Right on the heels of that daring red frock shown yesterday came this traditional, custom-tailored every-day dress in a beautiful cotton print. Again, I can’t say exactly how old it is but it was home-sewn in a classic, mid-century style. The fabric is gorgeous.
Although it’s another perfect fit for me, the style is very plain so I think I’d cinch the waist with a belt to enhance the fit and add a pert little scarf or pearls at the neckline, depending on my mood. Yes, that would be VERY cliche’ ’50’s but – so what? – also a VERY pretty look. Unless I wanted to go completely kitchy for the fun of it, I’d leave off the hat/gloves -handbag/shoes sets.
Anyway, this dress really makes me hanker for Spring! Can’t wait to see what turns up next . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY
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Here’s another mystery dress with regard to dating it exactly. It’s a tea-length party gown which has done some duty over the years and has a very interesting neckline, made to be worn on or off the shoulder. The bodice is boned, front and back, and the color is a rip-roarin’ red! Scarlett would approve.
Always fun, and I know that it’s at least forty years old. I doubt that it was custom-tailored, but there is no label. Interesting tailoring details in a seldom-seen style, which fits me to a T! However, I think I’ll need to invest in a corset for the best fit – I’ve never owned a regular brassiere that would do it justice.
When I get back to Headquarters, however, I’m sure that Madge will be able to do it justice. More tomorrow – stay tuned .. . . . .
MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY
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Showing some reds here together – always a favorite color! The most amazing things about these are the pocket details and, of course, the overall quality cut and styling.
I can always depend on a true vintage suit of my correct size to fit beautifully. Even off-the-rack garments were made to such a higher standard that the things made today can’t compare.
I have hemmed the red skirt on the right (folded up, NOT cut off!) but otherwise haven’t had to do a thing. These babies were well-looked-after by their first owners and I continue by storing them properly, since they are wool.
That’s another topic – SO much vintage clothing was made of wool back in the day. Even lightweight weaves and knits that we could mistake for synthetics are actually wool. The important thing about this is to learn what the fabric is when you buy a vintage garment so that you don’t make mistakes when caring for it.
It’s no fun to throw something in the wash and have it come out as doll clothing or horribly misshapen. Nor do we want to find little moth holes in our favorite blouse, sweater or pants. LOVE delightful surprises, but not those!
Just another little tip from . . . . . . . . . . . . .
MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY
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This is just about my favorite suit because it was one of the first things I found when I started to be interested in vintage clothing. It’s perfect for me, too, and I love wearing it.
It’s got little braided belt loops at the sides, so I usually put a skinny belt on. It’s plain, but the fit is oh, so attractive! I always get compliments.
I did do a couple of things to it due to my inexperience that I wouldn’t do now – I shortened it a bit to knee length and may have cut off the excess (horrors! – not the thing to do. if you really want to shorten something, just make a deeper hem so that it can be changed back). Thank goodness that I didn’t make it into a mini! I also put the little slit in the front, which I now would probably have opened in back, if I did one. That, however, is no big deal as it can be reversed.
Another reversible change was replacing the shoulder pads, which were VERY big, with smaller ones to make it more work-wearable. They can easily be replaced for authenticity.
Oh, well – I still love the thing so much and am very happy with it, but experience is a wonderful teacher and I’m so grateful for all that I have learned. . . . . . . . . .
MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY
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This lovely suit was from a smaller women’s dress shop – it has the store’s label inside, rather than the label of the clothing company that made it. Of course, big companies like Gap and Banana Republic outsource the manufacture of their clothing, but here I’m talking about small, privately owned shops that might have been owned by your neighbor down the street.
Back in the day, a store’s buyer (this was often the owner of the store) would sometimes pick items at the wholesale market to carry in their own shop with their own label, even though they didn’t make it themselves. A second label giving the name of the company that manufactured the item might be present, too, but not always. Since I wasn’t a shopper during that era and never have owned a dress shop, it was surprising and fun to learn this! Maybe it’s still done this way by some big department stores or small, elegant boutiques with high prices but, back in the Fifties, a local small-town dress shop might have sold frocks carrying an embroidered label with their own store’s name inside. Amazing!
Conservative but very elegant – Grace Kelly wore garments like this often in her public and private life. Looking like a tart is not elegant (and not really sexy, either). I wish some of the popular designers and their market would get that. It’s difficult to find well-designed and well-made clothing, if you shop at retail.
Anyway, this is another of those keep-it-for-decades ensembles that could go almost anywhere when you need a traditional style. You can dress it up or down, or split the separates and accessorize and, if it fits well, it’s very flattering. The skirt hem length could be anywhere from below to slightly above the knee without ruining the line. Make it micro-mini and you’ll look like you haven’t got a clue . . . . . . . . . . ..
MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY
BLOG: MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM
BOOK: HOW TO FIND THE BEST IN VINTAGE FASHION – AVAILABLE ON AMAZON.COM
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