Category Archives: references

BEAUTIFUL TRUE VINTAGE 1960’S DRESSY BLOUSE

IMG_1682Here’s a great picture of a Sixties blouse that would have been worn to a holiday party or a dance.  Not my style, personally, but it’s so perfectly of that time and in such wonderful condition – how could I resist?

With buttons all the way up the back, a well-finished hem made to wear untucked over dress pants or a long skirt and that jabot-type flounce at the collar (SO ’60’s!), it’s another of those garments with British influence.  Could work very well as part of a Halloween costume, too.

The maker’s label is even embroidered in gold thread.  Someone took very good care of this top and kept it for special occasions.  I’ve been really fortunate lately to find so many vintage blouses and shirts in outstanding condition!  Often, these pieces are like slacks – they accumulate so much wear over the years with stains and tears that they’ll end up being discarded by the original owner.

But, thanks to the superior quality of true vintage clothing and the care many of our grandmothers and great-grandmothers took with their wardrobes, some of them are still out there to be discovered . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY

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TRUE VINTAGE MID-CENTURY BLOUSES AND SHIRTS – I’VE COME UP WITH A TON RECENTLY!

IMG_1684Here’s a proper picture of the wonderful Fifties/Sixties blouse that I recently found in New Mexico.  I’ll start getting into more seasonal items tomorrow, but this top could be worn any time of year with a jacket or sweater.

My favorite look would be to wear this with a pair of cigarette pants, and maybe a neckscarf or colorful costume necklace a’la 1950’s.  Pencil skirt, pleated skirt, capris or shorts – any of those will look great.  True vintage accessories are always important to spark a look like this one.

With regard to the style, I love cap sleeves, extended shoulders and bateau necklines – but the neatest thing is that it’s made to wear belted, with little loops sewn in the side seams.  The original belt is, alas, missing but I think that it was a slim fabric tie.  Easy to replace.  For a dressier look, the buckle belt I’m showing in the photo works really well.

It’s just made for Madge’s figure, no?  But, it looks pretty good on me, too . . . . . .

MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY

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RARE MID-CENTURY FEMININE COTTON LINGERIE FULL SLIP

IMG_1692Remember I said I’d show this one a bit later – very different from it’s fancier nylon cousins.  I’m always thrilled to discover a true vintage one, because they aren’t common.  Absolutely the best  for wearing with summer dresses (or even as a nightgown).  Some people wear them as dresses alone.

No one wants to smother in a nylon slip on hot days, no matter how gorgeous it is!  But, many vintage and some modern dresses really need an undergarment like that in order to look their best.  Smooth cotton will enhance the fit just as well as nylon or rayon, while being wonderfully comfortable.

This piece is short, too, compared to most of the slips of that era so that’s a plus. So pretty!  I love the innocent style of the lace and embroidery decorations.  So, even though it’s out of season here in North America, it’s another sleuthing success . . . . . . . . . .

MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY

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TRUE VINTAGE MID-CENTURY NOVELTY SKIRT – CUTE AND PREPPY

IMG_1701This is another new find – just about two weeks ago. The Country Club set loved things like this in the Sixties and early Seventies (they probably still do) – well-tailored cotton with strawberries and dandelions all over.  It is very cute.

The style is perfectly classic, with a button-up front and gathered tie waistline. Despite its fashion history, it stands on its own as a really fun and high-quality piece that I can get a lot of mileage from.

From the same era as the pink sleeveless dress I showed about 2 weeks ago. In a casual setting you can never go wrong with this one, but you might keep them guessing just a little . . . . . . . .

MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY

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MORE ACCESSORIES – A MID-CENTURY SILK SOUVENIR SCARF FROM CHINA

IMG_1706I picked this up because I love old silk scarves with pictures on them.  This one is also in perfect condition, with a hand-rolled edging – as all the best scarves should have.

It’s sometimes hard to find one that doesn’t have stains, tears or hemming problems, so this is a great discovery.  Funky and cute!

MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY

BLOG:  MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM

HUGE FIND OF GORGEOUS TRUE VINTAGE LINGERIE!!!

IMG_1700Just the other day, I discovered about half a dozen of these beautiful lingerie slips from the 1950’s or late 1940’s.  I already had two or three others similar to the one on the left, but it has been several years since I found them. Those like the perfect, classic beauty on the right are a bit more common but still are tricky to find.

Do take a close-up view of the lace and trims on these stunners.  They are just so lovely.  And, of course, the heavy nylon is wonderful to touch.  The longer length of Fifties slips is great for wearing with dresses from that same era but they’re also fabulous worn as nightgowns or slip-dresses.

There’s one of a different type that I’ll show in another post later on, so stay tuned . . . . . . . . . .

MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY

BLOG:  MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM

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ANOTHER FUN FIND! TRUE VINTAGE 1960’S LADIES SKY BLUE CORFAM HEELS

IMG_1712Aren’t these just amazing?  Brand “new” Mod pumps – just right on a date with the man wearing the shirt in yesterday’s post.

This is one of my favorite shoe colors and, in this case, made of easy-care vinyl.  Of course, I would prefer leather but Corfam is iconic Sixties and has its advantages, too.

Mid-heel pumps are also iconic Sixties and will look great with many different outfits.  Wow – I’m really in rare find heaven recently!  Can’t wait to see what’s around the corner . . . . . . .

MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY

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ANOTHER RARE FIND! TRUE VINTAGE MEN’S RAYON SHIRT IN A PSYCHEDELIC PRINT

IMG_1707Men’s true vintage shirts in great condition are an even more elusive find than women’s are because, alas, you blokes have never been known for looking after your clothing very well.  So many wonderful pieces just haven’t survived.

But, this one – in the silkiest, most beautiful rayon weave, is almost like new. Looks like another example of the late Sixties, “Carnaby Street” days (like the women’s blouse shown yesterday), but that’s indefinite and subject to further research..

The pockets are so skillfully applied that I almost didn’t see one of them and saw the other one mostly because I expected it to be there.  Superb tailoring and marvelous fabrics are two of the factors that make vintage fashion so fabulous.

Fun, fun, fun . . . . . . . . . . . .

MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY

BLOG:  MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM

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

BEAUTIFUL TRUE VINTAGE 1960’S WHITE COTTON BLOUSE

IMG_1704There’s nothing like cottons from the 1960’s and before.  And, the gorgeous, lady-like styles from those past decades have never been done as well since then.  I’m always so excited to find another one!

The trims are beautifully made and the tailoring is impeccable.  Nice buttons, too.  The fit is excellent.  The fabric feels soft but substantial and lasts forever.

Although sometimes a little fussy, styles from the late 1960’s are fun and have that British flair that was popular then.  Of course, it looks great with the ribbon skirt shown yesterday or a mini, but I like them with jeans, too, or bell-bottom pants.

The new finds just keep on coming.  Groovy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY

BLOG:  MAGICVINTAGESPY.BOM

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

ANOTHER GREEN MID-CENTURY FIND – RARE RIBBON SKIRT FROM THE 1950’S!

IMG_1705In almost the same shade of green as yesterday’s dress, I discovered this skirt on the same day. Wow – I’ve just recently found a trove of true vintage dresses, skirts, accessories, lingerie, shirts and blouses (we’ll get to the one Stella’s wearing later).  Not to mention, of course, my fabulous vintage navy pea jacket find!

Dresses and suits made of this knit material with grosgrain ribbon sewn closely all over in a swirly pattern were very popular among the dressier set in the Fifties. I have a black suit decorated this way and I remember that my great grandmother had a dress.  This skirt might have had a matching jacket originally since, as I said, this style is usually seen in dressy garments.

However, it will work well as a separate, too, and is a great foundation for a beautiful blouse or sweater – no jacket needed.  That’s one thing I like about true vintage suits as opposed to dresses – although our grandmothers were tied in to wearing the jacket and skirt together as an “outfit”, as dictated by the fashion rules of the time, we can do so many wonderful things with the separate pieces now, as well.

Once in a while I see one of these ribbon garments, but very rarely – SO, it was ANOTHER Eureka moment for the Magicvintagespy.  Life is fun!!

MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY

BLOG:  MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM

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