Category Archives: rayon

KENNEDY ERA FORMAL GOWN – SO SOPHISTICATED, WITH SURPRISE TAILORING . .. . . . . . . . .

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

Brocade and crepe, with a little bow at the back waistline – this frock is so well-made and elegant. Formal dance, Prom, Special Occasion, perfect!  It needs a pressing, but is in great shape.  Remember what I said yesterday about the repeating design elements?  Read on . . . . . . . . .

So beautifully tailored with closures and stitching in all the right places, this gown has a feature that I have never seen.  The sleeves are part of a bolero bodice that is attached and worn inside the dress and supports the sleeves.  That makes it possible to wear this gown as a sleeveless sheath or as pictured here.  The sleeves, as on the dress yesterday, have fabric flowers sewn on.

Wow!  What a gorgeous and surprise design!!  You just never know . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..

MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY

BLOG:  MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM

1950’s SPECIAL OCCASION GOWN – PROM? PARTY? WHO KNOWS . . . . .

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

A similar style, but going from day to evening and from pretty to dressy.  This dress is also sexy, however, with deep decolletage and sleeves that can be worn off the shoulder.  Fabric flower ornamentation on each sleeve.  I think this one was custom-tailored, also.

Just made for parties and dancing with a big, sweeping skirt.  Probably would have been worn with a crinoline underneath.  I found another dance dress a year or two ago with similar tailoring.  It’s always fun to see how these features repeat.  Tomorrow there’s another with something the same . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..

MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY

BLOG:  MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM

MOD TRUE VINTAGE SHEATH DRESS IN TRAFFIC – SIGN COLORS

IMG_1052     Sticking with up-scale day frocks and moving forward a couple of decades,  look at this fabulous late Sixties frock!  These were iconic color combinations from that time.

This size 10 dress on x-small Stella is a good clue to it’s era.  The fabric is a glossy rayon & linen blend – a bit dressy, with a nice drape.  A pretty day-time sheath with a bit of attitude.

No matter the time of year, the hunt continues and you just never know. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY

BLOG:  MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM

BOOK:  HOW TO FIND THE BEST IN VINTAGE FASHION – AVAILABLE ON AMAZON.COM

FABULOUS RETRO ’20’S,’30’S,’40’S ERA DRESS RE-MAKE – S0000 SEXY!

IMG_1058     Here’s a lovely retro frock from my collection.

It’s a beautiful re-creation of an early 1900’s up-scale day dress style.  Wonderful rayon-type fabric, cut on the bias with all the figure-following qualities that has and very well-tailored.  Designers from those early decades really knew how to enhance the figure and the designer of this one (no tag or label) – probably from 1980 – 2000 – did a wonderful job of imitating their style.

I prefer true vintage and don’t usually wear a lot of retro, but this frock was too good to pass by. It’s a sheer dress with it’s own rayon slip underneath.  The long necktie that wraps around as a belt is perfect.  Of course, it’s also my size . . . .

MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY

BLOG:  MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM

BOOK:  HOW TO FIND THE BEST IN VINTAGE FASHION – AVAILABLE ON AMAZON.COM

FABULOUS FIND! POST-WAR 1940’S SHEER DAY DRESS

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

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

FABULOUS 1950’S CLASSIC MEN’S SMOKING ROBE – RARE, RARE, RARE!!!

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

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

A LOVELY TRUE VINTAGE 1940’S DRESS FOR DINNER AND DANCING

A LOVELY TRUE VINTAGE 1940'S DRESS FOR DINNER AND DANCING This frock is in black crepe, with sheer netting on the bodice to give the illusion of a bare neckline. I have seen this feature on one other dress of mine – demure, yet stunning.  Where the decoration begins, it is also lined. The shape skims the body and the whole effect is very flattering.

These dresses have side zippers or unusual back zippers which open only about a foot in the middle of the back, but don’t come to the top of the neck. I’ve seen this on ’40’s dresses only. It allows you to wiggle into the dress over your head but no hope if it’s too small for you!  There’s no way that Madge could get into it, so I’ll have to re-photograph it on Stella some time.

Anyway, it’s beautiful and you can probably picture it. Perfect for dining and dancing, or even a dressy movie date. Put this beauty on and you just never know . . . . . . . . . . .

MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY

BLOG:  MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM

BOOK:  HOW TO FIND THE BEST IN VINTAGE FASHION – AVAILABLE ON AMAZON.COM

ORIGINAL 1944 WEDDING GOWN, MODELED BY THE BRIDE

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

I regret that WordPress or Microsoft did not correct the orientation of this photo, but we are grateful for what they do –

Here is the lovely bride in her gown (and high heels).  In 1944 it was a rare blessing to be able to find a wedding dress to purchase since wartime rationing and restrictions were so stringent – especially in Britain, where the wedding took place.

Look at that train!  In satin (probably rayon), with puffed sleeves (no pads) and points at the wrists (love those!).  What a beautiful, figure-hugging fit this fabric provides.  I was able to see the original photographs of her in it, with a LONG veil, borrowed from an in-law but no flower bouquet because they couldn’t be bought then.  Her attendants carried lilacs from a neighbor’s garden and she carried a prayer book (like Grace Kelly 11 years later).  The groom was also extremely handsome in his army uniform.

What a treat!  Can’t go into the story of her betrothal and marriage, but it is fascinating and she is writing a memoir.  At 94, she enjoys a good party and has worn the dress on occasion, just for fun.  May we all be so blessed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY

BLOG:  MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM

 

TRUE VINTAGE 1960’S LBD THAT SPANS THE DECADES AND THE SIZES. . . . . . . .

Another pretty, pretty black crepe frock from the mid-century, embellished with bugle beads.  Perfect for a cocktail party or a dressy date, etc., etc.,etc.  When I tried it on size 2 Stella, it really had a 1920’s to 1930’s feel to the fit, with a slightly dropped waist and bow at the hip, plus drapey fabric and a slouchy fit on top.

Moving on to size 4 Giselle, the fit is still stunning but a little more trim and very classic.  Grace Kelly would have been gorgeous wearing this in the 1950’s.

Put the dress on size 6 Madge and it gets very sassy, more of a mini-length and much more Mod – this is the size it was designed for – or was it? . . . . . . . . .  The label would suggest so, but –

Isn’t this a good example of how a well-designed, garment that has been well-made of good-quality materials could look equally-beautiful on 3 different-sized women!  It’s a keeper!!  More finds to come . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY

BLOG:  MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM

TRUE VINTAGE 1940’S MOCHA DRESSES – A SLINKY SHEATH AND A PRIM SWEETHEART

IMG_1006 IMG_1004       Two very different frocks.  This first dress is pictured from the side so that the pocket detail shows.   It is  very figure-hugging and zips on the left.  The pocket has interesting glossy braid decoration.   I’ve pictured with it a dark brown silk slip of that era that I wear with it.

The short-sleeved shirtwaist dress is very straightforward and modest, but with cute tailoring details on front.   A pointed collar and bow at the high neck.   Easy to wear with a button front.   The fabric is probably rayon, with a soft sheen.

Both have shoulder pads (of course!) and fabric-covered buckle belts.   Great style and true vintage 1940’s cache’.

MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY

BLOG:  MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM