Category Archives: leisure-wear

FINAL FUN FIND OF THE WEEK: TRUE VINTAGE SIXTIES – SEVENTIES SHIRT JACKET

Though certainly not a star when it comes to quality or design, it’ll be fun to wear when I’m in the mood.  Even the best of the late 1960’s to early 1970’s wasn’t great.

In this case, worth picking up for several reasons.  1.  Perfect condition and commercially-made.  When I see items like this in great shape, they’re usually home-sewn.  Probably women who sewed appreciated the value of their clothing more.  I rarely find a true vintage knit from this era that was commercially-made unless it’s a rag.  2.  The content & care tag and the Ladies Garment Workers Union tag are still present.  3.  The fabric and styling are purely from the era.  Although some fairly faithful retro copycats have been made in recent years, there’s always nothing better than an original.  4. The pattern, collar and color are just cute!

So, that rounds out my week.  We’ll see what happens around May Day . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY

BLOG:  MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM

JUST FOUND! GORGEOUS 1930’S – 1940’S WARTIME TO POST-WAR RAYON BED JACKET

 

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What a neat discovery!  I have 2 or 3 lingerie bed jackets from this era already, but haven’t found another for a long time.  Rare, rare, rare.  This one may have been part of some woman’s trousseau, which she stored away lovingly for decades.  Some were made of silk.  This one is glossy rayon.

Pretty bed jackets from the post-war 1950’s are also fabulous, but much different from the older wartime ones.  Notice in the detail close-up the embroidered mesh decoration.  Remember that from the nightgown I showed just a few days ago?

Oh, I’m over the moon again and will also store this garment away lovingly, probably for decades . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY

BLOG:  MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM

 

RARE AND UNUSUAL FIND – A BEAUTIFUL HAND-MADE KIMONO

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Here’s that gorgeous kimono found about a week ago.  It has been pieced together by hand, as as far as I can tell.  Some of the basting stitches are still present.  The blue-tinted edge dying around the lower hem (and also inside the sleeves) is something beautiful and I can’t figure out how it was done.

Don’t know how old this garment may be, but it’s been around for a while.  The lovely colors illustrate chrysanthemums and cranes – both, I think, traditional Japanese decorative motifs.  I’d love to know more about it’s origin and the history of the design.

It’s also VERY long, so might have been made for a man in spite of the floral pattern (?).  Not my area of expertise.  What next – you just never know . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . .

MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY

BLOG:  MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM

FOUND A HANDMADE, SILK KIMONO YESTERDAY!!!

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Beautiful floral colors and hand-stitching throughout.  Very unusual find, too.  It needs a little attention, but will be coming your way soon.

MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY

BLOG:  MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM

THE LAST (I THINK . . . AT LEAST, FOR NOW) OF MY BEAUTIFUL 1940’S – 1950’S BED JACKETS

THE LAST (I THINK . . . AT LEAST, FOR NOW) OF MY BEAUTIFUL 1940'S - 1950'S BED JACKETS

With this photo, I’ve shown most of my true vintage bed jacket collection.  But, as always, you just never know . . . . . . . .

The one on the left is obviously the most unusual, and the oldest (probably 1940’s), but look at the gorgeous lace, ribbons and embroidery, the feminine styles, the soft and flattering  blues of the 1950’s versions.  And, even quilting, for a morning that’s colder. No wonder I love them and do a happy dance when I find another.

All of these were probably owned by women from middle-income families and were part of an average wardrobe – frequently used.  Oh, the charm of it all . . . . . . . . . . . .

MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY

BLOG:  MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM

 

TRUE VINTAGE 1940’S OR ’50’S SATIN & LEATHER PLATFORM HOUSE-SLIPPERS

TRUE VINTAGE 1940'S OR '50'S SATIN & LEATHER PLATFORM HOUSE-SLIPPERS

Imagine gliding around the house in these, wearing your newest peignoir and gown or a lovely hostess ensemble.  At-home leisure wear became a significant part of many North American and European women’s wardrobes in the 1900’s.  In the mid-century decades when movies gained popularity  sophistication and glamour were very important to the average gal.

These are so much fun!  Platform shoes have always been a favorite of mine (since they came out in a fashion revival for the 3rd or 4th time in history!)  For me, nothing can beat 1940’s and early 1950’s footwear.  And, to find a pair in excellent condition is always a dream come true.

Although these are a decade or two older than the hostess gowns I’ve found lately, their classic elegance would make them wearable with either of them.  That’s the beauty of the best . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY

BLOG:  MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM

 

LATEST FIND! TRUE VINTAGE 1960’S HOUSECOAT – MOD AND SWEET

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Nothing “Lady of the Manor” about this dressing gown – a little bit more Carnaby Street.  Still a perfect hostess gown or leisure wear garment.

Lovely, heavy nylon with cute button trim at the neckline and the Sixties bell sleeves.  I love the print and the colors in this gown!

It’s always such fun to find beautiful clothing that is 50 years old but still in perfect wearing condition.  I breeze around the house in this one a lot!!

MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY

BLOG:  MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM

 

 

MORE GORGEOUS TRUE VINTAGE LINGERIE FROM THE 1940’S & 1950’S

MORE GORGEOUS TRUE VINTAGE LINGERIE FROM THE 1940'S & 1950'S

Exquisite nylon bed jackets, in lovely pinks.  There’s nothing that feels so luxurious as sitting in bed or in a boudoir chair with one of these over your beautiful nightgown while enjoying a cup of tea.

These are so comfortable and pretty, almost any time of year.  As always, the fabric, decoration and details can’t be matched by things sold today.

Sweet dreams! . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY

BLOG:  MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM

 

TRUE VINTAGE 1950’S/’60’S TRADITIONAL TAILORED MEN’S PAJAMAS

TRUE VINTAGE 1950'S/'60'S TRADITIONAL TAILORED MEN'S PAJAMAS

Now we’ll go, almost, to the other end of the spectrum for some standard-issue men’s or boys’ cotton PJs – though they’re spiffed up with some really neat prints.

Plain and basic in their style, they’re well-made enough to have survived in good shape. They could even have been from the ’40’s, but I don’t think so. Somewhere between 1955 and ’65 probably hits it.

Though not luxurious, they are comfortable (I can wear them!) and a lot of fun!  The red fans on the right are an unusual, to me, motif for men’s pajamas but, hey, what do I know?  They are a traditional East Asian motif and may have been an influence of the Pacific arena wars the U.S. had just been through in the Forties and Fifties . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY

BLOG:  MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM

TRUE VINTAGE ROBES AND DRESSING GOWNS FROM THE LATE 1930’S – 1940’S

TRUE VINTAGE ROBES AND DRESSING GOWNS FROM THE LATE 1930'S - 1940'S

We’ve done a little film noir leisure dressing for the men, so here are 3 of my very favorite women’s things of the same era.  The fabulous ’30’s robe with shoulder pads and tassels, the cute little wartime rayon dressing gown and the glam  ’40’s rayon dressing gown.  Hollywood movie star all over!

Imagine Veronica Lake or Joan Crawford sweeping into the room. Deanna Durbin would have looked sweet in that blue and white dressing gown.

I like to recline in one of these while sipping a cognac and reviewing the latest assignment. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY

BLOG:  MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM