Tag Archives: 1940’s

TRUE VINTAGE ’70’S DOES ’40’S SUNDRESS FROM WEST GERMANY

IMG_1759This fabulous 100% cotton dress was made in West Germany, obviously   before 1989 and maybe many years before that.  Yes, it’s another new find that’s out-of-season right now in North America and most of Europe, but I love, love, love this anyway and couldn’t wait to show it!

Forties style is so wonderful.  I love the cut-in shoulders that give a halter neckline feel without the bare upper back.  It’s one of my favorite styles and I’ve been so fortunate lately to find some true vintage Forties, too. Shirtwaist ease is always great – red and white polka dots – a nipped-in waist and midi hemline ………… Fashion heaven!!

Plus, it’s got that true vintage West German quality of workmanship and materials that make it a really good investment, no matter what.  It’s in perfect condition and will continue to last.  What could be better? . . . . . .

MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY

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ANOTHER TRUE VINTAGE 1940’S WAR-TIME DAY DRESS

IMG_1730I love, love, love this one!  Custom-tailored (probably at home), it’s got ’40’s design details and, of course, shoulder pads.  Stella will absolutely flip!!!!!

The fabric is a kind of poly-type synthetic in a flower print.  Signs are that it was made some time in the midst of WWII.  Just a fun and practical frock to wear while she was carrying on with the day-to-day.

Best of all, it fits . . . . . . . .

MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY

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1940’S ATOMIC PRINT SWISHY RAYON DAY DRESS – FABULOUS FIND!!!!!

IMG_1736This dress has a huge skirt that flows to mid-calf. The fabric feels like whipping cream pouring through your fingers.  True vintage synthetics from the Forties are just indescribable – you have to see and feel them for yourself.

This day dress was custom-tailored at home, I would guess.  The time frame is late 1940’s to early 1950’s.  It will look so great on Stella.

It’s been a while since I discovered a true vintage frock from the Forties.  This week I’ve found two!  This is SO much fun!!

MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY

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HUGE FIND OF GORGEOUS TRUE VINTAGE LINGERIE!!!

IMG_1700Just the other day, I discovered about half a dozen of these beautiful lingerie slips from the 1950’s or late 1940’s.  I already had two or three others similar to the one on the left, but it has been several years since I found them. Those like the perfect, classic beauty on the right are a bit more common but still are tricky to find.

Do take a close-up view of the lace and trims on these stunners.  They are just so lovely.  And, of course, the heavy nylon is wonderful to touch.  The longer length of Fifties slips is great for wearing with dresses from that same era but they’re also fabulous worn as nightgowns or slip-dresses.

There’s one of a different type that I’ll show in another post later on, so stay tuned . . . . . . . . . .

MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY

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NEW FIND – A COUPLE OF HOME-SEWN PARTY FROCKS FROM THE 1940’S/EARLY 1950’S

IMG_1702 IMG_1703Both these dresses need a professional pressing before they go to the dance but, so what?!  Such iconic styles!!!!!  Read on . . . . . . . . . . . . .

#1 is of taffeta with a gored skirt and velveteen insert at the v-neckline,  That was  put in for modesty, because without it  the dress has a decolletage and would sit wide on the shoulders.  A very sexy style, and I’m convinced that the sewing pattern or the dress as originally made had the sexy neckline.

Of course, it’s got a tiny waist and the skirt is a fabulous style for dancing (or just walking in!) because of how it flips and moves.  The most interesting and telling thing is the zipper in back.  It’s about a foot long and sits in the middle of the back, with no connection at the neckline.  Therefore, you REALLY have to wiggle into frocks made with these and this one is already quite tiny.  Not even Stella could wear it!

#2 is very plain in style, but it’s got 3 layers of taffeta-like then organza-like fabric in the skirt.  With proper finishing by a professional cleaner (or someone who just knows how to do it correctly) it would be a stunning and pretty dress.  About a size or two larger than the other, it would have been made about a decade later.

Both in aqua blues.  What each one needs is a corsage at the neckline or the waist.  Both of them could have benefited with a bit of trim here or there to finish the look – maybe that was coming.  Little bows, covered buttons or bits of lace/embroidery were commonly used as final touches to make a mid-century look more feminine and stylish.

Though they may not have both been made by or for the same woman, who knows?  I found them in the same location, which adds possibilities to the story. You just never know . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY

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TRUE VINTAGE DECORATED CARDIGAN SWEATER FROM THE 1940’S

WHAT COULD BE MORE PERFECT RIGHT NOW?

Morgana Martin, the magicvintagespy's avatarMagicvintagespy

ANOTHER TRUE VINTAGE DECORATED SWEATER FROM THE 1940'S

Another classic specialty from the 1930’s to the 1960’s was decorated sweaters.  This one is  a unique favorite. It’s casual/dressy and has applique’ and beads on the front.  Most of this decoration was done by hand and would be fabulously expensive today.

I like the 3/4 sleeves, the little collar and the dusty green color. Looks great with a skirt or pants.  By our standards today, women looked “dressed up” almost no matter what kind of outfit they were wearing.

MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY

BLOG:  MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM

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CASUAL CORDUROY JACKET: TRUE VINTAGE 1940’S – EARLY 1950’S

HERE’S ONE THAT’S JUST AS CLASSIC AS BLUE JEANS . . .

Morgana Martin, the magicvintagespy's avatarMagicvintagespy

Casual Corduroy Jacket True Vintage 1940s - '50sThis is a great true vintage jacket that I love. It is unlined, so I can start wearing it now in the evenings.

Easy zip but stylish, too.  The so-retro pointed collar is great and my hat’s off to the designer who placed those welts on the shoulders.   They’re very flattering to most women and, along with the fitted waistline and slash pockets at the hips, really improve the looks of almost all figures.

That’s what I like best about true vintage fashion – the tailoring is usually so good with surprising designs! Though this is not a high-end item, touches like that make it superb.

The style is so classic in it’s lines that I can pair it with almost any casual clothing and can snazz it up with accessories, too.   Final favorite feature? – It reminds me of old movies. . . . . . . . . . . . …

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A Few 1940s Wardrobe Staples

A FEW TRUE VINTAGE 1940’S SHOES AND HANDBAGS FOR FALL

Morgana Martin, the magicvintagespy's avatarMagicvintagespy

A Few 1940s Wardrobe Staples

Here are a few items that I ran across by surprise – from the 1940s (or so).  All perfect finishes for a wartime or post-war costume.  Mary-jane all leather shoes (always a classic), Capezio soft leather dance or casual flats and a couple of simple woven bags from the Depression era or time of wartime rationing – a drawstring and one with a metal zip in the top.  It’s fun to find things in such good condition (and at very good prices). You just never know . . . .

Morgana Martin, the magicvintagespy

Blog:  Magicvintagespy.com

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LOVE TO DANCE? HERE’S THE PERFECT TRUE VINTAGE MID-CENTURY DRESS. . . . . . . . . . .

Source: LOVE TO DANCE? HERE’S THE PERFECT TRUE VINTAGE MID-CENTURY DRESS. . . . . . . . . . .

LOVE TO DANCE? HERE’S THE PERFECT TRUE VINTAGE MID-CENTURY DRESS. . . . . . . . . . .

IMG_1672With this kind of styling, you could do almost any type of dancing in it, but a Fall gala would be perfect . . . . . or think a cotillion or Homecoming Dance.  You wouldn’t want to waste this fabulous Forties frock on the local beer joint, would you?

This dress, I suspect, is from the late Forties Post-war era though it could be from the early 1950’s.  Black rayon with velvet cord decoration and those sleeves with ruching.  I enjoy picking up on tailoring details that I’ve seen before (check out the ’40’s day dress from about a week ago).

It’s the velvet cording that is the stand-out feature.  Looks like it was from a small designer line and styled with an eye to giving it a luxurious look.  Originally found in a Southern U.S. state, you can imagine the social functions and elegant affairs that it may have attended on the back of some lovely Society belle . . . . . . . . . .

MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY

BLOG:  MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM

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