Category Archives: frock

THE SWEETEST MID-CENTURY BABY DRESS – FROM LORD & TAYLOR!

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Talk about RARE!  This one is a real treasure.  Cotton comfort with smocking detail and vintage shell buttons in back.  There’s an embroidered cotton tag inside the neck from the high-end department store retailer Lord & Taylor.

Love finding old things from Saks Fifth Avenue, too.  They’re always nice.  No babies at home for me, but how could I resist?

Several decades ago, little girls (and boys) were routinely dressed in beautifully-made clothing of very high quality – even it it came from a mid-priced store.  Mothers enjoyed dressing themselves and their children nicely and it wasn’t such a competitive brand-driven thing like today.

If I were parenting a child, it would be so much fun to dress him/her in true vintage, along with myself!  Yes, these garments take a little more care, but the rewards . . . . . . . . . . .

MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY

BLOG:  MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM

 

MORE TRUE VINTAGE 1960 FINDS IN NAUTICAL COLORS

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Here are 3 of my finds from yesterday.  Remember the blouse from a few days ago and how I was talking about the traditional popularity of nautical colors for Spring?  Well, here they are again!

The navy and white items were commercially-made and the red polka dot blouse was custom-tailored.  Vintage zipper and buttons are fun.  The fit is always superior.

Fortunately, I can wear them all and, though they need to be cleaned, that’s no big deal.  At the prices I pay in the odd places I find these treasures, any laundering or repair costs are nothing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY

BLOG:  MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM

MOD CLOTH RETRO SIXTIES DRESS

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This is a modern retro-style dress that I wouldn’t usually buy or show, but I’m impressed with how well it has been made so it is worth a nod.  Many vintage tailoring details like extra closures and seam tape on a 1 1/2″ hem allowance are a couple.  There are also special lining features that distinguish it from most retro styles made recently.

So, this maker deserves some respect compared to the majority of modern brands.  Of course, it doesn’t rival a similar dress really made in the 1960’s, but I can’t be a total snob – just most of the time . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY

BLOG:  MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM

1980’S DOES 1940’S RETRO FINDS IN BLACK & WHITE

It’s hard to imagine that true vintage garments (over 30 years old) could also be retro, but it’s true from the 1970’s onward when clothing makers started to reproduce 1940’s and 1950’s styles for the general market.  That’s just about when the superb tailoring of the mid-century and before came to an end, so many of these items are not very nice.  But, there are sill well-made examples worth picking up from the Seventies – Eighties time.

In this case, a coat dress and tuxedo-style jacket caught my eye.  No labels remaining, but the shoulder pads and cut make the fit flattering.  Both are fully-lined and elegantly styled.  There will be times when they will come in handy or be fun to wear.

I don’t purchase these often, but, when you know what you’re seeing it’s sometimes a good buy that will be easy to say good-bye to . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY

BLOG:  MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM

 

BACK TO TRUE VINTAGE – 1960’S BLACK CREPE COCKTAIL DRESS

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From a New York clothier, this frock with a shimmy-shake beaded bodice is classic 1960’s. The fully-lined black crepe dress with a knee-length hemline was a standard of 1950’s and early 1960’s cocktail party attire.

Fun elements of beading and flirty design were common in the Sixties.  I love finding one of these – so wearable and always playful, while toeing the line with classic couture.  You can wear it (almost) anywhere without raising eyebrows.

And, as always, quality and excellent condition for the past 45 – 50 years . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY

BLOG:  MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM

TIMELESS CLASSIC SILK CHEONGSAM SHEATH, FULLY HAND-TAILORED

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Oh, I LOVE this!  Been looking for just the right one for a long time and here it is – in my favorite color (or one of them . . . . . . . . .).

This style dates from the 1920’s in Shanghai, China and the custom-tailoring is so classic and timeless that I can’t date this dress exactly.  It could be true vintage or made recently – but – one rarely sees the pure classic style done so well in recent years.  And, it is 100% embroidered silk, which is also a rarity.  This may not be the case with garments made for  Chinese women, but anything on sale for tourists or the larger market is usually of a lower quality, in my experience.

Anyway, I’m totally thrilled!  So perfect for a cocktail party.  I’ve had this frock in my sights for several years . . . . . . . . . . .

MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY

BLOG:  MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM

KENNEDY ERA FORMAL GOWN – SO SOPHISTICATED, WITH SURPRISE TAILORING . .. . . . . . . . .

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Brocade and crepe, with a little bow at the back waistline – this frock is so well-made and elegant. Formal dance, Prom, Special Occasion, perfect!  It needs a pressing, but is in great shape.  Remember what I said yesterday about the repeating design elements?  Read on . . . . . . . . .

So beautifully tailored with closures and stitching in all the right places, this gown has a feature that I have never seen.  The sleeves are part of a bolero bodice that is attached and worn inside the dress and supports the sleeves.  That makes it possible to wear this gown as a sleeveless sheath or as pictured here.  The sleeves, as on the dress yesterday, have fabric flowers sewn on.

Wow!  What a gorgeous and surprise design!!  You just never know . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..

MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY

BLOG:  MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM

1950’s SPECIAL OCCASION GOWN – PROM? PARTY? WHO KNOWS . . . . .

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A similar style, but going from day to evening and from pretty to dressy.  This dress is also sexy, however, with deep decolletage and sleeves that can be worn off the shoulder.  Fabric flower ornamentation on each sleeve.  I think this one was custom-tailored, also.

Just made for parties and dancing with a big, sweeping skirt.  Probably would have been worn with a crinoline underneath.  I found another dance dress a year or two ago with similar tailoring.  It’s always fun to see how these features repeat.  Tomorrow there’s another with something the same . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..

MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY

BLOG:  MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM

FUN FIFTIES FROCK – STRAPLESS CUSTOM-TAILORED SUMMER DRESS

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Pretty easy-wear polished cotton sundress from the early to mid-1950’s, in the New Look style.  Bit of an atomic thing going on with the applique’ design.  Somebody had a lot of fun with this one!

Can’t wait to see it on Stella – it’s a real knockout on a gal with an hourglass figure. Marilyn would have loved it . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY

BLOG:  MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM

MOD TRUE VINTAGE SHEATH DRESS IN TRAFFIC – SIGN COLORS

IMG_1052     Sticking with up-scale day frocks and moving forward a couple of decades,  look at this fabulous late Sixties frock!  These were iconic color combinations from that time.

This size 10 dress on x-small Stella is a good clue to it’s era.  The fabric is a glossy rayon & linen blend – a bit dressy, with a nice drape.  A pretty day-time sheath with a bit of attitude.

No matter the time of year, the hunt continues 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