Tag Archives: ’50’s

ANOTHER TRUE VINTAGE WRAP-AROUND DRESS BY SWIRL

ANOTHER TRUE VINTAGE WRAP-AROUND DRESS BY SWIRL

Remember the red wrap-around by Swirl that I showed a few days ago? Here’s another of their creations, in the same basic design but with a very different feel.

Embroidered white flowers on china blue. It’s another one that I love and is so wearable.

These casual day dresses are some of the best things to find because they don’t require a “special occasion” to wear them and don’t need a lot of careful handling. My closets are full of dresses like this and I enjoy them daily!

Some of the most valuable things don’t have to be kept in a safe . . . . . . . . . . ..

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

PRETTY LITTLE SLINKY KNIT DRESS FROM THE 1950’S – EARLY 1960’S

PRETTY LITTLE SLINKY KNIT DRESS FROM THE 1950'S – EARLY 1960'S.

PRETTY LITTLE SLINKY KNIT DRESS FROM THE 1950’S – EARLY 1960’S

PRETTY LITTLE SLINKY KNIT DRESS FROM THE 1950'S - EARLY 1960'S

I’ve come across many dresses made of this cool, smooth, glossy knit. Most are from the ’50’s and some from the ’40’s. It’s just so comfortable and drapes so well!

This one has a metal zip up the back and a fabric tie belt. There is no tag anymore, but I’m sure it was commercially-made.

There is piping around the neckline and the armholes. This detail can be done at home, but it’s tricky to do really well.

It’s another in-between casual to dressy day dress. It seems there were lots like that because, until the ’60’s, most women and girls wore dresses or skirts every day, for all activities that were not really casual (like sports or a picnic) or at-home.

I often get compliments when wearing something like this to town. Older men like it because it reminds them of how women dressed when they were in their younger years and women spot it as unusual, even if they’re not sure it’s vintage. If they do know it’s vintage, it takes them right back to – you just never know . . . . . . . . . . . . .

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

TRUE VINTAGE 1950’S – EARLY 1960’S SUNDRESSES

TRUE VINTAGE 1950'S – EARLY 1960'S SUNDRESSES.

TRUE VINTAGE HANDCRAFTED EVENING PURSE – PROBABLY FROM THE 1960’s

TRUE VINTAGE HANDCRAFTED EVENING PURSE - PROBABLY FROM THE 1960's

To change gears a bit today, here’s an example of a beautiful handcrafted item. It’s an evening purse made of black velvet and satin with metallic embroidery all over, front and back.

It was probably made in Hong Kong or Europe and took someone a long time to do by hand. These sorts of items were much more available back in the day. I suppose that you can still get them now, but only overseas or in very specialized shops.

Handiwork of this kind and exquisite workmanship used to be seen in fashion items that middle-income women could afford to buy, at least once in a while. Although it was generally done overseas, many of the major department stores sold it in their better departments. It’s difficult to find now. The hand-crafted items that are sold today generally can’t compare in terms of their quality.

Keep your eyes open for little items like this, hiding here and there. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..

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

A TRUE VINTAGE 1950’S LITTLE GINGHAM DAY DRESS

A TRUE VINTAGE 1950'S LITTLE GINGHAM DAY DRESS.

A TRUE VINTAGE 1950’S LITTLE GINGHAM DAY DRESS

A TRUE VINTAGE 1950'S LITTLE GINGHAM DAY DRESS

Don’t you just love this one? Well, I do. Gingham isn’t for every day, but it is for always. I love it in shirts, shorts, skirts, frocks, tablecloths, curtains . . . . . . . . . nothing says “vintage” like gingham!

The best things about this one, aside from the great fit, are the neckline detail and the cross-stitch embroidery near the hem. I think that this must have been handmade (oops – as if all clothing were not!).

Anyway, it’s cute as can be and has a very fetching, though lady-like fit. I’ve seen a number of garments with cross-stitch embroidery from this time period, and it seems like it’s often done on gingham. Duh – wonder why – saves a lot of counting – have you ever done cross-stitch? Then you know what I mean – shades of 8th grade home ec.

My, how I do digress – but that’s what true vintage does! It transports us to other times, other roles, foreign lands, fantasy situations – the movies! What better way to go tripping? Well, cruises are nice, a martini or two . . . . . . .

Oh, the vagabond and wayward life of a magicvintagespy. Who knows where the next assignment, or what diversion may take place in the meantime? You just never know . . . . . . . . .

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

TRUE VINTAGE 1950’S – EARLY 1960’S CASUAL KNIT DRESS BY LADY CAROL

TRUE VINTAGE 1950'S – EARLY 1960'S CASUAL KNIT DRESS BY LADY CAROL.

TRUE VINTAGE 1950’S – EARLY 1960’S CASUAL KNIT DRESS BY LADY CAROL

Here’s a fun, very casual day dress from the same time frame I’ve been showing. It’s a knit for Summer, late Spring or early Fall.

This is just an ordinary frock that anyone might have in their wardrobe for everyday wear. Might have been purchased through a catalog, or have been at a store.  The Lady Carol brand is or was located in New York but I’m sure their garments were sold very widely.

It’s just one of those things we like to have on hand that are comfortable, very easy to wear, appropriate in most places and easy to launder.

One can still be elegant dressed in something like this, that doesn’t require any fuss or bother. Many women knew how to do this – it’s a great way to create a little mystery . . . . . . . . .

MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY

BLOG:  MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM

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

TRUE VINTAGE MID-CENTURY: A LITTLE MORE UP-TOWN, IN A LAID-BACK ’50S – EARLY ’60’S WAY

A LITTLE MORE UP-TOWN, IN A LAID-BACK '50S - EARLY '60'S WAY

This was a fabulous find – not too dressy, but certainly a step up from some of the little day dresses I’ve shown recently.

Cotton, again – one of the most versatile and perfect fabrics for most attire 50 or 60 years ago. No one was afraid of an iron, and most women expected their clothing to last a lot longer than one season.

This is a snazzy little number, though possibly custom tailored. It shows off the mentality of women who had gotten tired of war-time deprivation and modest conservatism a decade or so before.

Although it took us a while, girls have always just wanted to have fun . . . . . . . . . . . .

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