From Santiago de Chile, I always love finding cotton day frocks but this one was a wonderful surprise – styled with snaps at the sides of the waist, which allow it to be worn throughout a pregnancy! I’ve never come across this type of true vintage maternity garment before.
This one was just an everyday, off-the-rack frock. Santiago is a very old city, but without the history of elegance of Buenos Aires (oops, I’m going to make some enemies here). This dress had evidently come from abroad, as the tag is in English.
At any rate, I’m thrilled with this find and had a couple more that were worth picking up . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . .
MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY
BLOG: MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM
Also from Buenos Aires, we have black crepe again but with a little shorter hem and no shoulder pads. The decoration is metallic embroidery on netting and the skirt has a scalloped apron in front.
This one has a label, but may still have been made in a private shop. The tailoring is hand-done. Such luxury – to have your own personal dressmaker as so many of the ladies did at that time.
Can’t wait to photograph these beautiful creations on the models after I return to headquarters. Hangers certainly don’t do them justice, but I wanted you to have a sneak preview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY
BLOG: MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM
The old stand-by fabric, black crepe has been the go-to for dressy frocks at least since Queen Victoria’s time. In this case, it’s all Forties with slim lines, midi length, padded shoulders and those funny pouches that they used to like on the hips. Not pockets – these are just style elements and rather surprising because they certainly are not figure-enhancing! Oh, well, every decade has it’s style faux pas. I love everything else about this time.
This is a hand-made garment, likely one of a kind. Sequins and beads let this dress go on to cocktails and any other semi-formal evening events. Our heroine would step out with a fur wrap – I saw many of those in that city – mostly new, but a few examples of the wealth that was present back in the day.
I doubt that this one belonged to Eva, but you just never know . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY
BLOG: MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM
Let’s start with the simplest little day dress from Buenos Aires, Argentina, home-sewn in a breezy floral print. A blended fabric of the day is easy-care, according to their standards of the time. Nothing could be easier to wear, either. What a great classic style!
MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY
BLOG: MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM
Mid-century Montevideans (yes, Montevideo, Uruguay!) from the upper classes had exquisite taste and deep pockets. This pretty rayon at-home fashion is the most wonderful find! Although I found a similar gown when in Paris, this one is more pristine and of a slightly different style.
LOVE the little built-in trains that the lingerie often had then. Pretty, pretty, pretty. Tiny red roses on a pink background. What could be sweeter? Someone loved this dress very well ! We’ve only just begun – more to come . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY
BLOG: MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM
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