Category Archives: sundress

ARE YOU READY FOR THESE? TRUE VINTAGE 1950’S – EARLY 1960’S SUNDRESSES

TRUE VINTAGE 1950'S - EARLY 1960'S SUNDRESSES

Here we have two beautiful sundresses, in similar colors.  Not really my colors – I’m a Summer skin-tone, rather than Spring or Fall, but who’s going to quibble when faced with these!

I’m guessing that the one on the right is the newer of the two.  The one on the left has more detail on the bodice and even has bows fixed to the shoulder straps in back.  It has a covered belt, whereas the other dress just has piping at the waist.

They’re both lovely, in a beautiful heavy cotton.  Madge wears it very well, don’t you think?  Such exceptional fit and tailoring.

Either of them could go from simple daytime activities to work (probably with a sweater or jacket), dinner, dancing, a party or date.

I often see dresses like this in movies from that era. Wear them and step into a time warp . . . . . . . . . .

MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY

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TRUE VINTAGE “SUMMER OF ’42” HALTER DRESS

Just which decade is this dress from? I don’t know – it’s so classic in style, that it could be from either the 1940’s or 1950’s.  I’m going to bet on the earlier time, but can’t be sure.  Dare I say that it could even be from the ’30’s?!

I am certain that it’s true vintage and I love it to pieces!  The back, of course, is open to mid-back and there is a metal zipper on the side.  I expect that it was custom-tailored.  Just look how well the pattern is matched!

This is a favorite style of mine, and I really responded to the fabric when I discovered it.  Love the colors!  I also like the fact that the cut of the top is modest without being unnecessarily so.  Makes it very easy to wear.

Just right for a beach town, vacationing or a hot summer day anywhere.  Put on a big straw hat and just look like one of the tourists . . . . . . .

MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY

BLOG:  MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM

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

TRUE VINTAGE 1960’S -1970’S CASUAL DRESS FOR SUMMER

TRUE VINTAGE 1960'S -1970'S CASUAL DRESS FOR SUMMER

This style is sometimes seen again in copycat fashions now, but was popular for very casual wear in the late ’60’s or the early ’70s.  Not much to say about it excepting that it’s cute and very easy to wear for summer.

Super-casual with a huge metal zipper in front, you probably wouldn’t wear this to work in an office.  It could be great almost anywhere more relaxed and perfect over a swimsuit.

One distinguishing characteristic is the combo of blue and brown in the print, which isn’t often seen but is a mix that I really like.  It’s also a nice, sturdy, high-quality cotton weave.

As day-wear styles got really casual in the mid 1960’s, clothing became easier to wear but generally less well-made and elegant, as I see it. However, you can’t beat well-styled simplicity . . . . . . . .

MORGANA MARTIN, the Magicvintagespy
Blog: Magicvintagespy.com
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Book: How to Find the Best in Vintage Fashion available at Amazon.com

ANOTHER 1960’S SUMMER SHEATH DRESS

A SECOND VIEW OF THIS 1960'S SUMMER SHEATH DRESS

Notice the way in which the embroidery follows the curve of the figure by placing it along the side seam.  So pretty and flattering!  A woman could always feel attractive and well-dressed in a frock made this nicely and with such gorgeous details.  This is another of my earliest finds.

MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY

BLOG:  MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM

A TRUE VINTAGE EARLY 1960’S DRESS FOR SUMMER PICNICS & OTHER OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES

A TRUE VINTAGE EARLY 1960'S DRESS FOR SUMMER PICNICS & OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES

Between the Memorial Day and Labor Day Weekends in the United States – the traditional beginning and ending of “summer” and outdoor fun, there will be lots of picnics, barbecues, fun and games.

This dress makes me think of those times – maybe because the skirt looks a lot like the tablecloths used at Summer events. It’s simple, probably poly/cotton with a back metal zipper. Very casual wear from a time when women still wore dresses and skirts more often than pants or shorts.

In spite of its simplicity (or, probably because of it) it’s pretty and flattering. Trim around the neckline and armholes show that it’s nicely made. The material makes it easy to wash, so that mustard, ketchup, relish, mud and dog slobber will come right out.

Worth hanging onto for those events that come up every year. You just never know when you might be invited to a corn roast, a crab boil, a school picnic, an ice cream social, a parade, . . . . . . . . . . .

MORGANA MARTIN, the Magicvintagespy
blog address: Magicvintagespy.com

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book title: How to Find the Best in Vintage Fashion available at Amazon.com

A TRUE VINTAGE SHEER DAY DRESS, PROBABLY 1950’S

A TRUE VINTAGE SHEER DAY DRESS, PROBABLY 1950'S

This dress was custom-tailored at a time when sheer fabrics had become very popular. I’ve found several of these. Of course, you’d want an un-fussy slip underneath.

It’s a pretty print in pink and red on white voile, with a ruffle around the neck and little cap sleeves. Fifties styles tended to be, on average, more “feminine” than those designed in the 1940’s, when clothing was more tailored and, sometimes, even masculine in its lines. (Remember the huge shoulders popular then.)

These dresses give a lovely opportunity to show off beautiful lingerie but, as mentioned above, keep the slip simple – not full of lots of frills and details – so that it doesn’t overwhelm the dress itself. You’d also want it to be of the same length, and white.

I love to collect true vintage slips in all styles, lengths and colors so that I have the right one for every dress I own. Some are even great to wear as a summer dress by themselves!

Morgana Martin, the Magicvintagespy
Blog address: Magicvintagespy.com
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Book: How to Find the Best in Vintage Fashion available at Amazon.com

A PRETTY BELTED SHIRTWAIST DRESS FROM THE 1950’S

A PRETTY BELTED SHIRTWAIST DRESS FROM THE 1950'S     This conservative little style is very sweet, no?

It is made of a pure cotton material, I would guess, and was probably custom tailored (from looking at the details).  I have at least one more dress which has cross-stitch embroidery on it but, to tell the truth, many true vintage dresses that were commercially made have lovely detail, too. And, of course, it could have been added later by the owner.

I also really love skinny, fabric-covered belts on dresses – a common feature on dresses made at this time. As I’ve mentioned before, I’ll sometimes shorten an extra-long hem and make a covered belt from the extra fabric when an original belt is missing.

These dresses look nice with a cardigan sweater or a shawl, so they can go from Spring into Fall with ease. They were standard daytime wear for just about everybody back in the day. It’s so great to see how the classic styles remain elegant and wearable for decades.

And, because fabrics and construction were so well done and women took good care of their clothing, I continue to find them. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY

BLOG:  MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM

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

ANOTHER NEW FIND – MOD TRUE VINTAGE 1960’S LIME GREEN DRESS

Lime green was a huge color in the mid to late-’60’s.  Some gal decided to whip up a little mini dress in that hue for Spring or Summer.  The style is almost like the tent dresses that were popular then, too, but with more fitting on top.  It’s a little small on Stella, but the basic fit is right.

Again, it’s made of the looser-weave hopsacking kind of material that I’ve talked about before, used a lot in the Sixties.  You can’t see them well, but I also love the opalescent plastic vintage buttons.   Plain design, but a very distinctive true vintage style and cute, cute, cute!

It’s the right dress to wear when you want to be very COOL, in more ways than one . . . . . . . . . . . ..

MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAESPY

BLOG:  MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM

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

BEAUTIFUL TRUE VINTAGE FIND! A ’60’S TO ’70’S LONG SUMMER GOWN

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This is absolutely the prettiest apricot-color floral print dress!  It’s got an old Talon zipper in back and is in fabulous condition (and my size, if not my best color – maybe a little summer tan will help).

Don’t know whether this was Prom or whatever in it’s first life, but now I’d wear it almost anywhere.  Could even be worn as part of a wedding party.  The cut and skirt treatment are very well done, making this a super-flattering frock.

Let’s see what’s next . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY

BLOG:  MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM

SEVENTIES SUNDRESS FIND – PRETTY IN POLKA DOTS

Love polka dots and polished cotton!  Stella’s off to the State Fair.

Although this dress isn’t way old, it is true vintage and the classic and fun styling made it worth picking up and wearing.  It’s very reminiscent of summer dresses from the 1950’s and early 1960’s and is made well.

As we go up and down, back and forth through the decades, stay tuned!

MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY

BLOG:  MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM