I’m not sure where this would have been worn in the late 1940’s or early ’50’s. Probably to a party, dance or some dressy but non-formal event.
It’s beautiful in it’s cut and drape. The back has a low dip (not to the waist). There’s a bit of Grecian feel to it with the folds around the bodice. Just another of those lovely frocks that women loved then.
The fabric is relatively heavy – a polished cotton in medium aquamarine blue. Maybe it’s cornflower blue. The welts across the skirt add to the quintessentially beautiful tailoring we almost always see from that time.
The skirt is almost a full circle, so it’s just made for dancing. There’s no crinoline – so it is from before “that” time, though you could easily put one under, and maybe someone did . … . .. you just never know . . . . . . . . . . .
Mortgana Martin, the Magicvintagespy
Blog: Magicvintagespy.com
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Photo # 2 -The colors are truer in the photo of the blouse, You can see how this skirt would swing, sway and billow during a dance. You ain’t got a thing if you ain’t got that swing.
Morgana Martin, the Magicvintagespy
This blouse was a dress – the skirt is shown in the next post. (Wish I could figure out how to publish multiple photos!)
It actually came to me as a gift!
There was a bit of seam damage and the waist was too small, so I turned it into a circle skirt and blouse.The greatest thing about this dress is the fabric.
Substantial woven rayon with a paisley design and metallic thread accents. I certainly couldn’t toss it aside! Just made for the jitterbug.
I love the style, but the material is what makes it really special. That’s true with almost all of the true vintage that I own. It’s a study in itself, and a feast for the senses. I hope you’ll be able to get a close-up view.
Morgana Martin, the Magicvintagespy
Blog: Magicvintagespy.com
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Book: How to Find the Best in Vintage Fashion
The dresses made of this smooth, drapey, slinky synthetic (probably polyester) material were all over in the mid-to late ’50’s. The styles were usually very much the same, with a covered belt (this one doesn’t match the original), a side zipper and short sleeves.
I’ve got many versions of this. This one looks pretty plain but, on the right figure, VAVOOM! I guess that’s the way with anything if it fits right, but this fabric is one of those that just swings and sways with you and follows the body nicely. They knew how to do that in the ’30’s and ’40’s, too.
Madge shows it off nicely. This one is by a company called Tiffany.
These dresses are never lined excepting, perhaps, around the neckline. They’re usually in some kind of abstract or stylized print – sometimes in very bright colors, and generally have a plain neckline.
This is a good example of an average style that, when it is well cut and fitted on the right body, looks great! True vintage garments usually do because they have the expert construction and design that makes clothing very flattering and elegant.
Morgana Martin, the Magicvintagespy
Blog: Magicvintagespy.com
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Book: How to Find the Best in Vintage Fashion available on Amazon.com
For those of you who have been watching since last winter, you may have seen this dress before. BUT, the photo I had with me then didn’t do it justice. Now that I have Madge, I wanted to publish another one.
This frock was a rare find! For one thing, its age and superb condition makes it remarkable and it has such wonderful details.
The fabric is unusual. It may be a 100% cotton, as we might expect from the look of it, but it doesn’t feel that way. I’m not sure if that is age (though it’s in very good shape) or if it is another material or a blend. I’d love to have a laboratory where I could analyze the content of fabrics because it’s a fascinating question.
Another thing I love are the buttons. I believe that they are real mother of pearl, rather than pearlized plastic. Some of them are broken because they are a perforated design and somewhat delicate, but at least half of them are fine.
The slide-through buckle was missing (I could tell that was the type of buckle it was because of how the belt is made) so I added a vintage mother of pearl one that I already had and it’s perfect.
It’s another Bonnie Parker dress (remember – Bonnie and Clyde) and so much fun to have discovered it! Lots of imagination in this one – you just never know . . . . . . . . . . . ..
Morgana Martin, the Magicvintagespy
Blog: Magicvintagespy.com
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Book: How to Find the Best in vintage Fashion available on Amazon.com
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