SINCE WE’RE IN A VACATION MOOD, TRUE VINTAGE 1950’S TOP BY TIFFANY TRAVELER

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA Way before L.L.Bean, etc. there was at least one designer making a line of clothing meant for travel. Cool and light, with wrinkle-free ease.

This pretty top by Clair Tiffany is a fun example and a surprise for me. I’ve come across her garments only once or twice before. Synthetic material, with an atomic/abstract print and front tie decoration. Pure turn-of-the-Fifties-to-Sixties style and the colors are unusual, which is one of the best things about true vintage clothing and accessories.

Yes, the advances in fabric treatments have come a long way since then and the convenience factor in travel clothing has grown, but the vintage versions are much prettier and more interesting than what we can buy now. Have you looked through a sampling recently? Bor – ing . . . . . .. . . . . .. at a very high price . . .

MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY
BLOG: MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM
BOOK: HOW TO FIND THE BEST IN VINTAGE FASHION – AVAILABLE ON AMAZON.COM

A LITTLE FUN FIND – TRUE VINTAGE 1950’S – EARLY 1960’S HANNA BARBERA CARTOON SOUVENIR HANKIE

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Can’t ever resist something like this.  They’re rare to find in good condition, and always fun to pick up!  Despite the obvious attractiveness of disposable tissues, true vintage and antique handkerchiefs are so interesting and many are exceptionally beautiful, with colorful printed designs, hand-done lace or embroidery.  This one just makes me laugh – maybe the best kind . . . . . .

MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY

BLOG:  MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM

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

TRUE VINTAGE MEN’S LONG-SLEEVED SHIRT FROM THE 1950’S

TRUE VINTAGE MEN'S LONG-SLEEVED SHIRT FROM THE 1950'S.

TRUE VINTAGE MEN’S LONG-SLEEVED SHIRT FROM THE 1950’S

A rare find for me, and one of my favorite items . . . . .

Morgana Martin, the magicvintagespy's avatarMagicvintagespy

TRUE VINTAGE MEN'S LONG-SLEEVED SHIRT FROM THE 1950'S

I absolutely love this shirt and others like it. Sorry I don’t have a male model. The distinguishing feature is the embroidery on the left side. These little designs are so much fun. Some are really creative!

Men sometimes wear long sleeves in the summer, so I consider this a year-round garment. Especially when it’s in a lighter color. It can be dressed up with a sport coat.

Some shirts of this type have multi-colored designs. Usually the fabric has a bit of sheen and the embroidery is glossy. You can tell by a quick look that it is a quality original item and not a modern imitation.

I LOVE to find them! Would have adored being a curator of wardrobe for Metro-Goldwyn-Meyer or Warner Bros. back in the day.

It’s even more fun to go to the closet and decide which movie to play in today . . …

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CAN YOU BELIEVE IT?! 1950’S NEEDLE-WORK PATTERNS THAT FOLLOWED RUNWAY FASHION IN EUROPE . . .

CAN YOU BELIEVE IT?! 1950'S NEEDLE-WORK PATTERNS THAT FOLLOWED RUNWAY FASHION IN EUROPE . . ..

CAN YOU BELIEVE IT?! 1950’S NEEDLE-WORK PATTERNS THAT FOLLOWED RUNWAY FASHION IN EUROPE . . .

IMG_1478McCall’s magazine  was a real stand-by for our thrifty and talented Grandmas who wanted to keep up with the latest fashion trends.  They could knit and crochet wardrobes that kept them feeling stylish at a fraction of retail costs, and have a lot of fun doing it!

From what I’ve seen online, the well-known pattern makers for seamstresses like Butterick and Simplicity did the same and were even more popular.  Practically every home had a sewing machine, but some women probably still had the skills to do everything by hand if necessary.

Although it was a lot of work and must have felt like another chore in times of necessity like the Depression, it also gave women a lot of creative freedom.  When they had the time and the funds to  be choosy about fabrics and to adapt their own touches to a pattern or add decorations, knowing how to do this and having the support of companies that sold the things that they needed was a real relief from economic and social limitations that may have faced them every day.

Today, people find that creative freedom by doing things online and go to Walmart to ease their financial hardships during tough times, but it’s not the same.  Somehow, the old way seems more attractive in some ways.  Your thoughts?

By the way, I’ve got several fabulous “new” discoveries and am preparing them to show you . . . . . .

MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY

BLOG:  MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM

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

TRUE VINTAGE SHIRTWAIST DAY DRESS FROM THE 1950’S

TRUE VINTAGE SHIRTWAIST DAY DRESS FROM THE 1950'S.

TRUE VINTAGE SHIRTWAIST DAY DRESS FROM THE 1950’S

One of my best favorites . . . . .

Morgana Martin, the magicvintagespy's avatarMagicvintagespy

TRUE VINTAGE SHIRTWAIST DAY DRESS FROM THE 1950'S

This style was everywhere from about 1945 to about 1965, I think. In house dress to day dress styles, the shirtwaist with full skirt was a classic fashion. I remember my mother wearing them.

Some had fabric-covered buckle belts and some, like this one, had tie belts. All kinds of prints or solids were seen.

I love this one, which is a semi-sheer material in a print with a French motif. Not a bit high-end; just the average do-what-the-day-requires outfit for a modern 1950’s housewife.

This one came my way from a relative, which makes it very special . . …

MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY

BLOG:  MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM

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

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TRUE VINTAGE LATE 1940’s – EARLY 1950’s TEA LENGTH GOWN OR PARTY DRESS

TRUE VINTAGE LATE 1940's – EARLY 1950's TEA LENGTH GOWN OR PARTY DRESS.

NEXT “NEW” FIND – TRUE VINTAGE 1950’S/EARLY 1960’S HAND-MADE NOVELTY DRESS

NEXT "NEW" FIND – TRUE VINTAGE 1950'S/EARLY 1960'S HAND-MADE NOVELTY DRESS.