Category Archives: sleeveless

LOVELY TRUE VINTAGE NEGLIGEE’ BY ODETTE BARSA

LOVELY TRUE VINTAGE NEGLIGEE' BY ODETTE BARSA

Odette Barsa designed especially beautiful sleepwear for women. The family apparently kept the company on the go into the 1980’s – after the designer’s death.

The thing I’ve noticed most about these gorgeous creations is her use of ribbon, woven into trims. I also have a bed jacket by this company with the same kind of decoration.

What a pleasure it is to look at and wear true vintage lingerie and nightwear. Nothing today can compare to the sumptuous feel of the fabrics, usually heavy silk or nylon, and the exquisite craftsmanship.

At some point I’ll be taking you on a tour of my gowns, robes and other interesting little what-nots from years ago.

Morgana Martin, the Magicvintagespy
blog: Magicvintagespy.com
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Book: How to Find the Best in Vintage Fashion available on Amazon.com

BACK VIEW OF THE 1940’S PINK SATIN GOWN

BACK VIEW OF THE 1940'S PINK SATIN GOWN.

BACK VIEW OF THE 1940’S PINK SATIN GOWN

BACK VIEW OF THE 1940'S PINK SATIN GOWN

TRUE VINTAGE 1940’S PINK SATIN EVENING GOWN

TRUE VINTAGE 1940'S PINK SATIN EVENING GOWN.

TRUE VINTAGE 1940’S PINK SATIN EVENING GOWN

TRUE VINTAGE 1940'S PINK SATIN EVENING GOWN

I imagine an ingenue wearing this dress – a young woman attending some special event. Maybe her first formal dance. There’s even a couple of pinholes at the waist where I’m sure a corsage was fastened!

This one goes way back. It’s got another of those 12″ zippers in the middle of the back that doesn’t go all the way to the neck. Definitely a “wiggle dress” before they became notorious in the early 1950’s.

Pink satin is pretty sweet. And, the dress is quite small so I think it was for a young person, although women were much smaller then and a small woman can certainly wear it. (ahem, ahem . . . . .) Notice the peplum, as shown yesterday on a much different frock. The peplum was a real ’40’s thing.

I just happened to be out for a drive when this one appeared. I stopped on a hunch. You just never know . . . .
. . . . . Click the next post for the back view. . . . . . . . .

Morgana Martin, the Magicvintagespy
Blog: Magicvintagespy.com
Google+, Facebook, Twitter & Pinterest
Book: How to Find the Best in Vintage Fashion available on Amazon.com

TRUE VINTAGE 1970’S SUNDRESS WITH APPLIQUE – OFF TO THE COUNTRY CLUB

TRUE VINTAGE 1970'S SUNDRESS WITH APPLIQUE – OFF TO THE COUNTRY CLUB.

A TRUE VINTAGE EARLY 1950’S FROCK FOR A SPECIAL OCCASION

A TRUE VINTAGE EARLY 1950'S FROCK FOR A SPECIAL OCCASION.

A VERY PRETTY TRUE VINTAGE BLOUSE WITH RUFFLES – FROM THE 1950’S OR EARLY 1960’S

A VERY PRETTY TRUE VINTAGE BLOUSE WITH RUFFLES - FROM THE 1950'S OR EARLY 1960'S

This blouse is unique – it has ruffles all around. I’ve never seen another like it, though some similar ones in photos. It looks like something Ann-Margaret would have worn in a movie, with a skirt or a pair of short-shorts.

Each row of lace is sewn on separately and goes all the way around. Hard to believe that someone may have made this at home, but it’s possible. Anyway, it’s too cute for words.

All these pretty vintage blouses do best with a hand-washing, but it’s so easy to do. (BE SURE IT’S A WASHABLE FABRIC BEFORE YOU TRY THIS!) Swish them in a sink with mild soap (like Woolite or Ivory) for a couple of minutes, then hang them to dry (inside – not in the sun – if you can, let them drip dry). And, that’s probably all you’ll have to do! Helps them to last decades more and keep their shape. Of course, if you’ve got a stain, you’ll have to treat that first.

I just love finding cute surprises like this one. When you’re sleuthing around, they do turn up. You just never know . .. . . . . . .. . . . . . . .

FABULOUS FABRIC IS THE SECRET OF THIS TRUE VINTAGE 1960’S WRAP DRESS

FABULOUS FABRIC IS THE SECRET OF THIS TRUE VINTAGE 1960'S WRAP DRESS

Through till Monday or so, it’s all about details. This dress doesn’t look like much on the hanger – it’s a custom-tailored wrap dress that needs the body to define it’s shape.

The most interesting points about it are in the construction. It’s a fun style that buttons off-side and has hidden inside ties to shape the waist and tame the overlap.

The seamstress used little metallic buttons and the fabric has gold accents on some of the flowers in the print. It has an Asian flavor to the style and the floral designs.

So far, you’re still saying “OK, ho hum, so what? I see stuff that looks like this all the time.” The big deal in this dress, to my vintage-spotting eye, is the fabric.

It is a closely-woven 100% cotton that looks and feels like nothing new. The best way that I can describe the “hand” (feel) of it is if your grandmother still has cotton sheets from the 1940’s or 1950’s that have gotten soft with wear over the years, but are still strong.

The fabric also has a polish. Good polished cotton is rarely, if ever, seen in modern clothing.

So, that’s the secret of this casual dress and what makes it special. . . . . . . . . . . .

Morgana Martin, the Magicvintagespy
blog: Magicvintagespy.com
Google+, Facebook, Twitter & Pinterest
book: How to Find the Best in Vintage Fashion available on Amazon.com

A SECOND VIEW OF THIS 1960’S SUMMER SHEATH DRESS

A SECOND VIEW OF THIS 1960'S SUMMER SHEATH DRESS.