Category Archives: mid-century

1940’S SLEEVE TREATMENTS – WHAT’S OLD IS NEW AGAIN, AND AGAIN, AND AGAIN . . . . . . . . . . . . .

1940’S POUFY SLEEVES – ALMOST EDWARDIAN
1980’S DOES 1940’S PIRATE SLEEVES AND TRUE VINTAGE FORTIES LADY

This post was inspired by the fabulous Theodora Brack and her post of a few weeks ago on the blog, Paris: People, Places and Bling.  Shirt sleeve styles are, again. doing some very interesting things with pleats, gathers and puffs.  Here are a few from my  own true vintage collection which show how these styles cycle through the decades.

Pictured here are 1930’s and 1940’s blouses excepting, in photos #1 and #3, the right-hand and left-hand examples are retro Forties, which were made in the early 1980’s. Cotton, silk, rayon and poly.  Kimono, pirate, Western-inspired and prissy designs all had their day in the 1940’s and have wound their way up and down runways every decade or two since then.  Of course, some decades were known for their beautiful craftsmanship, gorgeous fabrics and special tailoring details so these aspects will always be showcased in true vintage garments from those times.

Modern blouses which follow these style trends will not be nearly as beautiful or as well-made but, I love my finds.  Thanks for the opportunity to put them in the spotlight again.

MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY

BLOG:  MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM

 

 

LOVE IT! CUTE TAILORED 2 PIECE DRESS FROM THE SIXTIES – SEVENTIES

Lovely late-mid-century tailoring.  Picture this dress on a shorter model – it’s not supposed to be midriff-baring.  I love this nautical flair in dark navy and white, with asymetrical back and side buttons on the top.  Such an unusual design!

It’s cute and sassy while also being elegant.  That’s the best type of vintage design in smart casual wear.  They used to do it so well . . . . . . . . . . . .

I was super-happy to encounter this set.  Unusual pieces always give me a thrill.  So, wait till you see what I discovered next . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY

BLOG:  MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM

MY 1st NEW FIND – TRUE VINTAGE 1950’S – EARLY 1960’S CLASSIC GIRLY BLOUSE

I’ll start off with this conservative but very of-the-time ladies’ blouse.  Not my style (or size), but oh-so-vintage and worth collecting.  In this case, it’s a well-made version from Montreal, where style has always been ascendant – so it has a good pedigree.  That French influence is always a plus!

“Whipped cream”, Georgette fabric finish was popular in modern synthetics of that time.  Along with the lace and embroidered trim, it adds a pretty, feminine element to the style of this shirt.  I also always love little pearlized buttons wherever they turn up on vintage clothing – usually blouses and sleepwear.

Don’t know much about the history of this clothing company – sometimes the background on Canadian makers is less available.  However, it’s well-made and stands up well against any American maker’s products of that time.  I always love to see examples like this, no matter where they come from.  Keep on bringin’ ’em on – and I do . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY

BLOG:  MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM

A LITTLE MORE “FALL-ISH” LOOKING – TRUE VINTAGE “TONI TODD” DRESS FROM THE SIXTIES

IMG_0976     The Toni Todd label was a mid-priced line of popular everyday dresses.  Pretty hum-drum by the standards then, but nicer than lots of the stuff that is marketed today.  The best feature of this one, I think, is the styling.

The fabric is a poly or poly-blend knit.  It is a one-piece, but made to look like a two-piece ensemble and pulls on overhead. Two of the buttons on one shoulder can be unfastened to allow this, while the others that run down the center of both sleeves are purely decorative, as is the red vinyl belt.

In terms of dating it exactly, the length of the skirt throws me off a bit but it could just have been a style element even though lots of hemlines at the time were shorter.  It is an unusual design which contains elements of Mod and military styling – both popular in the mid- to late 1960’s.

It’s so much FUN to find vintage garments like this, with several interesting and curious fashion features that make the deciphering of their history a little unusual or puzzling. . . . . . . .

MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY

BLOG:  MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM

FABULOUS TRUE VINTAGE JACKIE KENNEDY EARLY 1960’S SKIRT SUIT

IMG_0985    This suit is so iconic of that era.  Gorgeous yellow wool in a loose weave, with a cute little vintage mink collar.  If the collar is too dressy, it can easily be removed with just a snip-snip because it is hand-basted onto the neckline.

It’s easy to wear and the two pieces can be very versatile.  True vintage suits are worth investing in for many reasons – the styles are usually quite elegant; tailoring is superb and the quality of materials are unavailable today.  Because the designs are classic, the jackets and skirts can usually be worn in a variety of ways that would never have been thought of decades ago.

Love the big covered buttons and pencil skirt.  So pretty, and a nice alternative to dark, somber colors for Fall and Winter.  Being on the prowl is so much fun, because you just never know . . . . . . . . ..

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

TRUE VINTAGE 1950’S ATOMIC WHITE & GOLD EVENING GOWN

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We’re approaching the time of year – Homecoming – Holidays – when gowns and formal-wear are most popular (until we get into Mardi Gras and Prom time!).  This dress is so gorgeous and unique – a white evening gown with a splash of gold comet-dust across the bodice and down the skirt.

I’ve seen so many ceramic and plastic items from the Fifties (I have a lamp like this!) that are white or black and decorated with gold this way.  It was so much fun to find it on a dress.

It’s a rayon or acetate sheath with a defined waist, draped all over with tulle netting. Very ’50’s and perfect for a Princess of the Galaxy, or the Magicvintagespy . . . . . . .

MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY

BLOG:  MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM

TRUE VINTAGE LATE SIXTIES CRUSHED VELVET PARTY MINI- DRESS

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Yes, it is really crushed!  Needs a trip to the cleaner or, maybe, a good steaming.  Doing this at home can be tricky, however, with true vintage garments.

Reminds me so much of photos I’ve seen from the late 1960’s and early 1970’s – a typical dress for the Homecoming dance.

Crushed velvet and panne’ velvet were really popular then, plus dresses with Victorian or Edwardian tailoring details. Funny how fashion really swings back and forth from modernistic to old-style, sometimes combining the two in one garment.

In this case, I love the long sleeves and vintage-style bodice with lacy trim at the neck and a mini-skirt combined. I see a lot of that in my investigating experiences – so interesting!

MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY

BLOG:  MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM

TRUE VINTAGE 1960’S HAND-DYED SILK BELTED TENT DRESS

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Custom-tailored in a popular style of the mid-late Sixties, batik dyed silk tent dress that I like to wear belted. It also has a shawl made of the same material that completely transforms the look.

Wearing it un-belted is also a completely different look, but not my style. This cut can work for almost any figure, but really looks great on curvy Madge. That’s her edge over slender Stella, so they’re getting along fine .. . . . . . .

MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY

BLOG:  MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM

STELLA (FINALLY!) MODELS THIS 1950’S HAND-TAILORED WIGGLE DRESS

Now that Stella’s on the modeling circuit, this dress can be displayed as it should be.  Several years ago I found this beauty – wish the photos did it justice.   Gorgeous atomic/abstract/art swirl fabric in glossy and soft rayon.  All hand-tailored.  FAB!

MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY

BLOG:  MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM