Last, but not least, in Santiago I uncovered this lovely lingerie.  The wonderful colors of the 1950’s always make them worth collecting – but I buy good examples even if they’re white!

The quality and decoration can’t be beat by anything made since the mid-1960’s.  As always, they’re so comfortable and important under garments from the mid-century era.  My latest finds are just around the corner – well, a little farther than that . . . . . . .

MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY

BLOG:  MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM

via STICKING WITH 1940’S STYLE . . . . . . .

This frock is a retro version from the 1980’s.  Of heavy cotton in a pretty floral print and with an attractive design, it was worth picking up.  Although you can’t see the detail well in this photo, it has a wide, ruffled neckline, padded shoulders and puffed short sleeves, covered buttons and a gored, full midi-length skirt.

Looks very nice on!  I will enjoy wearing it and not having to be quite so careful of it – investigations can sometimes get a little messy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY

BLOG:  MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM

via FORTIES INGENUITY FOR THE LADY-IN-WAITING

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

via COCKTAILS POST-WAR STYLE

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

via NOW FOR SOME SERIOUS, ELEGANT FASHIONS – A 1940’S CREPE DINNER DRESS FROM BUENOS AIRES

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

via FROM THE TIME AND PLACE OF EVITA, WONDERFUL 1940’S FROCKS