Category Archives: tunic

PRETTY WHITE COTTON MINI FROM MID-CENTURY EUROPE

While I’m missing Stella (my fabulous vintage mannequin model), please use your imagination to visualize how fun and flattering this mini-dress or tunic looks when it’s on. Without my honed sleuthing skills, I never would have found it and am so glad that I did. As a mini-dress (if you don’t mind the side slits showing your whole leg almost to the hip) it’s really cute and calls for a 1960’s/’70’s chain belt to finish it off. As a swimsuit cover-up or beach dress it would be perfect – cool, crisp and lightweight while giving some reasonable sun protection. Over a pair of skinny white pants or shorts I LOVE IT!! Also love the elbow-length sleeves and unusually-shaped neckline.

How do I know it’s from Europe? The size label tells me. How do I know that it’s true vintage? By my guesstimate, a European size 42 would always be too big for me, but I look great in this whether worn as a mini-dress or a tunic over pants. So, the cut seems to be smaller than a modern garment of that size would be. This is always tricky with international sizing, but I think I’m correct. The fabric is a nicely-woven cotton with some weight (but not too much for Summer) and all-over floral embroidery – similar to vintage fabrics that are almost never seen now. Also, the interior tailoring is different from what I find on modern garments. Not fine tailoring, because this is a very simple garment and probably sold at a lower price. However, some of the finishing is remarkable – if it did not have a size label, I might say that it had been home-sewn. It has darts in back to give it extra fit and style. The size label, printed rather than embroidered, is sewn in at the back neckline and there are no other tags at all.

All right, the verdict is in. This dress is probably from the 1970’s, give or take 5 years. Allowances have to be made for the overseas manufacture. Whatever it’s exact heritage, it’s wonderful and I will really enjoy it. I love solving mysteries but an open-ended investigation is always intriguing. Who knows – sometimes I solve a cold case years later! You just never know . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY

BLOG: MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM

FABULOUS AND FUN SURPRISE FIND – TRUE VINTAGE, AS ALWAYS . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

A wonderful authentic Lily blouse from the 1970’s! I was out and about dropping off a charity donation and found this beautiful shirt. Such a surprise; I have several other Lily blouses in my closet, from the 1960’s but haven’t seen one during an investigation for a long time. These lovely shirts were a mid-century staple. The signature fabric is so soft and airy, the pretty embroidery done so well. Most older ones had monochromatic Asian-inspired designs. This one is similar to colorful Latin American indigenous designs, which became more popular in the early 1970’s.

I love the old-style sizing on these blouses and am thrilled that it is in a size I can wear – just about a modern size 2(which would be perfect for Stella, as well. I certainly miss her when I’m not at Headquarters. See her modeling work in many previous posts). It also has double-button cuffs, which is another late 1960’s – early 1970’s tailoring detail, AND a button and loop at the neckline which can be fastened to lessen gaping there, if you want to. True vintage garments almost always have such excellent tailoring and, despite it’s age, I see no signs of wear. The previous owner may have washed it by hand, which would be so easy to do, and avoided the wear and tear of traditional machine washing. So, this lovely won’t be going to eBay or Etsy!!

I also found another true vintage item in pristine condition, which I will post tomorrow. I’m a Satisfied Sleuther!! Just goes to show that you just never know . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY

BLOG: MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM

ICONIC TRUE VINTAGE 1950’S MINK-TRIMMED BLOUSE – ANOTHER TREASURE FOUND NEW ZEALAND

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERAAnother rare find!  This one was not a high-end item when it was made, but it is an iconic piece with mink-trimmed sleeves.  I have a few of these garments with sleeves like this but don’t find them often.

Metallic thread on sheer black fabric, with “Autumn Haze” mink cuffs.  Buttons up the back.  Back in the day, companies that produced medium-priced clothing still made some “luxury” items that the average woman could afford, and they made them well.

What a pleasure to discover this one!

MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY

BLOG:  MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM

BOOK:  HOW TO FIND THE BEST IN VINTAGE FASHION

FUN, FUN, CUSTOM-TAILORED PLAY SUIT SHORTS SET FIND FROM THE 1960’S

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This Kennedy era, Mad Men sportswear ensemble was custom-tailored for fun in the sun, conservative-style.  High waist Bermuda shorts with a tunic top is dressy – casual and more versatile than a one-piece romper playsuit.  Kind of Preppy, without being too stuffy.

It’s always fun to see the vintage brand metal zippers plus the hand-tailored details.  As much as I love the most casual play-suits, it’s always good to have separates which can be worn so many ways and in interesting combinations.

This is just one of the hand-made garments that I just found – more to come . . . . . . . . . . . . .

MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY

BLOG:  MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM

A VERY DIFFERENT TYPE OF AT-HOME JACKET – EMBROIDERED, FROM THE FAR EAST

This is such a beautiful thing – I wish it weren’t  too big for me.  But oh, well, I love it all the same.  Not way old, because it’s poly satin, but the embroidery is to die for and it’s not completely colorfast so may not be too modern.  I’m not always sure about the construction and fabric qualities of garments made overseas.

Anyway, what a gorgeous item to wear around the house and, also, out.  I have a fantastic  embroidered red silk jacket from China that I often wear with black pants when dressing up is the thing.  Looks ab fab.

Tomorrow I’ll show a very recent discovery of the same genre, but older and more the style of Mata Hari.  Something I’d been searching for for a long time . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY

BLOG:  MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM

MOD FLOWER-POWER 1960’S 2-PC. DRESS – “NEW” TO ME TODAY!

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Too cute to pass up – I couldn’t believe a knit dress from the  mid – Sixties in such perfect condition.  it’s a real blast from the past.  Pictured here on size 4 Giselle, it’s a vintage size 8 with no room to spare!

Cut for the more conservative set – no mini-skirt here.  But, that’s how fashion always goes – everybody has to follow the trends one way or another.  Such a thrill to find a style that’s been made over so many times in the last decade in it’s original form – back when it was really hot on the streets everywhere.  I can almost see the fashionable housewife who wore it . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY

BLOG:  MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM

A FABULOUS TRUE VINTAGE FIND – MOD GEOMETRIC PRINT SIXTIES KNIT TUNIC

A FABULOUS FIND - MOD GEOMETRIC PRINT SIXTIES KNIT TUNIC

I’ll soon be on an investigation again, so a little patience may be needed, please, with my time-table!  Here’s another wonderful find – a mod tunic blouse in a heavy synthetic knit. Similar to the fabric in yesterday’s dress from the Forties, but grown up a generation.

I love the style and the printed design, with long sleeves.  Looks great with long pants, short skirts . . . . . . An excellent choice for cool Spring-ish weather.

This design has a little short zipper at the back neckline and falls mostly straight, with a little shaping in the torso.  As you can see on Madge, the fit is very flattering.

Vintage knits are almost always wonderful, regardless of the type of fabric.  Usually they are heavy and drape well.  That’s what makes them fit so beautifully.  And, of course, the design is on the back, too.  No cutting corners on the best true vintage!

I always love finding unusual pieces like this one. Makes my day . . . . . . . . . . . .

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

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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A FUN POLISHED COTTON PSYCHEDELIC PRINT TUNIC AND PANTS FROM THE LATE 1960’S

A FUN POLISHED COTTON PSYCHEDELIC PRINT TUNIC AND PANTS FROM THE LATE 1960'S.