Category Archives: fall

TRUE VINTAGE JACKET FROM THE 1940’S – 1950’S

True Vintage 1940s - '50s Lightweight jacket

This one is a beauty – look at that fit!   It’s just been washed in the photo, so a steamer press or quick trip to the dry cleaners for a really professional job is in order.  Sorry that I can’t post the photo of the back, too. Go to my site at Morgana Martin – Google+ to see it, in the archives.

It’s a lined jacket with covered buttons and lovely detail. There is a welt on the back. Another nipped waist – heaven! It had some fade when I found it, but with my know-how I was able to rehab it easily and inexpensively.

I usually wear this with a swingy print skirt (a pencil skirt or even a dress would work well, too. Depends on what suits your mood and the occasion.)
Didn’t really look like much when I found it, but you just never know . . . .

MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY

BLOG:  MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM

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

CASUAL CORDUROY JACKET: TRUE VINTAGE 1940’S – EARLY 1950’S

Casual Corduroy Jacket True Vintage 1940s - '50sThis is a great true vintage jacket that I love. It is unlined, so I can start wearing it now in the evenings.

Easy zip but stylish, too.  The so-retro pointed collar is great and my hat’s off to the designer who placed those welts on the shoulders.   They’re very flattering to most women and, along with the fitted waistline and slash pockets at the hips, really improve the looks of almost all figures.

That’s what I like best about true vintage fashion – the tailoring is usually so good with surprising designs! Though this is not a high-end item, touches like that make it superb.

The style is so classic in it’s lines that I can pair it with almost any casual clothing and can snazz it up with accessories, too.   Final favorite feature? – It reminds me of old movies. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY

BLOG:  MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM

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

TRUE VINTAGE 1960’S HOUNDSTOOTH PONCHO WITH FRINGE

True Vintage 1960s Houndstooth Poncho with Fringe

This one is really special (so what else is new) and great for cold-weather wear;  anything from sitting through a football game, roasting marshmallows or chestnuts on the fire to dashing through the snow in a one-horse open sleigh.

It is of a nice wool or wool-blend material, with a heavy black lining and fringe all around. I love the metal zipper from the left shoulder to the neck. A couple of hooks and eyes close the collar.  With a casual, hometown style that was so popular in the sportswear from that mid-century era.

I’m not sure if there had been a label inside – may have been home-sewn by a very good seamstress, which is not unusual in vintage from the ’70s and before. Finding this one was another “Aha! experience” that I hadn’t been specifically looking for – that’s what makes being a sleuth for vintage so much fun, because you just never know . . . .

Traveling tomorrow . . . . . . . . . . . ..

MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY

BLOG:  MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM

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

TRUE VINTAGE 1940’S – 1950’S LIGHTWEIGHT WOOL SHIRT-JACKET

True Vintage 1950s Wool Shirt-Jacket

This very casual mid-century jacket has great features such as big shell buttons in front and at the cuffs, a lining around the neck and upper back for comfort, modest shoulder pads and front patch pockets. Built for practicality, but stylish in true vintage fashion! The label says: Wonder Fabric virgin wool Vagabond by Chippewa.
I love to imagine who wore this and where it was worn. Feels to me like jeans and saddle shoes or Keds would be just right – for a picnic or raking a few leaves. So much fun to find this one! When you’re being a vintage sleuth, it’s one great surprise after another and you just never know . . . .

MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY

BLOG:  MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM

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

FUN & MOD TRUE VINTAGE 1960’S WOOL JACKET

True Vintage 1960s Lightweight Wool Spring Jacket

This lined jacket, labeled “Young Girl”, is full of nautical style details. Epaulets, double-breasted and the bright navy color make me think of Spring styles, which have often had a nautical theme, but it works equally well in the Fall.  Classic but cute – it really calls for a hat or cap like the ones I’ve seen from the late 1960’s.

The oversize breast pocket is interesting and there are also slash pockets with welts at each hip, which can’t be seen in the photo. Button tabs at the hip allow for a small size adjustment. Buttons at the sleeve cuffs also allow for an adjustment. Since this is a Girls’ size 18, perhaps it was styled to accomodate some growth – a very practical idea and always workable on such a classic style which never goes out of fashion.

I wish that clothing-makers still used that kind of quality, care and creative thinking today!  However, my gain because this one has lasted for 50 years and fits a small Misses size, (such as moi!). Another unexpected find while I was sleuthing – you just never know . . . .

MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY

BLOG:  MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM

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

Vintage-Inspired Eighties does Forties Jacket

Love this jacket, but it is not original true vintage. This is a vintage-style piece made somewhere between the late 1970s and the early 2000s. It has a great cut and little tab and button detail at the waist toward the back – a nice vintage vibe. Might fool many shoppers, but an experienced vintage-hunter will spot the telltale differences.

Another version of the 1950’s Car Coat, in Suede with Mink

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An iconic style from the ’50s, this true vintage “car coat” can go from dressy to casual, in cool to mild weather.  I’ve found quite a few coats and jackets in suede from that era and find that they all hold up beautifully.  Fortunately for us, our mothers and grandmothers seem to have looked after their wardrobes very well, too.

Since these items are mostly of a higher quality material and construction, we can continue to enjoy them for years to come!  I’ve found a ton of great true vintage items during this past week, exploring  hidden hide-outs.  Keep watching and I’ll sprinkle some of these in among the posts.  It’s  SO MUCH FUN!  You just never know . . . . .

Morgana Martin@Google+, magicvintagespy@facebook.com, Twitter and Pinterest

Another Western-made Beauty

Another Western-made Beauty

Originally from the Holiday House in Estes Park, Colorado, this lovely smooth leather jacket from the 1940s – ’50s is a stylish and elegant example of true vintage workmanship, quality and design. The brass buttons are square with little branches crossed in the middle – so unique. As usual, superbly constructed. From the outside in it speaks of quality, skilled workmanship and excellent design. When you see these kinds of things going on, good bet it’s true vintage!

Morgana Martin, the #magicvintagespy

A COAT OF A BEAUTIFUL COLOR

This true vintage coat doesn’t get the showing it deserves in this photo.  Imagine it on a larger figure and glowing in deep ruby red.  It has just one small, hidden button closing it in front.  This allows for movement on the body and an elegance different from a coat with buttoned front but is still very warm.

100% Virgin Wool, a beautiful lining and deep slash pockets are common quality elements in these vintage garments.Image  It is definitely a “statement” coat and will last for years.

MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY

BLOG:  MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM

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

FABULOUS TRUE VINTAGE FIFTIES FAUX FUR CAR COAT

  Autumn is here and winter’s coming, but I’m glad for any excuse to wear my lovely collection of coats, capes and jackets. This one is a great, sporty 3/4 length faux leopard from the 1950s that was a surprise find!  Since I know where to go and what to look for, this happens to me a lot but still thrills me to pieces!

     A really iconic ’50s thing, these faux leopard items in high quality clothing are a delight to wear.  This coat is by Kilimanjaro, with a matching belt (not fastened), front patch pockets, a black satin acetate lining and that beautiful collar.  Wear the collar down or hooked in front to form a warm cowl to protect your neck.

 Picture it with black skinny stirrup pants and a black fur toque.  I think there was some movie set in Switzerland in the very early 1960’s with Audrey Hepburn where she wore this type of clothing – Charade? . . . .

Morgana Martin, the Magicvintagespy
Blog: Magicvintagespy.com
Book: How to Find the Best in Vintage Fashion available on Amazon.com