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A FUN 1960’S FIND TODAY

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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

BACK TO THE 1960’s – FINAL NEW ZEALAND TRUE VINTAGE BLOUSE FIND

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERAThis great example of Sixties tailoring jumped out at me!  Wow – finding true vintage blouses in beautiful condition is so wonderful and relatively rare.  Like slacks, they get a lot of wear and sometimes don’t survive.  So glad this one did!

In this case, the fabric is a beautiful rayon or similar material woven in a vibrant stripe. Fitted silhouette, double-button cuffs, gathered shoulder seams and a different collar shape are some of the true vintage tailoring details here.  Unfortunately, the label is gone but that’s a common issue that I can accept.

MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY

BLOG:  MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM

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

TRUE VINTAGE FASHION FINDS FROM NEW ZEALAND!! RARE MID-CENTURY BLOUSE

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA I made several major discoveries when I was in New Zealand and several of them were blouses or shirts.  A VERY RARE thing to find these in great condition.

This one is a heavy, glossy synthtic material from the 1940’s – 1950’s in a gorgeous mocha color.  It has a finished hem with decorative slits – made to wear on the outside of a skirt.

I just love finding things of this age – you know me: I’m stuck on the beautiful classics, at least 50 years old and 70 is better!  Can’t wait to see what is hiding around the next corner . . . . .

MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY

BLOG:  MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM

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

TIME TO GET SERIOUS ABOUT THOSE WINTER SWEATERS – MORE MID-CENTURY NEEDLEWORK PATTERNS FROM MCCALLS

IMG_1024 IMG_1020“My gosh – look at the time!   It’s coming up Thanksgiving (in the U.S.) and I must think about winter sweaters – many of them may be Christmas gifts.”   Our grandmothers were likely saying things like this to themselves right about now, if they hadn’t been knitting since last July!

Such cute and sophisticated handmade beauties – no comparison to what’s in the stores (especially now).  Even if your family didn’t take an annual ski-trip to Vail, Colorado or the Swiss Alps, sweaters like these were popular wardrobe items.

If you love old movies and sit-coms, like I do, you’ll see plenty of them along with “stretch pants” and stirrup pants for everyday as well as being ski-wear.  If you can do this kind of needlework, Bravo!   I just have to keep my antennae alert for the real thing . . . . . . .

MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY

BLOG:  MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM

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

A VERY COOL GEOMETRIC PRINT TRUE VINTAGE SHIRT FROM THE LATE SIXTIES – VERY EARLY SEVENTIES

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERAAnother “new” Australian discovery!  Although they’ve been making lots of look-a-like retro fakes for a while now, this one is undeniably true vintage, right down to its label.

I just LOVE this print.  Again, not my own best colors but I can’t help enjoying it so much anyway.  Even the true vintage labels are delights in themselves – often so artistic and interesting.  Sometimes they’re funny!

In your standard poly/synthetic blend fabric of that day, it’ll be easy-care as long as treated gently. . . .

MORGANA MARTIN,THE MAGICVINTAGESPY

BLOG:  MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM

TRUE VINTAGE 1940’S PARTY-WEAR – GREAT BOHO BLOUSE A’LA JANE RUSSELL

Original True Vintage Party Dressing (or cafe' boho garb?)

Great black velveteen top from the 40s or, maybe, early 50s. It’s a vintage size 16 (can you imagine! Size 4 me can wear it, though it’s very Jane Russell w/o all the decolletage). Just goes to show how sizes have changed.

The back neckline is a wide scoop. There is a short metal zipper at the waist on left. Imagine this worn with a long sweeping skirt, a pencil skirt or cigarette pants with a wide belt – all black or imaginative color combos. This style can easily go elegant or boho/beatnik.

The style is really flattering & dramatic. The neckline is beautiful left alone or showcasing a necklace or long dangling earrings (not both, please).

Another fabulous example of original true vintage elegance, found unexpectedly. You just never know . . .

MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTGESPY

BLOG:  MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM

TRUE VINTAGE SEVENTIES DOES FORTIES BLOUSE AND HIGH-WAIST PANTS

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Two finds from the 1970’s, put together perfectly.  I love the cute 1940’s vibe;  these pieces were made in the early 1970’s when that style was revived.  The shirt was from Sears Junior Bazaar and the slacks made by a company called Beeline. How fun!

The pants are long, so they’re great with platform sandals – another thing popular at that time – also part of the 1940’s retro thing.  As a true vintage sleuth, it’s so fun to watch how the styles go around and come around again.

MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY

BLOG:  MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM

RARE FIND!! TRUE VINTAGE 1940’S – EARLY 1950’S BLOUSE

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I just LOVE finding true vintage blouses! They’re so pretty and versatile – and so rare to discover in great condition.

This one was kind of a bargain-basement item – not top quality, and maybe produced during WWII when materials were rationed. But it’s got a lot of personality to make up for that.

I see it paired with a pencil skirt or cigarette pants. Tomorrow I’ll show some great platform sandals that go well with it, though certainly of a higher-class . . .

MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY

BLOG:  MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM

ANOTHER FIND – TRUE VINTAGE 1960’S FLOWER-POWER BLOUSE

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Unbelievable!  This beautiful fitted blouse in lovely smooth rayon was a “QUEEN” size in the mid-sixties.  It’s labeled as a 13/14 but it fits me with a little extra room in the bust – and I wear a modern size 4.

Who cares, right?!  It’s got all the lovely features of true vintage tailored items, with extra seam allowance and nice darting to enhance the fit. Love the print, the long sleeves and oh-so-Sixties roll collar.

Another unusual discovery and, wait, there’ll be more . . . . . . . . . . . .

MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY

BLOG:  MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM

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

BEAUTIFUL TRUE VINTAGE 1960’S DRESSY BLOUSE

IMG_1682Here’s a great picture of a Sixties blouse that would have been worn to a holiday party or a dance.  Not my style, personally, but it’s so perfectly of that time and in such wonderful condition – how could I resist?

With buttons all the way up the back, a well-finished hem made to wear untucked over dress pants or a long skirt and that jabot-type flounce at the collar (SO ’60’s!), it’s another of those garments with British influence.  Could work very well as part of a Halloween costume, too.

The maker’s label is even embroidered in gold thread.  Someone took very good care of this top and kept it for special occasions.  I’ve been really fortunate lately to find so many vintage blouses and shirts in outstanding condition!  Often, these pieces are like slacks – they accumulate so much wear over the years with stains and tears that they’ll end up being discarded by the original owner.

But, thanks to the superior quality of true vintage clothing and the care many of our grandmothers and great-grandmothers took with their wardrobes, some of them are still out there to be discovered . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY

BLOG:  MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM

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