Category Archives: late Sixties

MID-CENTURY FROCK IN A RETRO ’40’S STYLE – SEE WHY IT’S ANOTHER UNUSUAL FIND . . . . . . . . . ..

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From roughly the same era as yesterday’s dress, this one is a poly-cotton 1940’s throw-back with a wasp waist and puffed shoulders, plus 3/4 cuffed sleeves.  Little button trimmings, a fabric-covered belt and contrast-pleated skirt complete the design features.

The most unusual and striking element, to me, is the use of an unusual and distinctive color combo that is also characteristic of some of the older styles and what made them so interesting.  True vintage garments are full of tailoring and color surprises.

I was happy to find this piece that is faithful to that tradition, even though it was an inexpensive retro style in it’s 1960’s – early 1970’s time.  Modern retro-styled dresses hardly ever do it so well.  Can’t wait to put it on Stella and see it properly displayed!

We’ll be hovering around the 1955 – 1975 time frame for a few days.  Stay tuned for more pleasant surprises . . . . . . . .

MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY

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JUST FOUND! “TED WILLIAMS” BRAND TRUE VINTAGE 1960’S SPORTSWEAR

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“For Active Americans” on the label – famous baseball star Ted Williams had his own sportswear line that produced outerwear, mostly, from the 1950’s – 1970’s and was sold by Sears & Roebuck and at Simpson Sears in Canada.  What an interesting item with history that I did not know!

Although this may have been a men’s or boy’s jacket, I think it is unisex.  Small – medium on a sportswoman with room for a heavy sweater underneath and FULL of pockets with sturdy metal zippers and features that would be very handy for a hiker, day-camper, cross-country skier (or hunter – some were made for this).   I guess the big pocket across the back was called a “small game pocket” but it would be PERFECT for carrying a lightweight sleeping bag or tent or many other trekking supplies with space above to allow a day-pack to hang.

Virtually unused condition, warm and toasty with a quilted lining and rib-knit cuffs and collar.  I hope to go to Montana next year, and this would be a great thing to take along! Reminiscent of mid-century family vacations to the national parks – there’s a whole Happy Days/Kennedy era novel inspired by this one.  Tomorrow I’ll show you it’s sophisticated sister . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY

BLOG:  MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM

’60’s – ’70’s RETRO 1940’s HIGH-WAIST GORED SKIRT

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NOT AS OLD AS I USUALLY LIKE, BUT WHEN I SAW THIS I SAID TO MYSELF “I’LL WEAR THIS A LOT!”  NEEDS A LITTLE CLEANING, BUT NO BIG DEAL.

SOOOO, IT’S BEEN ADDED TO MY CLOSET AND BECOMES MORE VERSATILE EVERY TIME I LOOK AT IT.  STYLES LIKE THIS WERE REALLY POPULAR IN THE LATE 1960’S AND EARLY 1970’S AND, OF COURSE, DURING THEIR FIRST(?) INCARNATION IN THE 1940’S.

STILL HAVEN’T LOOKED AT IT WITH ALL OF MY BLOUSES AND JACKETS – WHICH ONES? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY

BLOG:  MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM

 

VINTAGE MODEL’S COAT JUST FOUND – I LOVE THESE!

img_2354I’ve always loved the garments made by this company, SWIRL, and this one is no exception.  It may not be as old as some of the ones I own, but still has the ’60’s – ’70’s applique’ and the great styling.

Like some other things (the dresses I just came up with . . . . .), you can never have too many . . . . . . .

MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY

BLOG:  MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM

TRUE VINTAGE 1960’S MARY JANE’S – CUTEST ALL-LEATHER MOD CARNABY STREET SHOES

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA     Look what I found in Canada!  Celebrity brand Mary Janes with leather soles and chunky heels.

These would be from the mid to late 1960’s.  Like some others I’ve shown before, one shoe has the maker’s name stamped on the footbed and the other has the name of the local store that sold them.  This was a common practice in the Forties, Fifties and Sixties when small, privately-owned shoe stores were in every town and city and many of them had a good relationship with the suppliers of the special brands they sold.

Probably moderately priced when they were originally sold, but quality, quality, quality all the way . . . .

MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY

BLOG:  MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM

JUST FOUND – SOME PRETTY CUSTOM-TAILORED 1960’s DRESSES

Yes, I’m back at Headquarters now – unpacking and taking care of business.  Although these finds are out-of-season right now, despite the heat, I like to show brand-new discoveries ASAP.

What makes these worthy of my closet?  The styles are simple, but the vintage fabrics are REALLY NICE.  Also, the hand-done tailoring touches, like a full lining, well-cut facings and hem allowances make them special garments.

I always pick up pieces of exceptional quality.  They are rare treasure, not seen in the marketplace today.  Stay tuned for more . . . . . . . . . . .

MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY

BLOG:  MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM

A LITTLE TRUE VINTAGE BLACK & WHITE KNIT DAY DRESS – SO SMART AND CHIC!

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I have found several of these elegant black and white styles from the ’60’s and ’70’s – and wear them a lot.  As versatile as a Little Black Dress for day and fun to accessorize.  If made by a well-known clothing company or designer, the workmanship was good .

Polyester knits made up until the early 1970’s were usually very nice – good quality and with a substantial feel and nice drape.  A well-made dress or pant-suit could take you through 3 seasons of the year.  Although similar-looking dresses are made now, the older ones almost always have superior tailoring and fabric.

MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY

BLOG:  MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM

TRUE VINTAGE MID-CENTURY VICTORIAN-STYLE BOHO FINDS IN EUROPE!

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Talk about fussy and pretty .. . . . .!  Although they’re similar in some ways to the blouses shown yesterday, I like these so much better.  In spite of the high neckline on the left, they’re less prim and will look great with jeans and peasant skirts.

These styles go way back, from the 1890’s (with long gloves or a jacket, of course.  Can’t show those arms!) to the 1940’s and 1950’s when peasant-style was all the rage.  As always, the fashion came back in the late 1960’s and early 1970’s and was just as iconic then.

As I’ve said, it’s rare to find blouses and shirts this old in fabulous condition.  The things that  make this possible are the high-quality construction and fabric plus the fact that people used to care for their clothing much better than we do now.  For modern vintage sleuths, our gain!

So, never give up – just learn how to sneak smarter . .. . . . . . . . . . .. ..

MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY

BLOG:  MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM

TRUE VINTAGE EARLY – MID 1960’S LOUNGE-WEAR AND HOSTESS GOWNS

TRUE VINTAGE EARLY - MID 1960'S LOUNGE-WEAR AND HOSTESS GOWNS

A change of pace for the weekend – let’s slip into some fabulous-feeling vintage nylon. There’s nothing that feels like it – heavy, smooth, creamy and cool on your skin.  Well, enough of that – this is a vintage fashion blog, not a . . . . . .

These are what the fashionable woman wore at home while relaxing and/or for casual entertaining.  The one on the left is a slip-over design with roses embroidered at the neck. The right-hand style is unique with two fabric layers, a front zipper and long scarf “tails” that can be tied in a bow or crossed in front and thrown over the shoulders.  One is by ShadowLine and the other by a less well-known maker.

Those shoulder “tails” are an interesting feature.  I have a velveteen sheath dress circa about 1960 which has them and also a jacket, which I think comes from the wartime era. Not sure if this style element was something that repeated – I haven’t seen it often.  The color combo on the right has such a characteristic ’60’s look.

When I go sleuthing, or just sorting through my closets, I drift through several decades one after the other.  It’s almost as good as going to the movies . . . . . . . . . . . .

MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY

BLOG:  MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM

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

TRUE VINTAGE 1950’s & ’60’s MEN’S NECKTIES

TRUE VINTAGE 1950s & '60s MEN'S NECKTIES

Here’s a collection of neckties that span from the early ’50’s to the late ’60’s.  Brand names include Wembley and others (which I’ve forgotten at the moment).  Some are of silk, some of rayon blend and some of polyester.

Although the widths vary a lot from decade to decade, I don’t think that I would let that keep me from wearing the one I wanted to if I were a man.  They can all look sharp and interesting or fun.

It’s not difficult to find these now.  Once in a while I check for them.  They even make nice belts for women’s clothing sometimes, and women did wear them as ties, too, in 1967 when the British Carnaby Street fashions were really in.  You can wear a skinny one for an Annie Hall look, or whatever.

When it comes to wearing vintage fashion, anything goes . . . . . . .

MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY

BLOG:  MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM

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