-style button front is different, too, and the belt that buckles in the back with a point in front (or back, as you wish) makes it easy for me to date it almost exactly.

I’ll enjoy wearing this one with its slim lines and adjustable front hem opening.  Very versatile and, again, very vintage – New Wave did it pretty well.   More on the way. . . . . . . . . . . . .

MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY

BLOG:  MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM

 

TRUE VINTAGE PURSE BONANZA! FANTASTIC LEATHER CLUTCH FIND

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I’ve had really good fortune finding clutch handbags recently and several have been leather.  It’s always fun to find party bags like the one below but most are made of cloth or vinyl – even the old ones – a true vintage leather bag is a real treasure!

The bag on top, however, is my greatest love.  It’s from the Forties or Fifties and is SO elegant.  The style is superbly simple, but the design is unusual.  Picture holding the bag with both hands, with the front facing you as in the photo.  Place your thumbs on the metal tabs at each side and push gently – that releases the clasps to open the bag!  I love the creative closures that are on many of the best vintage handbags.  Some of them locked in place, and it was a puzzle to figure out how to release them the first time.  This bag posed that problem to me for a few seconds.

Both these handbags have smooth, clean linings and pretty pockets inside.  I’ve been fortunate enough to discover accessory items which were really well cared-for by their original owners so have hardly any damage.  Many women used to tuck them away in drawers and closets with tissue-paper wrappings and stuffing, saving and protecting them for the next special occasion – or for the next woman who would love them. . . . . . .

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

MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY

BLOG:  MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM

BACK TO THE EARLY 1950’S – JUST FOUND A BEAUTIFUL WOOL SKIRT SUIT

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Made of the finest Scottish wool and specially tailored for a specific brand name.  Very nice detail on the jacket front, and in back it’s got a little belt with a center button that matches the silver ones on the pockets.  The skirt is straight style with a back kick pleat.

A little big on me, but it might be worth having it altered to fit.  I can’t get enough of the gorgeous jackets from that time and a pencil skirt is always wonderful.  Classic mid-grey, also, is great to have on hand in mix-able pieces.  I’m thrilled!  One of the handbags I’ll show you tomorrow would look just lovely with this . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY

BLOG:  MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM

HAND-TAILORED AND ELEGANT: MID-CENTURY SILK SHEATH DRESS FROM HONG KONG

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This dress is another keeper!  I wish Stella were here to model it for you – it’s so beautiful. So chic and elegant, of 100% silk with a floral jacquard design, with all the fine details that would be expected from an expert tailor.   This dress was made in the late 1950’s – early 1960’s by a tailoring firm especially for a higher-end shop in the Bahamas.

Excepting for the missing original belt and a few stitches in the hem which need to be repaired, it is in perfect condition.   A dress of this type would have been especially prized by it’s mid-century owner, and protected from damage.  That’s why it’s still possible, if you are lucky, blessed and skilled, to discover these frocks today.

I’m also fortunate to be of a size that was more or less average at that time, so I can wear many of my finds without alterations.  However, an expert cleaning service will have skilled seam-sters who can work wonders when necessary, so carry on . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY’

BLOG:  MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM

HEADING FURTHER BACK IN TIME – A HAND-TAILORED FLORAL FROCK WITH A FULL CIRCLE SKIRT

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In a ’50’s to early ’60’s style, but with mid-1960’s-type fabric this dress illustrates the creative power that home-sewers in the mid-century had over their wardrobes.  The size, style and fabric were completely at their discretion and genre’s could be combined in any way.

This example was made for a teen or a petite woman (the photo is somewhat foreshortened, too, so it’s not quite as short-waisted as it looks), probably as a dressy day or party dress.  It’s a simple style in cotton blend with a zip back and elasticized sleeves but shows evidence of extra care and skill in the insertion of piping detail at the waist and flounce on the skirt.  There are also strap-keepers sewn in at the shoulders and some seams that were done by hand.

What a fun little mystery-history to unravel!  More back to the future on the way . . . . . . . .

MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY

BLOG:  MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM

 

A MAGICAL FIND – PRETTY TRUE VINTAGE VEIL ILLUSION HAT

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Couldn’t be simpler, but that’s what makes it so elegant and lovely.  I also like the midnight navy color – a nice switch from black.

Velvet and netting – nothing is more flattering and alluring while adding a touch of mystery. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY

BLOG:  MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM