Category Archives: wool

FABULOUS TRUE VINTAGE JACKIE KENNEDY EARLY 1960’S SKIRT SUIT

IMG_0985    This suit is so iconic of that era.  Gorgeous yellow wool in a loose weave, with a cute little vintage mink collar.  If the collar is too dressy, it can easily be removed with just a snip-snip because it is hand-basted onto the neckline.

It’s easy to wear and the two pieces can be very versatile.  True vintage suits are worth investing in for many reasons – the styles are usually quite elegant; tailoring is superb and the quality of materials are unavailable today.  Because the designs are classic, the jackets and skirts can usually be worn in a variety of ways that would never have been thought of decades ago.

Love the big covered buttons and pencil skirt.  So pretty, and a nice alternative to dark, somber colors for Fall and Winter.  Being on the prowl is so much fun, because you just never know . . . . . . . . ..

MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY

BLOG:  MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM

BACK TO THE EARLY 1950’S – JUST FOUND A BEAUTIFUL WOOL SKIRT SUIT

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Made of the finest Scottish wool and specially tailored for a specific brand name.  Very nice detail on the jacket front, and in back it’s got a little belt with a center button that matches the silver ones on the pockets.  The skirt is straight style with a back kick pleat.

A little big on me, but it might be worth having it altered to fit.  I can’t get enough of the gorgeous jackets from that time and a pencil skirt is always wonderful.  Classic mid-grey, also, is great to have on hand in mix-able pieces.  I’m thrilled!  One of the handbags I’ll show you tomorrow would look just lovely with this . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY

BLOG:  MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM

SOPHISTICATED 1940’S LADIES’ HAT OF SUEDED WOOL FELT

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This hat is made of the most wonderful fabric that feels almost like fine suede leather! It’s so hard, sometimes, to photograph black items – I hope that you can see the two bows under the brim in the first photo.  The hat is almost a beret, but has stitched decoration on top and a kind of souffle’ construction so that it can puff up or lay flat on the head.

I suspect that it would be worn more like the first photo, in order to expose the bows above the hairline.  Tricky to do with any kind of hairdo and probably would require hatpins.  What women used to go through to get the “right” look!

So, maybe it was designed to be worn with a sleek head and hair coiled up underneath or massed beneath at the nape of the neck.  It’s fun to wonder what the milliner who designed this beauty had in mind . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY

BLOG:  MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM

 

ANOTHER TRUE VINTAGE MEN’S CLASSIC – MID-CENTURY WESTERN-WEAR COWBOY HAT FROM A DENVER, CO STORE

ANOTHER TRUE VINTAGE MEN'S CLASSIC - WESTERN-WEAR COWBOY HAT FROM A DENVER, CO STORE

Wool felt with leather interior and exterior hatbands – it’s a quality item that was sold by a western-wear dealer in Denver, Colorado.  This one could be several decades old or just a couple – that’s how durable and stylish true vintage apparel is!

When it’s taken care of, it lasts and lasts and never goes out of fashion.

What could be better than that? Tomorrow we’ll see . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY

BLOG:  MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM

SPRING SHOULDER SEASON SIXTIES SKIRT SUIT – TRY SAYING THAT TWICE!

SPRING SHOULDER SEASON SIXTIES SKIRT SUIT - TRY SAYING THAT TWICE!

For Spring or Fall – or any time the temps are in that mid cool-ish range – a lightweight 3-season wool knit skirt suit by Butte Knits.  I LOVE the olive drab color and the flattering fit.

This is one of a few examples I’ve found of mid-60’s suits like this, or similar.  The high-end knits are so comfortable and easy to wear, but ready for just about any setting.  It’s also two separates that can easily be paired with other skirts or pants for a different look.

I think my Aussie friends down under would love a garment like it at this time of year . . . . . . . . . . .

MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY

BLOG:  MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM

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

BEAUTIFUL SPRING SKIRT SUIT FROM THE SIXTIES

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Though it’s not by a high-end designer, it would have been right for Jackie Kennedy.  This lovely wool suit was just the thing in 1962.  So well-made, with all the little tailoring details that are so important.

One of my favorite things about it is that the mink collar is lightly stitched on, so that it can be easily removed.  It’s nice to have that choice.

Not my color, unfortunately, so I recently put it on eBay but I have two other colors very similar which I can wear.  It’s fun to see how all of them are as alike as colored Easter eggs, yet each one is different . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..

MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY

BLOG:  MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM

 

 

 

ANOTHER FABULOUS TRUE VINTAGE TREASURE – IN CLASSIC BLACK

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So wonderful!!!  Another mid-century pencil skirt – as I’ve said, you can’t have too many. As usual, this one fits perfectly and has the expected tailoring details of a well-made garment.  Ignore the camera spots – it’s beautiful.

Love unraveling the stories of every find; this one was custom-tailored of a soft wool, with acetate liner in the seat.  Tailors used to do this with wool skirts to prevent stretching of the fabric from sitting.  I love the well-constructed waistband and side closure plus the fantastic fit.

Easy to dress up or down.  A basic black piece like this is always chic and when the quality is high plus a perfect fit, that’s what makes the difference between attractive and elegant – between fashionable and chic – between nice-looking and truly well-dressed.  Our grandmothers knew that, and most European women haven’t forgotten.

Would go nicely with the cocktail sweater I found and showed you a few days ago.  I plan to wear it with vintage jackets, blouses and sweaters.  I’ve discovered a trove of skirts lately – more to come . .. . . . . . . . . . . ..  . .. .

MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY

BLOG:  MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM

ANOTHER RARE FIND – MEN’S MID-CENTURY LEISURE CARDIGAN SWEATER IN WOOL AND SUEDE LEATHER

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Fabulous condition, too!  It needs a button, but I can do that.  I may even have a matching one in my stash.  So fun to find one of these in great shape.

This type of sweater was such a common and vital part of a man’s wardrobe before 1965. After that, styles changed and these weren’t seen as often.  The classic golf sweater carried on the design, but is of a completely different genre.

College boys, Dad and Grandpa used to sport around in these cardigans during Happy Days and Mad Men times.  Sometimes they’d be worn with a casual shirt and tie.  Great- and great-great granddads had their versions, too.  I don’t find one very often but, when you’re sleuthing, you just never know . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..

MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY

BLOG:  MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM

RARE 1960’s CATALINA WOMEN’S CLASSIC GOLF CARDIGAN

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It’s unusual to find a woman’s golf sweater – very mid-century sporty.  Love the turquoise color.  I’m not sure yet whether this knit is of acrylic or wool – there are no tags for content or care.  Regardless, I’ll get a lot of use from this one!

It’s got classic design features like the little front pockets (that are still stitched closed!) and 2-button trim on each side seam at the waist.  Of course, an embroidered cloth label giving the size in inches.

Fun, fun, fun!  I’ve got some men’s clothing to show you, too . . . . . . . . …  . . ..

MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY

BLOG:  MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM

McCALLS 1963 NEEDLEWORK MAGAZINE SAYS – START KNITTING YOUR NEW YEAR’S DRESSES NOW!

IMG_1033 IMG_1029 IMG_1034Although these frocks are in pastels and the weather is often dark and gloomy now,  these are the styles and colors that used to appear as soon as the Christmas and holiday season was over.  Late winter/Spring fashions and travel clothing came out in the magazines and department stores back in the day.

For our grandmothers who were crafty, it would be time to start making your dresses like these that do take a little time to create.  Although they would almost always be knitted or crocheted in wool, they really have a Spring-like feel to them and that was what people loved when travel to warmer places during the winter was short or not possible at all.

Lightweight wool goes through 3 seasons very well.  Clothiers and fashionistas have always known this and included smart and beautiful wool garments in their wardrobes almost all year long.  Now that it’s become easier to care for them, with hand-washing and at-home dry-cleaning, I love my vintage sweaters and dresses up until May, too . . .

MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY

BLOG:  MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM

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