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 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
Whenever I encounter beautiful examples of sleepwear lingerie from this era, I always bring them home. Although I love the pj’s, knee-length gowns are another favorite. While made of the same type of wonderful nylon, the gowns usually have more elaborate and prettier decoration.
The Fifties saw mostly pastel pieces similar to the one on right, though sometimes in red or black. During the Sixties bright colors were popular, as on the left. This was kind of backward to how lingerie slips were made – go figure.
Anyway, there was no debate or stopping-to-think-about-it for me, but always nice to know all about it . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY
BLOG: MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM
Just came up with this one, too. So many of the day dresses from this era were made to very elegant standards. Although a lot of lace dresses have been made in the last few years, trying to duplicate this look, I’ve never seen one done to the level of quality and design as true vintage examples.
So, be vigilant and don’t be mislead by the vintage design charlatans and scam artists . . . .
MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY
BLOG: MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM
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About 4 – 5 sizes too big for Stella, but it has to be shown on a model because of the swishy skirt and the way it drapes. Lace overlay was very popular in the Kennedy era and much more nicely-done than the cheap versions we’ve seen lately. The fabric is glossy substantial, and there are pearl bead accents sewn all over.
Another great part of the design is the way that the back swoops toward the waist. So, it’s not a drop-your-champagne-glass-when-you-see-it type of frock but it’s a lovely, classicaly-tailored garment that was worth collecting (and a design that is easy to alter!). .
MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY
BLOG: MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM
You know I have SO much lovely true vintage lingerie and a ton of 1950’s slips, but I still go giddy when I find another one. They’re just so beautiful with their lace, applique, ribbons, sumptuous fabric and elegant tailoring.
This one is by Warner’s in a lemon ice color. Just the right length for a bottom-of-the-knee dress or skirt, or a midi.
I’m so glad that we are not locked into a certain hem length for months (or years) like women were in the past. No more dread of appearing unfashionable or out-of-step.
Ha! Can hardly imagine it . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY
BLOG: MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM
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I just had a windfall of finding a whole armful of lovely pastel full slips from the ’50’s and early ’60’s, but I’m going to show you this one first, which I found a few days ago. It’s older, and longer, and more elaborately-styled in a design which I rarely find.
This slip is from the era when lingerie was made as if it were the main attraction of your whole outfit. Forget what you’re wearing on top of it – the beautiful underthings is what’s really going on. Look at those stunning crystal pleats on the bodice and the flounce at the hemline.
A slip that is so well-styled, carefully-made and of a wonderful, heavy nylon or rayon (or cotton, for summer) that it could stand alone as a dress is the kind of slip that our grandmothers wore every day. Some were fancier than others, but even the more day-to-day items were elegant.
More pretties to come, and more to discover. Stay tuned . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY
BLOG: MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM
These gorgeous lingerie gowns were another surprise find – always so much fun! The shoulder detail is what really makes them stand out – the way the straps are joined in the front. They just don’t make ’em like this anymore.
The sheer panels and the gathers are also lovely, as well as the cloud-soft feel of the nylon fabric.
Sigh – to die for . . . . . . .
MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY
BLOG: MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM
Pretty citrus – color lingerie in luscious ’50’s nylon, with exquisite decoration. Rare colors! Believe it or not, I just found a similar one in pale yellow the other day . . . . . . . . . .
The temperatures keep going up and down, but how can we doubt that Summer is coming if we wear these?
As always, luscious fabric and gorgeous trimmings. The seaming on the bodices is unusual on the two yellow examples and probably deserves a Special Investigation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY
BLOG: MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM
The half-slip – an essential garment under many dresses and skirts. Especially as the weather becomes a little warmer, full slips sometimes are not right under lighter dresses and blouses.
Like most of the beautiful lingerie of the fifties, early sixties and before, these are nice enough to wear on their own on a hot day – put on a pretty sheer blouse and a cinch belt, et voila! Clothing so lovely that it can be appreciated just for itself is such a pleasure to wear . . . . . . . . … .
MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY
BLOG: MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM
Magicvintagespy 