This is a real find that turned up by surprise, with an iconic Fifties style. What a beauty! With the exception of some wear to the inside of the right-hand pocket, it is in virtually perfect condition.
Love the huge collar and big plastic buttons. It has a maker’s label, beige satin lining with tiny tailoring stitch details. Warm and fabulous. Never seen one like this before! You just never know . . .
MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY
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Imagine my surprise at finding this familiar style car coat from the early 1960’s in super-practical fabrics; All-weather faux suede and a faux beaver collar! Compare to my beautiful suede leather and genuine mink examples from the same era and you’ll see the similarities.
The design features are the same with big but discreet front pockets, side slits for easy in-out of cars, trains and buses, satin lining and a warm, pretty collar. What a neat way to get the same elegant look, which can be dressed up or down, with carefree, weather-defying practicality. Again, it’s a new one on me! What fun . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
It’s still cool enough to wear them for dressy evenings and I love to top my party-wear with these old fur-trimmed lovelies. The brown one is from the Forties and is of a light-weight wool with dyed rabbit trim. The black coat is lined rayon crepe with mink at the cuffs – perfect over a little black dress.
This time of year, with Valentine’s behind us, St. Pat’s day and Easter approaching is full of special events going on and good opportunities to dress up a bit. Never to be missed! Go forth and enjoy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Yes, I know, I know, I know – I already have several of these, but I DON’T have one this color! These coats are so beautiful and this one so perfect that I just couldn’t resist . . . . . . . . .
I’ve seen this style coat in a range of earth-tone colors with some small variations on the design. They are impeccably tailored and elegant in buttery suede with darker mink collars. Must have been very popular in the early ’60’s and now have so many possibilities! The collar closes in front with special hooks and eyes to create a rolled effect.
I love to imagine mine over a dress, skirt and blouse, slacks or jeans. Scarves and gorgeous leather accessories complete the look. Though it was a semi-dress item in it’s original incarnation, today it goes from casual – casual to fairly dressy in the blink of an eye. I must photograph Stella in this coat with a variety of looks . . . . . . . . .
No wonder I couldn’t say no when I found this dark chocolate version in virtually perfect condition. It has the original owner’s initials sewn inside, as a fun extra . . . . . . . . . . . . .
These black crepe coats are so fun and individual – I really love wearing them! While not being fully antique, they are earlier examples from the ’30’s & ’40’s. One may be from the early ’50’s . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . .
On the far left, the characteristic feature of this one are the shoulder tails, which are folded across the front in this picture. It also has a deep slit in the back hem – almost a long jacket, rather than a coat.
In the center is a rather plain, tailored black crepe coat, but you can see the scalloped hems on the sleeves. Perfectly elegant and discreet.
On the right, a plain, one – button front crepe coat with ivory lining, deep side slits and mink cuffs at the elbows. Hardly inconspicuous . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
With the fun styling lines of the mid-Sixties, this coat will go with almost everything and be such fun to wear. Someone loved it because the condition is fabulous. Also, unlike many coats with fur collars, this one is just basted in place so can easily be removed if only for a trip to the dry-cleaners. What convenience!
I love the sporty styling of that era and the way that the back hangs loose and swings while the front ties across the waist. The best of two designs!
A rare find, indeed, but just another day in the life of . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..
Once again, a beautifully-cared-for coat from the mad mod era of the Sixties. This one more closely approaches the late Sixties hippie – boho styling that was popular then. I have another one, very similar, of suede and shearling which has kind of an Asian-sheepherder vibe. The predominant elegance of the earlier part of that decade gave way to much more casual design later on.
Regardless, this coat is very well-made and also features the basted-on collar and cuffs that make changing the look or dealing with cleaning a lot simpler. The suede is still that super-soft fine leather that may be lambsuede (makes me sad just to think about it) which had been a popular coat material during the Kennedy administration. That and the beautiful fur trim (again, very sad) is a nod to the elegance that was fast slipping away.
One thing that makes me very happy when I see vintage furs is that today faux furs look virtually identical! That’s one plus which will make the practice of raising, trapping and slaughtering animals for their furs less popular. Please, never buy a modern garment made with real fur . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Yes, I know that I already have several of these but this example was just too good to pass up. Beautiful, beautiful condition and it’s the ONLY one I have that has a tie belt! As always, the tailoring is gorgeous and the materials of such high quality. The styling is elegant, but also fashionable and versatile. Like some of my others, the mink collar has been attached by hand so it’s really easy to snip it off and wear the coat with scarves or shawls instead.
True vintage coats are some of the most elegant and unique statement pieces that you can wear. Plus, they’re one of the smartest buys. Everyone needs at least one good coat. The retro versions are pretty much worthless so don’t pass by the coat rack next time you’re shopping for true vintage fashion. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
OK, we’re going from oldest to youngest in these next 3 posts. My apologies for the poor focus. Cropping efforts didn’t come through, either, but you can see all that is necessary for this description. Was astounded a few days ago to find this rare garment! In the past two years 3 or 4 frocks in this early 1950’s style have suddenly come my way; haven’t seen them before that for quite a long time. . . . . . . . . . . .
Like only one of my other examples of this fashion, the gown pictured here was custom-tailored (probably at home) and made for an adolescent girl, from the style indications. Usually, dresses made with the fur-trimmed sleeves, neckline or hem were sophisticated styles made for women. Of course, girls like to wear their own versions of adult designs in every decade.
Aside from the empire styling, rather than a New Look design, one tell-tale clue is the type of fur used. Garments made for women usually had mink trim, whereas the 2 girls’ dresses I’ve discovered have had what looks like rabbit hair. However, the cranberry velvet is plush and I’m sure the young miss who wore it was pleased. It’s so much fun to follow the stories that these old clothing items tell. Stay tuned for a 1960’s item – a repeat of another recent find . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
I have dresses and a couple of coats trimmed with fur on the sleeves and a a couple of coats with fur around the hems but this is my first find of a dressy dress with this kind of trim. Made in a 1950’s style, but I think it is from the 1970’s (maybe the 1960’s). How unusual!
Very much of-the-season in perfect plush velvet for all the holiday party activities that about to crowd our calendars. What an entrance I’d make to an evening Thanksgiving dinner. Hmmm. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
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