Category Archives: skirt

LOVELY CLASSIC TRUE VINTAGE SKIRT SUIT FROM NEW YORK CITY

LOVELY CLASSIC TRUE VINTAGE SKIRT SUIT FROM NEW YORK CITY

I’ve SO enjoyed going through my skirt suit collection  for this series of posts! I was reminded of how great a find this one was, during a special trip to the Big Apple.

All the suits you’ll see are from the 1940’s to the mid 1970’s. This one is so classic it could almost go anywhere in that period. In this case, the skirt has been shortened a few inches – always without cutting off material, so the original length can easily be restored!

The details most loved about this one are the great colors – always love the unusual combination of blues and browns – and the suede trim.

The classic cut is also one of the best, best things about any garment and why true vintage is usually way ahead of modern clothing. This suit, like most I’ll show, will look sophisticated and elegant for as long as I own it.

If you think “dowdy” or “matronly” when you see this photo, you’re not using real style sense. Don’t forget that an ensemble like this can be worn many ways, including using the jacket and skirt as separates, and with many different accessories, making it fresh and versatile each time.

And, there’s never any competition for true elegance . . . . . . . . . . .

MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY

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A VERY PRETTY CRANBERRY RED SKIRT SUIT FROM THE 1950’S – EARLY 1960’S

A VERY PRETTY CRANBERRY - COLORED 1950's to EARLY 1960'S SKIRT SUIT: NICE FOR THE HOLIDAYS

Now I’ll start showing you my best true vintage winter outfits, to go along with the beautiful lingerie.  This suit from the 1950’s or early ’60’s is very tailored in it’s lines. Nicely made, for a small women’s clothing store (the store was small, and probably the women, too, back then!).

It’s not flashy, but is very elegant – the kind of pieces you could wear this way and that way for years. The fabric itself is very lovely, in a tweedy weave with tones of berry with charcoal mixed in. The collar is accented with suede leather. Nice buttons, with suede leather centers.

Just think of wearing this with one of yesterday’s full slips underneath. Quite appropriate for this month of January . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..

MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY

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

TRUE VINTAGE RED VELVETEEN FOR THE HOLIDAYS

Both of these garments were custom-tailored in the late 1950’s to early 1960’s.  Here’s the holiday dress from last year properly modeled on Stella, finally – just look at those wonderful rhinestone buttons and belt buckle.  Try finding those now!  I’d tend to wear it at Christmas, but it would be beautiful at a dressy Thanksgiving dinner, too.

The skirt is a new find, in a slightly deeper red, which I love.  Dresses are great, but I’m always happy to find separates because of their versatility.  Now I have something true vintage to wear with pretty blouses and sweaters.

Black is always superb, but I love red and these unusual finds just put me in the holiday spirit!

MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY

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

 

 

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

BLOG:  MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM

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

WONDERFUL TRUE VINTAGE CIRCLE SKIRT FROM THE FIFTIES

IMG_1685This beautiful skirt is a full circle, decorated in the style of some Native American costumes that was very popular in the 1950’s.  It seems like these beautiful clothes were “discovered” by tourists and movie-goers during the Forties and it became a real trend to buy them as souvenirs of travel and to wear to casual parties (in the eastern U.S.) and for everyday out West.

Made of a substantial cotton, and always colorful with braid trim or ric-rac.  Some were made by Western-wear companies and some were made at home.  I love these for summer, but they are really 3-season skirts that look nice with sweaters, too.

Always makes me happy to find one!

MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY

BLOG:  MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM

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

TRUE VINTAGE FULL CIRCLE SKIRT – A SOUVENIR OF MEXICO CIRCA 1950’S

IMG_1668Hand-painted on 100% cotton in “fast colors”, this skirt will swirl and twirl with a gazillion different blouses and tops, depending on your mood.  It’s typical of the souvenir garments available then, but different from the ones my older relatives had collected in the 1940’s and 1950’s – each one is unique!

I love the typical scene of tropical nature, a small dwelling and workers resting in the shade.  Perfect to wear while sipping a Margarita or Mojito under a palm tree (or on the back patio – Patio Party, anyone?)

Handcrafted pieces are always collectible, gorgeous and make nostalgic mementos of travel back in the day.”South of the border – down Mexico way” . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY

BLOG:  MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM

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

TRUE VINTAGE TWO-PIECE KNIT DRESS FROM THE LATE ’50’S/EARLY ’60’S – MOD MEETS MAD MEN

PERFECT DINNER TO DANCING DRESS – TRUE VINTAGE MID-CENTURY

Morgana Martin, the magicvintagespy's avatarMagicvintagespy

TWO-PIECE KNIT MAD MEN DRESS FROM THE LATE '50'S/EARLY '60'S

For dinner or after-work cocktails, this little number would fill the bill. Pair it with some matching blue pumps and you’d really be swank.

Simple as can be, but with the neckline decoration and the little vents at the waist, it’s very stylish. And, like a sheath dress, the fit is classic and really flattering.

If you are a DIYer, this style is very simple to sew.  I have another very similar in lightweight soft green wool – made by the grandmother of a friend in mid-century, as a 3-season dressy day dress.

Just the thing to have in your closet for that unexpected invitation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY

BLOG:  MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM

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

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3 TRUE VINTAGE NATIVE AMERICAN/HAWAIIAN COSTUMES FROM THE 1940’S – 1950’S

TRUE VINTAGE TRADITIONAL” WESTERN-WEAR” DRESSES – EARLY MID-CENTURY CASUAL CLASSICS

Morgana Martin, the magicvintagespy's avatarMagicvintagespy

3 TRUE VINTAGE NATIVE AMERICAN/HAWAIIAN COSTUMES FROM THE 1940'S - 1950'S

I’ll be heading out West again in early September, so it is appropriate to show my great Native American/Hawaiian 2-piece dresses. The two on the right are from Arizona, made by a company called Thunderbird Fashions which made lots of Western-wear dresses, blouses and skirts back in the day.

Like a couple of the other items I’ve shown before, they are of heavy cotton with loads of braid trim, ric-rac and color! The blouses have a side zipper at the waist.

The outfit on the left was made in Hawaii, about the same time. It is interesting that there are so many similarities in the style. No zipper in this blouse, and the contrast is in the fabric panel on the bodice.

Both styles have a flattering fit, with a wasp waist and free hips. I love wearing them on cooler days in the Summer and Fall and sometimes wear…

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3 TRUE VINTAGE NATIVE AMERICAN/HAWAIIAN COSTUMES FROM THE 1940’S – 1950’S

3 TRUE VINTAGE NATIVE AMERICAN/HAWAIIAN COSTUMES FROM THE 1940'S – 1950'S.