Category Archives: housedress

FUN 1960’S PRAIRIE FARMER GIRL FROCK

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Fun find today!  A custom-made prairie-girl dress that can go all year round.  Just put a blouse, t-shirt or t-neck underneath and there you go.  The fabric is a woven synthetic of the late-mid-century time so it’s a Sixties take on a much older style.  There are Amish in the area where I discovered it, but I’m not sure this is their style.  May be some other groups who wear slightly less modest clothing and would be allowed to show their arms. ?  It’s got an old metal CC zipper and hardly any wear so, who knows.  The sash ties in back and there’s ric-rac all around.

Just fun, so true vintage and cute!  Another mystery, which I love. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY

BLOG:  MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM

FUN FIND TODAY! 2 MID-CENTURY HOUSE-DRESSES

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I always love finding dresses like this from back in the day.  Many women wore these at home on a daily basis, and didn’t worry too much if they had to run out for an errand – a little freshening-up:  a combing and touch of hairspray, powder & lipstick and off they went to the supermarket.

Other women, who worked in the garment unions, made these dresses in large quantities.  Most of them found their way to the rubbish bin after being worn for years of cooking and housecleaning, but a few of them made it out alive.  Love the lines of the slightly older style on the right.

So, here we have two of those gals who were well looked-after and might have lived a more leisurely life.  They were half-sizes (plus) in their time but now would be lucky to qualify as large size.  However, their styles are forgiving and may serve me very well just as they did their first owners.  Fun!

MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY

BLOG:  MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM

HERE COME THE TRUE VINTAGE DAY-DRESSES, AND THIS ONE IS JUST THE CAT’S PAJAMAS FOR ANY MOTHER-TO-BE

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Believe it or not, it IS a maternity dress!  From the Forties or early Fifties!!  The brand name is Lady in Waiting (how cute).  What a fun, fun find!

Nothing could be more practical or economical than this baby (pun intended).  The fabric is cotton, rayon or a blend in a colorful print.  Perfect for a summer pregnancy.  The dress is simple and was not expensive, but so ingeniously designed and convenient!

The easy, breezy shirtwaist style is always in fashion and the flowing fabric is very forgiving.  Underneath that wrap-around wasp waist sash is extra material and a set of 3 snaps near each side seam which allow the dress to be let out up to about 10 inches.  So, no matter the stage she’s at, this mama could wear the dress from start to finish and beyond.

Good old American ingenuity (not to imply that we’re the only ones).  I love clever fashion ideas like this one.

MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY

BLOG:  MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM

A 1960’S NANCY FROCK – HOW FUN IS THAT?

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Haven’t found a “Nancy Frock” in quite a while so I’m very happy with this find.  A house-dress, day-dress combo.  The label says you can “wear it anywhere” – a smart style so typical of lower-priced dresses of that era.  Proudly “made in the U.S.A.”.  Such an old, iconic brand name label.

This poly shirtwaist style has an overall paisley print – so 1960’s. Although it doesn’t show well in the photo, the dyed-to-match buttons are sculpted and there is a little neck-tie beneath the collar, which dresses it up a bit.  I love it that this dress also is in virtually perfect condition.  The only flaw I see is the missing original belt.

Also, the original owner had written on the label “New  Long” but I’m not about to try to remove that – it’s part of the story that she probably intended to have it altered (or do it herself).  Looks like she never got around to it, so this garment may be new and unworn.  Fab.

When it rains, it pours.  So, more coming your way tomorrow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY

BLOG:  MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM

LOVE THIS 1960’S PATIO HIPPIE DRESS I JUST FOUND!

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Heavy synthetic knit and great colors.  Again, fabulous graphics on this one with a metal zip up the back.  The lacing tie and empire waistline are fun style features, too.

I know, I get a little excessive with my enthusiastic descriptions sometimes but that’s how I feel when discovering great true vintage garments.  Keep on cleaning out your closets, grandma . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY

BLOG:  MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM

HERE’S A BETTER FIND – A 1950’S -’60’S SLINKY KNIT HOUSEDRESS IN A FABULOUS PRINT

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Love, love, love the graphics here!  Although this dress was never more than a lower-end bargain fashion, the style and construction testify to the superior quality and value of  garments made several decades ago.  I’ll enjoy wearing this one, but I’ll take special care of it, too.

The label is no longer legible, so I’m not sure of the exact fabric content or the brand name.  Also, the original belt is missing, which was probably a tie belt.  Like many of the knits back in the day, it has a really nice feel and hangs and drapes beautifully.  I like this shiny buckle belt now – dresses it up a bit.

Keep on watching, because it only gets better . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY

BLOG:  MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM

 

THREE PRETTY MID-CENTURY HOUSE DRESSES

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Two of these were handmade and the third is a simple style from a bargain shop, sometime in the Sixties or Seventies.  I can never get enough of these cute cotton frocks because they are so practical – from housework to a grocery run they’re just right for the job.

It’s fun to put out a vintage vibe while doing the everyday this and that with no worries about special caution for your outfit.  Dresses like this can serve me well and eventually be retired with no tears.

So, although not a hugely exciting find it’s one that always makes me happy and keeps my everyday closet well-stocked.  I’d much rather wear one of these dresses on an average day than a same old same old jeans and Tee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY

BLOG:  MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM

ANOTHER “NEW” – 1960’S HOUSECOAT WRAPPER

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I always pick up these old cotton or cotton blend housecoats when I find them.  Although there are similar ones being made now, the older ones tend to have the best quality and most interesting styling and decoration.

Such fun to know these little differences that make a big impact on your satisfaction when you wear them!

MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY

BLOG:  MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM

TRUE VINTAGE GINGHAM HOUSE – DRESS FROM 1961, WITH PRETTY VINTAGE LACE

IMG_1490 IMG_1491True vintage house-dresses are some of my favorite finds because they are always so cute, easy to wear all year long and each one has different details to discover.  Gingham fabric is always top of the list.  It’s fun to find so many different colors besides the wonderful, classic red/white and blue/white combos!

The most outstanding feature of this dress is the lace around the collar – it’s just different from anything that is made now.

I really love 100% cotton fabric in blouses and dresses like this, but often find that even the older ones are a cotton-poly blend.   Clothing makers were creative with blended and synthetic fabrics in the Forties when some of the usual materials were diverted for use in making things for the WWII effort.  In the Fifties they began concentrating on making fabrics easy-care – less or no ironing needed and easier to wash – but I still find wonderful 100% cottons, too.

So, we’ve benefited and lost from these changes in the marketplace over the past few decades.  There’s nothing like the true vintage fabrics, no matter what type they are, but I love the innovations that made improvements in them, too.  Each decade has it’s own wonderful fabrics!

It’s been so much fun to learn all these things from my experience in the field – always looking forward to the next investigation . . . . . . .

MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY

BLOG:  MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM

 

JUST FOUND! 1960’S LUXE NEIMAN MARCUS HOSTESS GOWN

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Embroidered all over with gold metallic thread, this designer dress from the famous high-end retailer is a fabulous find!  Couldn’t believe it.  Luxurious at-home wear that can easily  go out and about – there are no “rules” these days saying that would be “not done”.

I love true vintage hostess and patio dresses, as well as other at-home wear from eras past.  Often the better-quality items are in fantastic condition because they were worn sparingly and/or cared for so well by their original owners.

Just another marvelous day in Mid-Centuryland for the Magicvintagespy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY

BLOG:  MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM