What fun to find this!! Love true vintage men’s and boys’ shirts and tops. Since men usually tend to be much harder on their clothing than women do, it’s unusual to encounter garments that have survived, especially in wonderful condition like this one.
Just an everyday casual shirt, it’s still got a great fit, fun collar and wonderful lightly-brushed cotton fabric. Happy Days all over again . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY
BLOG: MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM
This one is an interesting find. Might have been part of a work uniform back in the day, but it’s a shirt made like a jacket with hip pockets and that funky stripe. Today it would be fun as a sports shirt with jeans. The maker was Catalina – that iconic California maker of sportswear, so who knows . . . . . . . . . . . .
I’m sure that it was intended to be a man’s top when it was made, but today it’s very unisex. To me, it’s got a Grease vibe. Could also go over a tank top or muscle shirt. If it were smaller, I’d keep it myself if not for the orange color. No can do.
So, this was for fun and will go into the archives for the time being. That’s OK. It’s the hunt and the quest that are the real reward!
MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY
BLOG: MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM
This is a rare blouse, in a silky rayon fabric. If it weren’t for being a war-time garment, I might think it was a silk/rayon blend but, since the war effort used silk for other purposes, it was rare to find it in any clothing (or hosiery!). Rayon was King, and it’s a fabulous fabric. I just LOVE 1940’s and ’50’s blouses!
This one I’ve had for a while. It is finished at the hem to be worn un-tucked. Rather big for me, so I wear it as a tunic style. About 2 sizes smaller, it would be beautiful under a suit, no? Great design over a skirt, however, and dynamite with slacks.
The beautiful coffee-colored embroidery is what also “makes” it. Mocha-colored items are a bit unusual, and a nice year-round color. Neutrals are just about the most elegant, and versatile, of all hues.
It’s the gorgeous details and workmanship on this shirt that really cause it to stand out. Back in the day, this kind of craftsmanship was “de rigour” and now we really have to search to find it – and usually only in true vintage garments like this one . . . . . . . . .
MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY
BLOG: MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM
I’ll soon be on an investigation again, so a little patience may be needed, please, with my time-table! Here’s another wonderful find – a mod tunic blouse in a heavy synthetic knit. Similar to the fabric in yesterday’s dress from the Forties, but grown up a generation.
I love the style and the printed design, with long sleeves. Looks great with long pants, short skirts . . . . . . An excellent choice for cool Spring-ish weather.
This design has a little short zipper at the back neckline and falls mostly straight, with a little shaping in the torso. As you can see on Madge, the fit is very flattering.
Vintage knits are almost always wonderful, regardless of the type of fabric. Usually they are heavy and drape well. That’s what makes them fit so beautifully. And, of course, the design is on the back, too. No cutting corners on the best true vintage!
I always love finding unusual pieces like this one. Makes my day . . . . . . . . . . . .
MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY
BLOG: MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM
It’s always a treat when these turn up – looks like 1960’s in both cases, but they’re a bit of a mystery. The best thing about them is the quality and construction. Of course, this type of photo doesn’t do them justice.
The blouse on the left is very casual and basic, but the fabric is really nice. It’s some kind of a blend of cotton and rayon. Feels smooth to touch and has a gloss, and I love the colors and the plaid, too. Both have rounded wing collars, though the style on the right is much more sophisticated.
The blouse on the right is a star. Not only is it made from a REALLY nice rayon fabric, but the tailoring is wonderful! The buttons are all fabric-covered. The retro-1940’s style is pretty with light shoulder padding and puffed sleeves. What I like best is that it is FITTED!!!!!!!!! Can’t believe it – it’s so rare to find a nicely fitted blouse or shirt because they just don’t make them now. Spandex added to fabric molds to the body pretty well, but is a cheaper-looking alternative and can’t compare to a blouse with fitted seaming that is done properly. The look is completely different, and much more elegant.
So . . . . . . . . . . . . . what’s next? . .. .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY
BLOG: MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM
Perhaps a little earlier in the mid-century, here’s something for the men. Wool shirt-jackets were very popular for both sexes and great for transitional weather, like now!
This one has all the classic features – front pocket, vintage plastic buttons, shirt styling but with a placket front, so it’s a pull-over.
It’s what granddad wore when he raked the leaves . . . .
MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY
BLOG: MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM
Not a big day on the treasure hunt, but still a time for FUN. This custom-tailored Sixties blouse is all that these separates used to be!
Made from textured poly flower-power print fabric in the blue-green color combo that was really popular for a while during that decade. It has a scalloped hem in front (look carefully and you can see) and an almost full-length metal zipper in back.
Although a lot of the mid-century garments are fairly plain in their design and, especially some that were made at home – there are almost always little design touches or tailoring details that betray their well-bred and elegant background. Most clothing made during this time still reflected the superior tailoring that was the norm in previous decades.
So, we see a bit of this evidence in the example of this blouse. Sometimes (often) I have to give respect to the simplest true vintage clothing because of the care with which it was constructed. Wonder what I’ll find the next time I go hunting . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . .
MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY
BLOG: MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM
Here are 3 of my finds from yesterday. Remember the blouse from a few days ago and how I was talking about the traditional popularity of nautical colors for Spring? Well, here they are again!
The navy and white items were commercially-made and the red polka dot blouse was custom-tailored. Vintage zipper and buttons are fun. The fit is always superior.
Fortunately, I can wear them all and, though they need to be cleaned, that’s no big deal. At the prices I pay in the odd places I find these treasures, any laundering or repair costs are nothing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY
BLOG: MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM
What a beautiful find! Because of the traditional styling I can’t date it exactly, but it’s old. Rayon satin with lovely floral embroidery. Like the silk Cheongsam dress I found last week, this garment is so gorgeous and timeless – I’ll love wearing it for decades.
There’s another similar one of red silk hanging in my closet. It looks wonderful with dressy black crepe pants, a skirt or dress for cocktails or a special dinner party.
It’s off to the cleaners after I check the lining for any messages Mata Hari might have left behind . … . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..
MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY
BLOG: MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM
Can hardly believe my good fortune – but then, I always say that though I really DO believe it. Here is a home-sewn rayon blouse from the late 1930’s to early 1940’s. The colors are a bit washed-out in the photograph, but are brilliant and glossy in reality. Someone made this pretty shirt with french cuffs and cute buttons from a glorious rayon fabric and guarded it carefully for 80 years!
The seamstress (or tailor) used machine and hand-stitching. Beautifully-done. The cuff buttons are hidden inside. Expert clothing-makers in the early 1900’s knew how to do things properly, even when sewing at home. It’s such a skill worth having!
As usual, I’ve started this segment of recent discoveries from the oldest up to the most recent so you will be seeing lots of mid-century treasures. Stay tuned . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY
BLOG: MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM
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