Category Archives: frock

SWEET TRUE VINTAGE 1940’S – ’50’S COTTON DAY DRESS – END OF SUMMER COLORS

SWEET 1940'S - '50'S COTTON DAY DRESS - END OF SUMMER COLORS

This cute little dress is just so back-to-school in it’s looks!  It’s a little small on Madge, so I’m guessing it was a girl’s, but the average woman was tiny by today’s standards.  Almost every woman  wore something similar on a daily basis back in the day.

It’s a lovely cotton with woven-in plaid – maybe made at home.  The style is typical shirtwaist, excepting for a ruffle that goes all the way around at hip level. Maybe this was someone’s idea of adding something original to their creation.  It’s not a peplum, so . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

maybe the piece of fabric was too short and the tailor wanted to dress up the seam that had to go there.  I have found many home-sewn garments that tell stories about shortage of materials or mistakes, especially from the times when the Depression or World War was changing everyone’s lives .

Such a treat to find pretty vintage fashion that  also tells something about  history . . . . . .

MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY

BLOG:  MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM

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1950’S – EARLY 1960’S RETRO FROCK – A MODERN EXCEPTION TO THE RULE (SORT OF – a little rant about tailoring and quality)

IMG_1271 IMG_1272Here’s a modern dress by Kim Rogers brand, made in Vietnam.  For several reasons, I must point it out as an example of a rare exception to the rule that true vintage clothing is always superior to recently-made fashions.  I was drawn to it immediately because of the nicely designed retro style and the almost-vintage look and feel of the fabric.  The construction is very good, too.

Note the photo of little keepers at the shoulders for bra or slip straps – it’s a wonderful feature that I treasure in my true vintage pieces.  These haven’t been common in dresses for decades!   Also, it’s fully lined.   Asian dressmakers have done superb couture for ages, so it doesn’t surprise me that the workmanship on this garment is excellent.

What might also be considered a plus by modern women is that the fabric is 100% polyester. ” Ick!”  you say, “sleazy and hot”;  but it can be washed in a machine, with care, and drip-dried. (preferably a modern machine that has a hand-wash cycle and doesn’t agitate back and forth).  It’s also amazing what sorts of finishes can be made with polyester – sometimes it’s a really good appearance mimic for real silk, rayon or  even linen.  But, of course, not in terms of their other qualities – looks aren’t everything . . . . .

So, that gets us down to the real nitty-gritty.  Do you really want to wear a summer sundress made of polyester, when you’re trying to stay cool and looking your very best at an event or on a date?  Do you want the zipper on your dress to very obviously announce to anyone who has any fashion savvy that  “No, this is NOT a true vintage dress – just a retro fake”.  And, horror of all horrors, do you want to walk into the party and see another woman dressed just like you?

Thus, a very respectful nod to this clothing company for their care and attention to detail and  style, at least where this dress is concerned.  When I’m traveling and wouldn’t want to subject any of my authentic vintage treasures to threats of loss or damage, I’ll certainly take it and wear it inside or when the weather is mild.  It’s nice to see a manufacturer that cares about some of the finer points of good quality any time – especially in this age of cheaper-is-better.

BUT, all things considered, give me a quality true vintage garment over a modern one no matter what . . . . . . .

MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY

BLOG:  MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM

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

FABULOUS ORIGINAL FORTIES – FIFTIES COTTON HALTER DRESS

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Couldn’t wait for summer!  What a great discovery – an iconic halter frock in luscious cotton.  These sexy and cool dresses are perfect for hot days (and nights).  Move over, Marilyn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY

BLOG:  MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM

PRETTY MID-CENTURY COTTON PATIO DRESS IN RED, WHITE & BLUE PRAIRIE STYLE

This dress is pristine – a beautiful example of a custom-tailored frock from the 1960’s or 1970’s.  The fabric is quilting-type cotton with small floral detail.  Very patriotic, too, if you’re into that.

Prairie style was huge during the 1965 – 1975 decade and I suspect that was when this dress was made.  However, it’s almost like new with very little evidence of wear.  Perhaps it was made for a special occasion.  Because of the style – a bit prissy for my taste – it might not have been worn regularly.  Long sleeves limit the summer usefulness but are a great plus for Fall.  All things considered, I’m thrilled to find a frock in such perfect condition!

Unraveling the clues is always the icing on the cake. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY

BLOG:  MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM

LOVELY 1960’S TAILORED BLACK & WHITE SUMMER SHEATH

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So very “Country Club” with it’s nice details and smart styling.  Just the right thing for ladies who lunch or club meetings.  Today I’ll wear it just about any old time that the weather is warm and I want to look a little bit well-dressed.

It used to be taken for granted to have such elegance in normal, everyday wear.  However, I like the fashion freedom that we have now – especially when I can still go to my closet and pull out something like this beauty!

MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY

BLOG:  MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM

FABULOUS FIND!!! 1940’S – 1950’S COTTON CIRCLE SKIRT DRESS

A dream find for any vintage-hunter!  Love this pretty day-dress so much.  It needed some TLC with stains from storage, but I was up to the challenge.  Beautiful decoration and comfy cotton; it’s the perfect summer frock.

Imagine this kind of intricate stitchery on an everyday dress today – even similar-looking examples are only cheap imitations of what used to be the standard of quality back in the day.  More newly-discovered treasures are coming – we’ve only just begun . . . . . . . . . . .

MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY

BLOG:  MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM

 

CUSTOM-TAILORED 1950’s early 1960’s ROCKABILLY SUNDRESS

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Ooh, LOVE this!  Stella’s got a real rockabilly thing going on.  What a pretty and flirty dress someone made back in the day!

Just right for summer shopping, dancing and just playing around.  The bust-line flounce, wrap tie cummerbund belt and full skirt are really flattering features that also allow for some size variability when you have skinny or fat days.  Although, this frock was made for a slender gal because there are no zipper or buttons.

Ah, well.  Stella can do it, and so can I.  So, definitely another keeper . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..

MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY

BLOG;  MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM

RED, RED, RED! TRUE VINTAGE SHIRTWAIST DRESS AND SHOE SUGGESTIONS

IMG_0914      I believe that these are all from the 1960’s.  Floral self-belted house dress/casual day-dress (LOVE these vibrant colors!) and shoes for late summer days.  I’m always happy to find red!  IMG_0909 IMG_0911

MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY

BLOG:  MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM

IT’S SO MUCH FUN!! HOME-SEWN DAY DRESSES FROM THE 1960’S

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More custom-tailored stories coming my way – this cute cotton summer frock practically lets me follow the seamstress’s journey as she made this dress for herself.  It’s so fun to think of a girl or woman, way back in the day, going to the fabric store and finding a pattern she loves – picking the material she wants and using her sewing skills learned in Home Ec class and the dreams in her imagination to create a dress that she’ll love to wear.

Wish Stella were here to model it for me, but if you know anything about sewing, all the details of this dress make it crystal clear.  Although I love finding gorgeous designer frocks from the 1940’s, Fifties and before, a simple homemade garment is one of the sweetest surprises. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . .  .

MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY

BLOG:  MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM

A VERY PRETTY TRUE VINTAGE DRESS, HOME-SEWN IN THE 1950’S

A VERY PRETTY TRUE VINTAGE DRESS, HOME-SEWN IN THE 1950'S

Another favorite, the ’50s styles with nipped waists.  Love ’em! – who doesn’t – they’ve remained a fashion favorite for many years and a style that keeps on repeating itself.  The bateau neckline is also a favorite – SO flattering.  I call it a summer dress, but the cotton material is heavy, so it’s perfect to wear almost all year.

The skirt on this one has a bell shape, too – an unusual feature that is somewhat unique.  This dress was custom-tailored and the construction is very unusual. I’ve never seen anything like it.  Although it zips up the back, there is also an inner bodice that hooks together.  It may have been the design of the woman who sewed it – in place of a bra(?)

Sometimes you’ll find a garment like this that is as interesting on the inside as it is on the outside.  The tailoring details can sometimes be elaborate, even on commercially-made items.  Not to mention what seamstresses can come up with on their own when they’re being creative –

I actually bought this at a shop, which is unusual for me.  There are lots of great ones that I have visited and included in my book references – no better place to see a collection of wonderful things in one spot and get the wisdom of the owner’s knowledge.  It pays to know all the different types of places where true vintage likes to hide – because you just never know .. . . . ..

MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY

BLOG:  MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM

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