While admittedly this housedress is not among my most stellar finds, first impression was that it was too good to leave behind. When I had a closer look at home, I could really see why. The quality features are far beyond what I first noticed.
OK. We’re going to talk about QUALITY only here, because the design is not exceptionally different from many other garments of its type. One of the best things about this particular cotton/polyester blend fabric is that it is opaque enough that I could go to the door in it without being indecent. That’s a huge plus when it comes to most housecoats of this genre.
Going on to the most important questions about the quality standards of clothing, let’s talk about the construction. We like the fabric – next is the notions. In this case, that includes the buttons and the lace trim. Both are very good – lace is the nicest I’ve felt or seen in a long time, on items of this type. The buttons are little stemmed pearlized plastic buttons which are very classic. The machine embroidery on the yoke is very nice, too, but nothing to write home about when it comes to what I expect on a vintage garment.
Finally comes construction. I took a separate photo of the yoke because the design is outstanding. It raises the bar when compared to the things that are usually seen and this design is echoed on the back yoke, too. Also, the seams are really tight and neatly done – very important on an at-home garment which will be worn a lot and won’t get special care. Finally, the hem has a 1″ allowance and has been finished BY HAND!!
That is probably the sweetest thing about this piece. Makes me nostalgic for my mother’s and grandmothers’ times when these features and touches were standard on almost everything they bought. Maybe, with all the disruption and change we’re experiencing in the world today our priorities and lifestyles will change and these kinds of production standards will return. Wouldn’t it be nice to be able to count on things you buy to last at least a decade or two (or three or four) instead of just a few months?
In the meantime, there’s nothing like true vintage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..
MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY
BLOG: MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM
I
Okay, we’re back to the jackets and coats that will take us out of late winter and into Spring! Since I’ve been doing a lot of red lately, here’s a cute shirt-jacket that I suspect is from the early 1960s but could be older. It had a girls’ school patch on front (which I have, of course, saved) and zips part-way down the front with a metal zipper.
This is cute and very different, easy to pop on over slacks, jeans or even a shift dress or skirt and blouse. I try to picture how it was worn by the original owner.
The corduroy is of a quality rarely seen today. The photo doesn’t do it justice, as the color is actually very bright and there’s no damage and very little wear. 100% cotton and, though it is fairly lightweight, is a dense weave that stands up for years rather than breaking out in thin patches or holes quickly. That’s what I love about the older fabrics. Although some of them have some vulnerabilities and require special know-how to care for them, they all have benefits that make them special in the way the color pops or how they hang or drape on the body. It’s difficult, if not impossible, to find something as good now. Although this is just a simple item, I love it and you can see how it has held up despite its age.
In a couple of weeks, I’ll begin publishing photos of a few true vintage things that I’ve kept at this second home for the warm weather, and my most recent finds! I like to keep the posts seasonal to North America, so stay tuned. You just never what will show up!
Morgana Martin, the magicvintagespy
Facebook.com/magicvintagespy
Google+, Twitter, Pinterest
Magicvintagespy 