What a fun and versatile dress! I’ll enjoy wearing this one lots of places. It’s another pretty faithful re-creation that made it worth picking up. Lovely floral print rayon, a flouncy neckline ruffle, side zip, midi hem and, of course, shoulder pads.
Most retro fashions are not worth much more than for the rubbish heap, but a few makers paid some attention to quality and authentic design. Well done!
MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY
BLOG: MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM
Couldn’t wait to get this gorgeous gown onto Stella. She’s just the right size (and maybe I am, too, if I can bear to risk wearing it!). The embroidered netting and roses on rayon are so, so 1930’s – 1940’s.
I love the special tailoring touches from that time such as the longer hem in back that makes a little train. This dress was probably meant to fit someone a little shorter than Stel.
It would seem that Montevideans from early in the wartime era loved their fashions and accessories from France. More to come . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY
BLOG: MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM
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
When I don’t find the real 1940’s thing, this will do. When a dress is as nicely done as this one, I collect it and wear it with no worries.
In a pretty true-to-Forties style, of 100% rayon with an abstract leaf print, this frock wraps in front and ties to one side. Well-fitting with some smocked elastic in the waistband behind and well-placed buttons and snaps inside to prevent gaps. This is a design that rivals the best vintage styles with attention to tailoring detail and makes any garment a pleasure to wear.
Modest-sized shoulder pads and a midi-hemline add to the figure-enhancing final result. Easy, worry-free wear and flattering style never came any better. Although it’s only baby vintage, just about 35 years old, I’m pleased and will wear it a lot!
MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY
BLOG: MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM
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
While we’re in a New Year mood, here’s a really special dress from, I believe, the 1950’s. It’s more or less a cocktail style, but could go to dinner and dancing, too.
Originally, it had nude netting on the front bodice and upper back, with skinny binding around the armhole area and the neckline. The purpose is to give a bare look, without the bare.
Very elegant but, unfortunately, the material had some small holes which could not be repaired. I could not locate material of the same type for a replacement, so I reluctantly removed it and restyled things a bit to make skinny straps instead. It works! Being versatile is an indispensable skill.
I love this dramatic pointy accent on the front! The fabric is also very elegant – probably a rayon that looks for all the world like silk shantung. And the hourglass shape!
Worthy of Peggy Lee any day . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY
BLOG: MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM
NEW WAVE 1980’S SHIRT JACKET
This shirt/jacket is an unusual one for me to include in my collection – is it true vitage or not? The A B S clothing company was started in 1982, so it might be 30 years old and animal prints were iconic at that time (again!). If it was made in 1982 or 1983, I’d be willing to call it true vintage and I’ll explain why.
Animal prints have been a significant fashion trend at one time in the 1940’s, mid/late 1950’s, late 1960’s and again in the New Wave early 1980’s, as far as I know. They show up at other times, too, but were a bigger deal in the fashion world at these specific times.
When I saw this item, I immediately thought of the early ’80’s and was also impressed with the quality of the garment. I have since learned that the A B S company is known for making better-quality clothing than most of what we find now. This shirt was also made in the U.S.A., which is unusual (if not unheard of) in modern clothing.
The deciding factors for me were the quality construction – 1. the fabric is heavy, with a nice hand (feel). 2. The pattern is really well-matched at the seams, so that it isn’t broken up across the garment (an important tell-tale sign of high quality). 3. The buttons are very nice black plastic faceted to look like jet beads. 4 .The shirt/jacket has french cuffs with button cuff-links (which, fortunately, were not missing!) Overall, it is a garment of significantly better quality than most. My size – excellent condition.
So, I have included it and described my thinking that justified buying it. Sometimes you can’t be absolutely sure and some knowledge and skills to make smart decisions come in handy. This is a time when price can be the final deciding factor, as well as how much you love it.
MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY
BLOG: MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM
1980’s true-to-the-Forties retro New Wave styling. Fun club and party-wear.
MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY
BLOG: MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM
More fun! I like some of the corduroy 1970’s jumpsuits, but the 1980’s version is much more over-the-top and, of course, has BIG shoulder pads in BRIGHT electric colors. New Wave fashions have a real in-your-face quality that, I think, is more appealing than the 1990’s Dallas glitz was. After that, everything REALLY went down the tubes . . . . . . . .
So, while we’re away from the best mid-century fashion, might as well take advantage of how much girls just wanna have fun. Although the best of these jumpsuits are not a dime a dozen, when I find a good one I’ll grab it. This one was made by a California company, to that adds to it’s pedigree . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . .
MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY
BLOG: MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM
Nothing special about this dress, excepting that this maker is a respected label when it comes to more recently-made Hawaiian vintage. However, the fabric is really nice – a rayon with a good hand, lovely colors and a great print. Since it’s too big for me, I think I’ll be making some curtains for my bathroom with it!
There are lots of reasons to love true vintage clothing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY
BLOG: MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM
Magicvintagespy 