Category Archives: fur

ANOTHER LUXURY FUR – THIS ONE A STOLE, FROM THE 1950’S

Although it’s probably not THE finest, I think that this fur is genuine mink.  So pretty and stylish, in a color and design that I didn’t yet own.  As always, I love the little details.

The stole has straps sewn inside which keep it from falling off your shoulders.  There are little, teeny pockets at the rounded ends in front – just big enough to curl your hands into to keep them warm.  The silky lining has these WONDERFUL planets and stars embroidered all over!!  AND –

I love the label – “The Store that Quality Built”.  Wish more vendors would take that as their motto now.  AND –

of course, the original owner’s initials are embroidered inside.  Such elegance . . . . . . . . . .

MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY

BLOG: MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM

 

ANOTHER RECENT FIND – FANTASTIC LATE 1930’S – WARTIME 1940’S MUSKRAT FUR CAPE

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It’s not as fine as a couple others I have, but just as wonderful with the big shoulders, pockets, arm slits and silky lining.  Very good condition, too – just a little wear to the fur along the seams here and there.  I’ll be able to wear it more casually than I would my others.

Some woman who didn’t have the money then for a more expensive fur enjoyed the glamour of that time in spite of the Depression and looming war.  By a furrier in Winnipeg, the animals whose pelts were taken would have been trapped in the midst of Canada’s woodland and prairie country and might have represented the livelihood of some rural family.  As much as I reject the modern fur trade, the hardships of those times were real.

As it is, I can enjoy this antique piece, too, and wear it until it’s done.  Today, faux fur pieces have become so sophisticated and beautifully-made that there’s no reason to support the fur trade.  Cherish the old furs for their bygone charisma and say good-bye forever to animal cruelty.

MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY

BLOG:  MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM

ANOTHER GREAT DISCOVERY! FABULOUS FIFTIES FROCK WITH FUR TRIMMING

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CUSTOM-TAILORED 1950’S PARTY FROCK WITH RABBIT TRIM

Although this dress looks very cute on Stella’s figure, it really must have been sewn for a petite woman much shorter.  I can’t quite imagine a style like this with fur and rhinestone trim made for a teen or a child in the 1950’s.  At any rate, the average height of a Fifties lady would have been 5 or 6 inches shorter while still perhaps being a tiny vintage size 10, like Stella.

Imagine my surprise to see this rare garment!  If you’ve been with me for a while, you may remember that several years ago I encountered a similar frock in ivory brocade with mink trim on the 3/4 sleeves.  That seems to have been a popular early 1950’s trend. In this case, we are seeing very pretty rabbit fur, with a little rhinestone trim nestled in the bodice ornament.

Another surprise is that this frock, despite it’s elegant style and up-scale materials, appears to have been hand-made.  It’s construction demonstrates the handiwork of someone who was very skilled, so perhaps it was made by a professional tailor rather than a home-based seamstress.  However, who actually knows?  With no labels to point the way, it’s just another delicious mystery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY

BLOG:  MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM

STUNNING 1950’S MINK-TRIMMED DRESS

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This dress/gown/frock was such fun to discover – it’d been a while since I had run across a fur-trimmed garment with sleeves like this, and never on a dress.  This is more than a cocktail dress, but not quite formal.  Was this specially made for a visit to the Queen?

Like one of my 1940’s  wedding gowns, it is a brocade-type fabric, though a bit less heavy. I am puzzled as to what type of event this dress would have been worn to.  Time for some research.  Any ideas?

MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY

BLOG:  MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM

ANOTHER TRUE VINTAGE MEN’S CLASSIC – MID-CENTURY WESTERN-WEAR COWBOY HAT FROM A DENVER, CO STORE

ANOTHER TRUE VINTAGE MEN'S CLASSIC - WESTERN-WEAR COWBOY HAT FROM A DENVER, CO STORE

Wool felt with leather interior and exterior hatbands – it’s a quality item that was sold by a western-wear dealer in Denver, Colorado.  This one could be several decades old or just a couple – that’s how durable and stylish true vintage apparel is!

When it’s taken care of, it lasts and lasts and never goes out of fashion.

What could be better than that? Tomorrow we’ll see . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY

BLOG:  MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM

BEAUTIFUL SPRING SKIRT SUIT FROM THE SIXTIES

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Though it’s not by a high-end designer, it would have been right for Jackie Kennedy.  This lovely wool suit was just the thing in 1962.  So well-made, with all the little tailoring details that are so important.

One of my favorite things about it is that the mink collar is lightly stitched on, so that it can be easily removed.  It’s nice to have that choice.

Not my color, unfortunately, so I recently put it on eBay but I have two other colors very similar which I can wear.  It’s fun to see how all of them are as alike as colored Easter eggs, yet each one is different . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..

MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY

BLOG:  MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM

 

 

 

2 BEAUTIFUL BEAVER JACKETS

IT’S STILL WAY COLD ENOUGH FOR THESE.  BOTH ARE 1950’S TRUE VINTAGE.  THE ONE ON THE RIGHT WAS FROM MY FAMILY.  THERE’S HARDLY A MORE BEAUTIFUL FUR, THOUGH UNLESS I FIND A TRUE VINTAGE ITEM AT LEAST 60 YEARS OLD, I PREFER TO BUY IMITATION.2 BEAUTIFUL BEAVER JACKETS

MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY

BLOG:  MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM

 

 

TRUE VINTAGE SWEATERS – FOUND IN AUSTRALIA

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERAOLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERAI always love finding true vintage sweaters in good condition, because they’re rare and a lot of fun to wear.  The weather is certainly right for them now!

The 1960’s top on the right looks very plain but it’s knitted of a yarn with sparkle, even though it is not a dressy design.  Just a cute, everyday item with Happy Days style (and  looks much better on my mannequin, “Madge”, than on the hanger – couldn’t wait to get it home).

The cardigan on the left is the star of this post.  Of soft wool, it is hand-embroidered and the body is lined.  Full-fashioned with hand-tailored details, as was usually the case with good-quality garments made before 1965 or so.  Though there is no tag saying so, it may have been made in British Hong Kong, as many of them were.

Wait till you see the next things I’ve come up with . . . . . . .

MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY

BLOG:  MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM

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

WOWEE AGAIN!!! MORE GREAT FINDS TODAY

file0001209214386-ebook-cover-1-11111211111112111Today, on a more-or-less routine survey, I had wonderful good fortune.  I’m just about to re-examine and photograph my newest acquisitions and get them ready to post on the blog.  Because I have already scheduled postings for the next three days, expect to begin seeing these on Sunday, Nov. 13.

Stay tuned . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . …

MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY

BLOG:  MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM

 

THE 1950’S HUSBAND’S ANSWER TO BUYING A MINK

THE 1950'S HUSBAND'S ANSWER TO BUYING A MINK

Genuine mink fur novelty jewelry had a bit of mid-century popularity during the 1950’s. Kind of a fun idea at the time, BUT –

if we could go back in time to advise our young grandmothers, we might say  “Be careful what you ask for!”  This whimsical little mink “brooch”  may not be exactly what Ethel had in mind. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY

BLOG:  MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM

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