Category Archives: flower-power

MID-CENTURY BLOUSE FINDS. I’M ALWAYS THRILLED BY THEM!

img_3906.jpg

These are all great,  but I always love peasant blouses and Sixties cotton blouses.  The true ones are becoming more and more rare and are so fun to encounter.  They are always a go-to for me in the summer.

Nothing could have been more iconic in the late 1950’s and early 1960’s.  Some of the little-white-blouses had embroidery on them, too, but not big and bold like the peasant variety.  Although popular back to the Forties, these examples come from the Sixties and, maybe, early Seventies.

Yes, another trio to find closet room and happy wearing come next May . . . . . . . . . . . . .

MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY

BLOG:  MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM

CUTE LITTLE TRUE VINTAGE MINI – DRESS FROM THE LATE 1960’S

IMG_1222IMG_1221

An iconic Mod flower-power print, with sheer sleeves at the same time!  The dress material is a loosely-woven stuff that they used to call “hop sacking” in the mid-Sixties (but, of course, not real hop sacking, which is a different thing – sort of like the sugar and flour bag material that women used to make shirts and dresses from on the farms WAY long ago).

It fits Stella in a way that’s too short and tight to look the way it is supposed to, and would do better on a model a little bit smaller and not quite so tall.  But, anyway, oh so cute and DEFINITELY from about 1966.  Notice the Peter Pan collar.

MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY

BLOG:  MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM

 

DISCOVERED – TRUE VINTAGE 1960’S FLOWER POWER MINI DRESS

IMG_3582

A perfect example of a frock from the mid-Sixties – the fabric and tailoring details give it away.  It’s a larger size, meant to be belted, so may find it’s way to the tailor if I’m going to keep it.  We’ll see.

The material is beautiful to see and feel.  The dress is very well-made, so has remained in great condition over the years.  I’ll have to examine it a little more carefully later on, to see if a maker’s label is hidden somewhere, but I do know that it was Union-made so we’ll go from there.  Lots more finds to publish, so stay tuned . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..

MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY

BLOG:  MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM

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

img_3565.jpg

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

 

TRUE VINTAGE LATE ’60’S – EARLY ’70’S CALIFORNIA NOUVEAUX HIPPIE DRESS

TRUE VINTAGE LATE '60'S - EARLY '70'S CALIFORNIA NOUVEAUX HIPPIE DRESS

Mod, psychedelic, polyester knit dress – was made just a little past the time of the hey-day of the hippie/back-to-the-land movement.  About the time that popular fashions were beginning to turn back toward mainstream, but still liking the counter-culture vibe in a more modest way.

Prairie-style was also becoming a big thing around this time – leaning more toward Jessica (McLintock) designs than Janice Joplin’s Salvation Army finds.  Also,  polyester was beginning to replace cotton in a big way.

Not quite your pure Love-In roll-a-joint party outfit, but you could still get by with it . . . . . try doing it at a patio party  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY

BLOG:  MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM

TRUE VINTAGE MOD FLOWER-POWER LATE 1960’S MINI-DRESS

TRUE VINTAGE MOD FLOWER-POWER LATE 1960'S MINI-DRESS

This little dress is so cool – straight out of the late sixties.  It was tailor-made in a fabric that was really popular then – kind of loose-woven like hop sacking used to be.  That’s what it was called, though it wasn’t really sacking material (from back when they used to make food sacks out of cloth).

It has a Peter Pan collar and zips up the back.  The sleeves are made from a sheer material that is printed to match the heavier fabric of the dress.  Cute!

When I find something like this that is SO characteristic of its particular time and even tells a story about who made it it’s almost like being transported!  Beam me up . . . . . . . . .

MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY

BLOG:  MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM

BE A LUAU MAMA OR A CHIC WAIKIKI WAHINI

BE A LUAU MAMA OR A CHIC WAIKIKI WAHINI

Since I’ve started getting out the patio frock, here we go – – – – – – Nothing rivals the beautiful workmanship and fabulous fabric found in true vintage Hawaiian fashions from the early Seventies and before.  The colors are incomparable.  The cottons and rayons are practically indescribable.  Men’s shirts are also incredible.

Since at least the 1940’s, dresses made in Hawaii were very desirable for their quality and fit.  Some are exceptionally comfy and relaxed. Others are high-volume sexy or very chic.

Think Mata Hari of the islands . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY

BLOG:  MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM

JUST UNEARTHED THESE -TRUE VINTAGE FABRIC HANDBAGS

IMG_3291Unusual and cute – worth collecting.  It’s great to find bags this old that have survived in such wonderful condition!  The hardware is really shiny and bright but, of course, reflects shadows.  The purse on left was handmade with a needlepoint cover, mounted on purchased hardware.  Up through the 1960’s, many women made purses this way because the kits were easy to buy and a perfect way to make a bag that exactly matches an outfit – especially when so many women were home-sewing their wardrobes.  I’ve seen them in all styles, including late mid-century macrame’.

The handbag on right is a commercially-made style by the CARA brand-name.  Pretty standard on the inside with a satiny rayon liner and zipper compartment – beyond the excellent condition, the deciding factor for me was the hardware design.  Isn’t that a lovely infinity coil along the top?

Still good for many years of service, and wonderful along with just the right outfit.  I’ll have fun with these – can never have too much of that . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY

BLOG:  MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM

NEW FIND! FUN SLINKY KNIT MOD 1960’s PATIO DAY DRESS BY ALLEGRO

IMG_3173

Came across this one yesterday and it’s the first I’ve had with this kind of T-back neckline.  Time to dig out the specialty bra.

The things I love best about it are the sunny-fun art print and that wonderful heavy, slinky fabric that was available for a few years.  It’s so delicious on the body and drapes so beautifully.  No, it can’t compare to the gorgeous jersey-knit fabrics from the 1940’s but it is identifiable as part of the family.

So, although it’s kind of a poor cousin, it’s also a very fun find.   This is because its pedigree out-ranks the quality of most all the casual poly clothing that has drowned us in the marketplace since the early 1960’s, with the value and workmanship moving farther down the scale every year.  There’s an embroidered cloth tag from a recognized maker, elegant styling and beautiful material – clues that come to light when you snoop carefully. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY

BLOG:  MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM

 

RARE, RARE, RARE NEW FIND! 1960’S MOD PLAY-SUIT – JUMPSUIT

IMG_2924

This is really something!  Mid-century play-suits are rare as hens teeth, so I’m thrilled to discover another one.  So cute – flower-power mod print in cotton, with a long metal zip up the back.

So much fun!  Fashion used to be both and either restricting and full of novelty.  Now we can wear everything and anything we want but you’ve gotta go Indie designer, independent artist or true vintage to be unique.  I guess there always has to be both sides of the coin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY

BLOG:  MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM