The perfect casual circle skirt for summer! Cotton candy colors, ruffles and beads. Someone made this for fun the the 1950’s or 1960’s. I’ll do it justice next summer!
MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY
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Category Archives: skirt
A TRUE VINTAGE DO-IT-YOURSELF WARDROBE PLAN FOR YOUR 1956 OCEAN CRUISE
Can you imagine?! You’re planning to set sail in a few weeks. Why not spend that time knitting and crocheting your entire wardrobe for the trip? Sound like a good idea? Think of the money you’ll save! Imagine the compliments and envious looks when other women see your gorgeous, custom-made outfits. Just pull out the instructions in your latest issue of the McCall’s needlework magazine.
Such ambition those mid-century women had! My pillbox is off to them . . . . . . .
MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY
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FAVORITE TRUE VINTAGE “LITTLE BLACK SUIT” FROM THE 1960’S, WITH A SPECIAL BLOUSE
Probably my favorite 3-season skirt suit (Spring, Summer, Fall)! It has a GREAT fit (very saucy) and neat 3/4 sleeves. It’s so light that you can ditch the jacket during really hot weather.
In this picture it looks like Madge’s dresser was having an “off” day, but I have left the blouse un-tucked in order to show it better – it is NOT true vintage, but was made by Trashy Diva in New Orleans. Her couture deserves special mention because she designs with vintage features and uses vintage fabrics. I have referenced her shop in my book.
This lightweight little suit is as versatile as a little black dress. It can be dressed up or down, with or without the jacket. Any variety of tops can be worn and changes the presentation completely, from work to shopping to cocktails, to dinner, etc., etc. It also shows off jewelry beautifully against the black fabric.
This garment was never a high-end item, but was worn by a very fashionable woman who I knew. I was so pleased to find it at her friend’s yard sale across the street one day! As always, it goes to show that you just never know . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..
MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY
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WINTER TO SPRING COLORFUL TRUE VINTAGE LADIES’ SKIRT SUITS
Here are three lovely wool skirt suits in pastels and sunny red. Back in the day, “winter white” would be “out” by now – worn only till the end of January. The pastels would traditionally have shown up in the first half of February, when resort vacation clothing also would make an appearance. This is the time of year that many people took their annual beach vacation.
The holidays are behind us, it’s a new year and I’m sure you’re ready for a change! These are just about the last of my wool suits for this winter . . . . . . . . . .
From the early 1960’s, in true Jackie O (sorry, Jacqueline) style, these lady-like but perky ensembles make us think of sunnier skies. The blue and pink are of boucle’ and the red is a smoother weave.
Boxy jackets and straight skirts, the sleeves (at least on the pink and red) are bracelet length which looks great with gloves and also lets you show off your charm bracelet to best effect.
Of course, if the weather remains very cool where you are, these beauties will be gorgeous at Easter, so don’t get tired of wearing them too soon . . . . . . . . . .
MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY
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A BEAUTIFUL TRUE VINTAGE LIGHTWEIGHT WOOL SUIT FROM AROUND 1960
This skirt suit has the shorter Chanel – style jacket and a straight skirt that hits near the knee. Also 3/4 sleeves so characteristic of that time. The jacket is the stand-out piece here and every woman was wearing this style in 1962 – including Jacqueline Kennedy.
Made by Puritan’s Forever Young line, which the actress Gloria Swanson was affiliated with at one time – the things that make it most different from others in my closet are the HUGE, gorgeous buttons made of braided cord and the loose weave of the fabric. It’s a style made to wear with only a simple, shell-type blouse, or no blouse at all. You would need to wear one of your lovely slips underneath.
A perfect transitional ensemble for Fall or Spring – when I don’t want something too heavy, but still want to be warm. As always, these separate pieces can do double duty in many different ways and the style is perfectly classic.
MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY
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GORGEOUS TRUE VINTAGE BLACK RIBBON-DECORATED SKIRT SUIT – EARLY 1960’S
This suit is so chic and understated, but makes a real appearance! It’s decorated all over with swirled ribbons stitched down. In classic wool, of course, but not as heavy as the winter ensembles I’ve been showing.
Reminds me of some of the things that European women have traditionally worn when they are in mourning. But, it’s a sophisticated ensemble and would make a great dinner suit. That’s probably how it was worn when it was sold, about 55 years ago.
In the early ’60’s they made some dresses and suits that were entirely of ribbons swirled around and stitched down on some kind of mesh or lightweight fabric. I inherited a dress like that which had been my grandmother’s and found a green skirt made that way last year – all true vintage, of course. An intriguing style, which I don’t often run into . . . . . . . . . . . .
MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY
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ANOTHER ‘POWER SUIT’ FROM THE 1940’S WITH DYNAMIC STYLING
I just love the hugely distinctive tailoring on this jacket!! The ensemble, of course, is woven of wool. Big shoulder pads and a belted jacket which leaves the back hanging free. The belt passes through slits in the waistline of the jacket that allow the back to fall straight. There is decorative button detail at each shoulder-blade area in the back, too.
The jacket, alas, was found without a matching skirt. But, by searching high and low I discovered one almost a perfect match. The original was probably longer than this one is, however.
Although this suit doesn’t have a fur collar, the collar is very high for warmth and a sweater could easily be worn underneath, rather than a blouse. it could be worn alone, without a coat, on a cool or cold day. Very practical, standard dressy day-wear for wartime and post-war women.
MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY
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BRIGHTLY COLORED MID-CENTURY (’40’S & ’50’S) SUITS WITH LOTS OF DETAIL
Showing some reds here together – always a favorite color! The most amazing things about these are the pocket details and, of course, the overall quality cut and styling.
I can always depend on a true vintage suit of my correct size to fit beautifully. Even off-the-rack garments were made to such a higher standard that the things made today can’t compare.
I have hemmed the red skirt on the right (folded up, NOT cut off!) but otherwise haven’t had to do a thing. These babies were well-looked-after by their first owners and I continue by storing them properly, since they are wool.
That’s another topic – SO much vintage clothing was made of wool back in the day. Even lightweight weaves and knits that we could mistake for synthetics are actually wool. The important thing about this is to learn what the fabric is when you buy a vintage garment so that you don’t make mistakes when caring for it.
It’s no fun to throw something in the wash and have it come out as doll clothing or horribly misshapen. Nor do we want to find little moth holes in our favorite blouse, sweater or pants. LOVE delightful surprises, but not those!
Just another little tip from . . . . . . . . . . . . .
MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY
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MY VERY FIRST TRUE VINTAGE 1940’S LADIES’ SKIRT SUIT
This is just about my favorite suit because it was one of the first things I found when I started to be interested in vintage clothing. It’s perfect for me, too, and I love wearing it.
It’s got little braided belt loops at the sides, so I usually put a skinny belt on. It’s plain, but the fit is oh, so attractive! I always get compliments.
I did do a couple of things to it due to my inexperience that I wouldn’t do now – I shortened it a bit to knee length and may have cut off the excess (horrors! – not the thing to do. if you really want to shorten something, just make a deeper hem so that it can be changed back). Thank goodness that I didn’t make it into a mini! I also put the little slit in the front, which I now would probably have opened in back, if I did one. That, however, is no big deal as it can be reversed.
Another reversible change was replacing the shoulder pads, which were VERY big, with smaller ones to make it more work-wearable. They can easily be replaced for authenticity.
Oh, well – I still love the thing so much and am very happy with it, but experience is a wonderful teacher and I’m so grateful for all that I have learned. . . . . . . . . .
MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY
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A SOPHISTICATED AND ELEGANT SKIRT SUIT FROM THE 1950’S, A LA’ PRINCESS GRACE
This lovely suit was from a smaller women’s dress shop – it has the store’s label inside, rather than the label of the clothing company that made it. Of course, big companies like Gap and Banana Republic outsource the manufacture of their clothing, but here I’m talking about small, privately owned shops that might have been owned by your neighbor down the street.
Back in the day, a store’s buyer (this was often the owner of the store) would sometimes pick items at the wholesale market to carry in their own shop with their own label, even though they didn’t make it themselves. A second label giving the name of the company that manufactured the item might be present, too, but not always. Since I wasn’t a shopper during that era and never have owned a dress shop, it was surprising and fun to learn this! Maybe it’s still done this way by some big department stores or small, elegant boutiques with high prices but, back in the Fifties, a local small-town dress shop might have sold frocks carrying an embroidered label with their own store’s name inside. Amazing!
Conservative but very elegant – Grace Kelly wore garments like this often in her public and private life. Looking like a tart is not elegant (and not really sexy, either). I wish some of the popular designers and their market would get that. It’s difficult to find well-designed and well-made clothing, if you shop at retail.
Anyway, this is another of those keep-it-for-decades ensembles that could go almost anywhere when you need a traditional style. You can dress it up or down, or split the separates and accessorize and, if it fits well, it’s very flattering. The skirt hem length could be anywhere from below to slightly above the knee without ruining the line. Make it micro-mini and you’ll look like you haven’t got a clue . . . . . . . . . . ..
MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY
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BOOK: HOW TO FIND THE BEST IN VINTAGE FASHION – AVAILABLE ON AMAZON.COM
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