
Vintage high-top ladies’ roller skates, complete with pom-poms and original carry-case. (I can even wear them!) How cool is this!!
MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY
BLOG: MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM

Vintage high-top ladies’ roller skates, complete with pom-poms and original carry-case. (I can even wear them!) How cool is this!!
MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY
BLOG: MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM
This post was inspired by the fabulous Theodora Brack and her post of a few weeks ago on the blog, Paris: People, Places and Bling. Shirt sleeve styles are, again. doing some very interesting things with pleats, gathers and puffs. Here are a few from my own true vintage collection which show how these styles cycle through the decades.
Pictured here are 1930’s and 1940’s blouses excepting, in photos #1 and #3, the right-hand and left-hand examples are retro Forties, which were made in the early 1980’s. Cotton, silk, rayon and poly. Kimono, pirate, Western-inspired and prissy designs all had their day in the 1940’s and have wound their way up and down runways every decade or two since then. Of course, some decades were known for their beautiful craftsmanship, gorgeous fabrics and special tailoring details so these aspects will always be showcased in true vintage garments from those times.
Modern blouses which follow these style trends will not be nearly as beautiful or as well-made but, I love my finds. Thanks for the opportunity to put them in the spotlight again.
MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY
BLOG: MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM

Imagine my surprise (this is always SO much fun!) – I came across a true vintage label, Lady Carol, but in one of their 1980’s incarnations, before the company was sold for good. I have one of their 1950’s/early 1960’s frocks, which I love, but had never run across any of their later items before. Classic ’40’s style, but with ’80’s fabric and tailoring – they got in on the retro trend of that decade.
There are several old companies that are still in business, but they are just “modern” manufacturers now making modern styles in a modern way – I don’t pay attention to what they are doing. In this case, a true vintage dress by a true vintage maker (now gone) doing a specific true vintage fashion trend (Forties retro) was worth picking up.
It’s a bit too big for Madge (and moi), but in a style that is easy to alter. Just another example of the truth that when you’re on a sleuthing mission, you just never know . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY
BLOG: MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM

More fun! I like some of the corduroy 1970’s jumpsuits, but the 1980’s version is much more over-the-top and, of course, has BIG shoulder pads in BRIGHT electric colors. New Wave fashions have a real in-your-face quality that, I think, is more appealing than the 1990’s Dallas glitz was. After that, everything REALLY went down the tubes . . . . . . . .
So, while we’re away from the best mid-century fashion, might as well take advantage of how much girls just wanna have fun. Although the best of these jumpsuits are not a dime a dozen, when I find a good one I’ll grab it. This one was made by a California company, to that adds to it’s pedigree . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . .
MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY
BLOG: MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM

This pretty raspberry-colored midi frock has nice details. Love the shoulder treatment that broadens without the heavy shoulder pads! The coat-style button front is different, too, and the belt that buckles in the back with a point in front (or back, as you wish) makes it easy for me to date it almost exactly.
I’ll enjoy wearing this one with its slim lines and adjustable front hem opening. Very versatile and, again, very vintage – New Wave did it pretty well. More on the way. . . . . . . . . . . . .
MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY
BLOG: MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM

Nothing says New Wave ’80’s like leopard print and shoulder pads! Love this slinky beauty – what fun to wear! This is one of my favorite styles.
If you can’t have the true 1940’s, it’s the next-best thing. Stay tuned for the next best thing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..
MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY
BLOG: MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM

Dark navy and white, with clear buttons all-the-way down the front. Almost a tea dress, but very North American. So smart not to spoil the print and pretty lines while still making it super-easy on and off. I really appreciate the good tailoring that could still be found on low- and mid-priced dresses in the Seventies and early Eighties.
Love the nipped-waist fit and cute pocket flaps at the hips. It’s a simple dress, but with so much FIT and figure-enhancing detail. It will be another go-to frock on hot days this summer. Soon we’ll be heading into Fall and even Holiday styles – stay tuned . . . . . . . . . . .
MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY
BLOG: MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM

What a pretty frock! Although it was retro when it was made 30 – 45 years ago, it’s true vintage now and gorgeous. So glad that summer is far from over – I’ll really enjoy wearing it.
I’ve discovered a treasure trove of dresses and clutch purses lately, so stay tuned . . . . . . .
MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY
BLOG: MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM

Nothing special about this dress, excepting that this maker is a respected label when it comes to more recently-made Hawaiian vintage. However, the fabric is really nice – a rayon with a good hand, lovely colors and a great print. Since it’s too big for me, I think I’ll be making some curtains for my bathroom with it!
There are lots of reasons to love true vintage clothing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY
BLOG: MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM

Flygirls by Black Flys – love that Eighties vibe that zoomed back to the 1940’s again. It seems like the early 1970’s does Forties thing was early Forties puffed shoulders, cute collars, jumpsuits, platform shoes and, maybe, little shoulder pads. The early – mid 1980’s does Forties was WWII and post-war BIG shoulders, peplum waists, shirt-dresses, platform shoes, pencil skirts in longer lengths and some accessories like large paste and rhinestone brooches.
So, these New Wave glasses remind me of that time when sunglasses were first being worn by regular folks and considered fashionable. Usually they were made from one of the first plastics that were being invented around the time of the two World Wars and becoming more and more popular.
Of course, the case is pure 1960’s – early Seventies flower-power retro that I found. It’s great for these glasses because it is hard (very protective), coordinates color-wise and fits the glasses well. It’s so important to protect your true vintage items from damage – they’re irreplaceable pieces of fashion history and such wonderful parts of a wardrobe!
MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY
BLOG: MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM