TRUE VINTAGE MID-CENTURY SHIRTWAIST DRESS & COSTUME JEWELRY

TRUE VINTAGE MID-CENTURY SHIRTWAIST DRESS & COSTUME JEWELRY.

STUNNING 1950’S MINK-TRIMMED DRESS – ANOTHER RECENT FIND

STUNNING 1950'S MINK-TRIMMED DRESS – ANOTHER RECENT FIND.

HEY, MOM – CAN YOU KNIT THIS DRESS FOR THE PROM BY NEXT SATURDAY?

HEY, MOM – CAN YOU KNIT THIS DRESS FOR THE PROM BY NEXT SATURDAY?.

BLACK & WHITE FOR SUMMER – A BEAUTIFUL SILK FROCK FROM THE FIFTIES

BLACK & WHITE FOR SUMMER - A BEAUTIFUL SILK FROCK FROM THE FIFTIES

Here’s a beautiful start to a series of black and white fashion that I’ll be showing, with a couple of exceptions, for the next week or so. Black and white is so classic and always good – I know some of you like it as much as I do.

Although the Victorians seemed to love black, Coco Chanel might have been the first to roll out the black & white combo in the Thirties, for as long as she did and in the striking ways that she did. It’s been big, off and on, ever since then.

This beautiful frock is of delicate fabric with a subtle B & W stripe. It’s got all the Fifties hallmarks – the wasp waist, a bow on the bodice, midi hem which, when put together, just say “1955”, or so.

The neckline is demure. Grace Kelly would have loved it . . . . . . ..

Morgana Martin, the Magicvintagespy
Blog: Magicvintagespy.com
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Book: How to Find the Best in Vintage Fashion available on Amazon.com

1950’S NEEDLEWORK OUTFIT THAT FOLLOWED THE PARIS TRENDS – TO MAKE IN HER SPARE TIME

1950'S NEEDLEWORK OUTFIT THAT FOLLOWED THE PARIS TRENDS – TO MAKE IN HER SPARE TIME.

1950’S NEEDLEWORK OUTFIT THAT FOLLOWED THE PARIS TRENDS – TO MAKE IN HER SPARE TIME

1950'S NEEDLEWORK OUTFIT THAT FOLLOWED THE PARIS TRENDS - TO MAKE IN HER SPARE TIME

I was gifted with a collection of needlework and handicrafts magazines from the 1950’s – mid 1960’s. Thanks, Rosalie! Although I’ve never been big on the idea of knitting, I was astounded by many of these fashions and how women were encouraged to make them at home.

These styles were designed to follow the current fashions in the mainstream magazines. Some of them are really beautiful and they give a good window on “average” American women’s lives back then in the way that they are photographed and staged. Some of the ads in these mags are amazing, too. So sweet and naive – women’s “place” was certainly apparent!

How do you like this gorgeous 2-piece dress? I’d LOVE to have that! So perfectly crafted – it’s amazing what skilled knitters could/can do. I even saw ads from yarn suppliers who offered little contests that gave awards for skill to their customers.

This outfit was supposed to echo trends in Paris at the time. I love the soft colors, the way the skirt drapes and that cross-over top. Makes me wish I had a great-grandma who loved doing it!

I’ll post a photo and commentary from these mags in among my own wardrobe items once a week or so. . . . . . . . . . .

Morgana Martin, the Magicvintagespy
Blog: Magicvintagespy.com
Google+, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Tumblr, Digg, PATH & more . . . . . .
Book: How to Find the Best in Vintage Fashion available on Amazon.com

ANOTHER MOCHA DRESS! TRUE VINTAGE 1950’S SHIRTWAIST

ANOTHER MOCHA DRESS! TRUE VINTAGE 1950'S SHIRTWAIST.

TRUE VINTAGE 1950’S – EARLY 1960’S SUNDRESSES

TRUE VINTAGE 1950'S – EARLY 1960'S SUNDRESSES.

TRUE VINTAGE MID-CENTURY: A LITTLE MORE UP-TOWN, IN A LAID-BACK ’50S – EARLY ’60’S WAY

A LITTLE MORE UP-TOWN, IN A LAID-BACK '50S - EARLY '60'S WAY

This was a fabulous find – not too dressy, but certainly a step up from some of the little day dresses I’ve shown recently.

Cotton, again – one of the most versatile and perfect fabrics for most attire 50 or 60 years ago. No one was afraid of an iron, and most women expected their clothing to last a lot longer than one season.

This is a snazzy little number, though possibly custom tailored. It shows off the mentality of women who had gotten tired of war-time deprivation and modest conservatism a decade or so before.

Although it took us a while, girls have always just wanted to have fun . . . . . . . . . . . .

MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY
BLOG: MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM
BOOK: HOW TO FIND THE BEST IN VINTAGE FASHION – AVAILABLE ON AMAZON.COM

TRUE VINTAGE EARLY 1950’S DRESS A’LA GRACE KELLY

TRUE VINTAGE EARLY 1950'S DRESS A'LA GRACE KELLY.