The most interesting fabric, fun buttons and near-perfect condition. This is a great example of an everyday dress for a woman after WWII.
Very nicely tailored, despite it’s modest category. Grandma was happy to have better clothing to wear again after all the wartime deprivations. We’re just getting started – stay tuned . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY
BLOG: MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM
IT’S STILL WAY COLD ENOUGH FOR THESE. BOTH ARE 1950’S TRUE VINTAGE. THE ONE ON THE RIGHT WAS FROM MY FAMILY. THERE’S HARDLY A MORE BEAUTIFUL FUR, THOUGH UNLESS I FIND A TRUE VINTAGE ITEM AT LEAST 60 YEARS OLD, I PREFER TO BUY IMITATION.
MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY
BLOG: MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM
Thrilled, thrilled, thrilled! One of my favorite finds, from a favorite decade. And, in beautiful condition.
Very popular post-war shirtwaist day dress with pretty, carved rhinestone buttons. This was a day-to-day item for women in the late Forties and early Fifties when nice clothing was becoming available again. The prints were so interestng.
This one was hiding in a big way, but not from the Magicvintagespy. What will show up next? You just never know . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY
BLOG: MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM
JUST A SAMPLING – NO MATTER HOW IT LOOKS, THERE’S NOTHING LIKE IT TODAY!
These wonderful cotton prints may have come from clothing that had worn out and had to be re-purposed. Love the pink check that’s in the apron! The quilt has many blocks that are not damaged at all, though some show wear. For being about 100 years old, it was well-looked-after and still holds together.
What I love most about a find like this is the rare materials that all have a story. The prints are so great – little anchors, fleur des lis, vines and flowers, paisley and plaid, checks and stripes. There are more, but I can only show so many photographs at once.
So, I know it’s not a piece of clothing (excepting for the apron accessory) but it’s such a wonderful trip back to fabrics and garments from the early 1900’s. This quilt was probably made between 1920 and 1950. It’s not often that we get to see these, so I jump at the opportunity! It’s one that I only come across now and then and, you just never know . . . . .
MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY
BLOG: MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM
A bit rumpled, but perfect! This was a higher-end men’s garment and an indispensable wardrobe item for men in the mid-century. A well-made bathrobe for elegant at-home time was worn by many men every day.
Lovely cotton, rayon and silk were commonly-used fabrics in mid-century and, like their street-wear brothers, these lounge-wear garments were well-tailored and elegant. I’m SO thrilled to uncover another one of these, which is a rare find (my favorite!)
I encounter a lot of rare finds, but they’re all different, so the surprises never stop! Stay tuned – you just never know . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY
BLOG: MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM
Just when the 1960’s treasures were beginning to feel a little hum-drum, up comes a beautiful men’s item that pulls me back to post-war days and some of the best old movies. Stay tuned – I’ll publish it tomorrow . . . . . . . . . . .
MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY
BLOG: MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM
What a surprise to find such an interesting, and USEFUL, slip to add to my collection! Never seen one like this before, but I’ve certainly been in need of one. It was made to wear with dresses like the one I showed yesterday – sheer all over. I just happen to have a black one from the Fifties that needs an undergarment just like this one.
This slip (in my size, by the way . . .) is made almost like a dress. It has a back zipper, a kick pleat in the skirt, and an opaque woven rayon skirt. But, it’s undoubtedly a lingerie item.
The bodice is of sheer lace, fitted and with adjustable straps as you would expect with any slip. Several features tell me that it is a 1950’s garment – not a modern copy-cat.
For the dress shown yesterday, in beige with a gold design, you would of course want a different color slip with no pattern – but the same features of fit and coverage would be just right. These discoveries are so much fun! This time I can really call myself an “undercover agent” . . . . .
MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY
BLOG: MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM
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Couldn’t wait to get this home, where Madge or Stella (my mannequin models) could show it properly – this sheer, custom-tailored frock is a great example of a popular style of the 1950’s. It’s a dressy style, with metallic gold leaves printed on beige illusion fabric. I think that Grace Kelly wore a similar dress in the movie “High Society” from the early 1950’s.
This example is a pull-over design, with no zipper or buttons. Cowl neckline in front and a dropped waist, with below-the-knee hemline.
Of course, a silky sheath or plain, tailored slip in a matching tone has to be worn underneath. Tomorrow I’ll show you ANOTHER find that is a perfect example of a lingerie garment made exactly for this purpose. The fascinating discoveries just never end . . . .
MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY
BLOG: MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM
BOOK: HOW TO FIND THE BEST IN VINTAGE FASHION – AVAILABLE ON AMAZON.COM
It seems that the Australian women really loved these beautiful lingerie items. I’ve found many in North America, but not as often as when I traveled there. These are some of the prettiest ones I’ve seen, of those made after the 1940’s. Nothing can beat the silk ones from before 1950!
Aside from the size differences between our two continents, there are some slight design features that are different, too. The Aussie versions seem to always be of two layers, or lined!
Perhaps this is because they have been imported from England (or the designs have), where cozier items would be more popular due to the dampness there. It’s a bit of a mystery, and part of what makes these investigations so fun and so interesting . . . . .
MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY
BLOG: MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM
BOOK: HOW TO FIND THE BEST IN VINTAGE FASHION – AVAILABLE ON AMAZON.COM
Oh, boy! It happens all the time, but I’m still always thrilled into ecstasies when I discover a garment like this one. A simple, summer-weight woven rayon frock by R & K Originals – made during the mid to later 1940’s.
All the buttons (and really neat buttons!) with their rhinestone and plastic centers are still present. Never seen any exactly like them! There are a few hand-done little mends along the seams, as would be expected in a daily-wear dress that is close to 80 years old and was cherished by its owner, and the dress as a whole is in fantastic condition
It is obvious that this dress was a more economically-made one, even by this well-known maker. I suspect that the wartime shortages of materials and scaled-back design practices of the mid-Forties were still in force when it was manufactured and sold. Still, it’s so characteristic of the times and such a pretty style that I wouldn’t complain! And, in spite of all the austerities, the skirt is still a FULL circle!! The bias-cut makes it hang just right.
What can I say – I’m still over the moon! But, there’s more – stay tuned . .. . . . . . . . .. .
MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY
BLOG: MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM
Magicvintagespy 