What a gorgeous, tailored dress and jacket. Glossy rayon fabric with a shantung – style weave. The bodice treatment is so lovely.
MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY
BLOG: MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM
Category Archives: elegant
JUST FOUND! 1960’S LUXE NEIMAN MARCUS HOSTESS GOWN
Embroidered all over with gold metallic thread, this designer dress from the famous high-end retailer is a fabulous find! Couldn’t believe it. Luxurious at-home wear that can easily go out and about – there are no “rules” these days saying that would be “not done”.
I love true vintage hostess and patio dresses, as well as other at-home wear from eras past. Often the better-quality items are in fantastic condition because they were worn sparingly and/or cared for so well by their original owners.
Just another marvelous day in Mid-Centuryland for the Magicvintagespy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY
BLOG: MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM
MORE TREASURE – PRETTY MID-CENTURY (1960’S & 1950’S) NIGHTGOWNS
Whenever I encounter beautiful examples of sleepwear lingerie from this era, I always bring them home. Although I love the pj’s, knee-length gowns are another favorite. While made of the same type of wonderful nylon, the gowns usually have more elaborate and prettier decoration.
The Fifties saw mostly pastel pieces similar to the one on right, though sometimes in red or black. During the Sixties bright colors were popular, as on the left. This was kind of backward to how lingerie slips were made – go figure.
Anyway, there was no debate or stopping-to-think-about-it for me, but always nice to know all about it . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY
BLOG: MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM
JACKIE O – STYLE EARLY 1960’S DRESSY DAY DRESS ENSEMBLE
Just came up with this one, too. So many of the day dresses from this era were made to very elegant standards. Although a lot of lace dresses have been made in the last few years, trying to duplicate this look, I’ve never seen one done to the level of quality and design as true vintage examples.
So, be vigilant and don’t be mislead by the vintage design charlatans and scam artists . . . .
MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY
BLOG: MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM
PRETTY AND GLAM 1980’S DOES 1940’S RAYON SHEATH GOWN
Definitely retro (not REAL vintage), but I love the styling and the drape of the rayon fabric. It’s got the iconic fit of 1930’s – 1940’s sheath gowns that were so elegant and dramatic.
The huge hibiscus flower is probably a bit over-the-top in terms of designs from wartime, but some very bold floral prints were made then, too. Anyway, I think this one rocks!
So, Mata Hari, move over! The Magicvintagespy is on a roll . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY
BLOG: MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM
ANOTHER GREAT DISCOVERY! FABULOUS FIFTIES FROCK WITH FUR TRIMMING
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
MORE 1930’S – 1940’S SLEEVES FROM A DAY-DRESS
Puffed, very girly sleeves on a plain, black crepe dress that was a very common part of most women’s wardrobes. Almost everyone had a black crepe dress – often more than one and not just for evening wear. Crepe was such a frequently-used fabric that made even ho-hum garments drape beautifully and look fabulous!
MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY
BLOG: MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM
1940’S SLEEVE TREATMENTS – WHAT’S OLD IS NEW AGAIN, AND AGAIN, AND AGAIN . . . . . . . . . . . . .
1940’S POUFY SLEEVES – ALMOST EDWARDIAN
1980’S DOES 1940’S PIRATE SLEEVES AND TRUE VINTAGE FORTIES LADY
This post was inspired by the fabulous Theodora Brack and her post of a few weeks ago on the blog, Paris: People, Places and Bling. Shirt sleeve styles are, again. doing some very interesting things with pleats, gathers and puffs. Here are a few from my own true vintage collection which show how these styles cycle through the decades.
Pictured here are 1930’s and 1940’s blouses excepting, in photos #1 and #3, the right-hand and left-hand examples are retro Forties, which were made in the early 1980’s. Cotton, silk, rayon and poly. Kimono, pirate, Western-inspired and prissy designs all had their day in the 1940’s and have wound their way up and down runways every decade or two since then. Of course, some decades were known for their beautiful craftsmanship, gorgeous fabrics and special tailoring details so these aspects will always be showcased in true vintage garments from those times.
Modern blouses which follow these style trends will not be nearly as beautiful or as well-made but, I love my finds. Thanks for the opportunity to put them in the spotlight again.
MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY
BLOG: MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM
LOVE IT! CUTE TAILORED 2 PIECE DRESS FROM THE SIXTIES – SEVENTIES
Lovely late-mid-century tailoring. Picture this dress on a shorter model – it’s not supposed to be midriff-baring. I love this nautical flair in dark navy and white, with asymetrical back and side buttons on the top. Such an unusual design!
It’s cute and sassy while also being elegant. That’s the best type of vintage design in smart casual wear. They used to do it so well . . . . . . . . . . . .
I was super-happy to encounter this set. Unusual pieces always give me a thrill. So, wait till you see what I discovered next . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
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
Magicvintagespy 