Tag Archives: autumn

BEAUTIFUL HAND-MADE DRESSES FOR FALL

IMG_1046 IMG_1026 Yes, a lot of our grandmothers and great-grandmothers knitted dresses like these at home!  So hard to imagine.

IMG_1035 IMG_1027These photos from the Fifties and early Sixties come from McCall’s Needlework magazine – a popular and easy-to-find magazine that could be bought the way we might buy Vogue or Glamor now, on a newsstand somewhere.  Of course, knitted dresses were made commercially, too, and I’ve found several.  But, the custom-made one-of-a-kind is always the most special.

P.S. Please vote in the Presidential election if you are a U.S. citizen.  Get registered if you need to or check your registration status.  This is a very important one – not one to sit out. . . . . . . ..

MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY

BLOG:  MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM

JUST FOUND – CHIC AND ELEGANT MID-CENTURY HAT

What fun!  I haven’t discovered a fabulous true vintage hat in  quite a while.

Very pretty turban-look that’s actually a large pillbox style.  Sits nicely at any angle.  The color is a mushroomy brown with hints of green and it’s from the 1940’s, 1950’s or early 1960’s. Velour/velvet fabric in great condition – so sophisticated, but versatile.  I’ll wear it a lot.

So goes the day of . . . . . . . . . . .

MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY

BLOG:  MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM

A SPECIAL FIND FOR WINTER NIGHTS

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Here we have a Lanz Originals cotton flannel gown from the 1960’s.  Yes, the hearts & flowers print is too sweet but for this kind of quality and warmth, I bit and bought.  I always trust their true vintage clothing to be well-made and classic – in fact, they’re very traditional.  Not my favorite, but on a blustery winter night by the fire . . . . . . . . . . .

MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY

BLOG:  MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM

 

ANOTHER ‘NEW’ FIND – A 1960’S LACE OVERLAY JUNIORS PARTY DRESS

Isn’t this pretty?  It’s another iconic early to mid-Sixties style that I’ve seen before – a party/dance/special occasion frock made for junior sizes.  Empire styling and cute bows.  These are almost always manufactured by some smaller maker – sometimes they have a department store name.

That’s how some of the best middle-priced dresses were marketed – sold in small stores around the country or well-known department stores.  More popularly-priced clothing was available through the Sears, Montgomery Ward and Penney’s stores and catalogs – catalog shopping was huge.

I think it’s so cool that our grandmothers could buy a moderately-priced dress like this and find hand-stitched details inside.  That disappeared not long after this one was made . . . . . . . . . . .

MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY

BLOG:  MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM

 

 

 

MORE FINDS! 3 KNIT DRESSES FROM THE MAD, MOD 1960’S

I love these!  They’re so typical of the day-dresses from the early to mid-Sixties that said “Fall is Here”, mostly for professional women.  Anyone who wanted to look nicely tailored, but casual, wore styles like these.

So, I’ve seen lots of them on TV but not in person.  It’s great fun to find this blast from the past that probably belonged to the same woman.  Wonder what her everyday story was about . . . . . . . . . . . . ..

MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY

BLOG:  MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM

TRUE VINTAGE 1950’S DRESSY SHAWLS & TOPS TO MAKE AT HOME

IMG_1021IMG_1022     It’s the time of year when we start thinking about dressy events, dances and holidays again.  I’ll be showing more true vintage formal, semi-formal and dressy looks.

These tops would look great with the velveteen skirt from yesterday.  And, I’ve got some formal and dressy frocks that need a special wrap to go with them.  Often what you already have in the closet just doesn’t work.  That’s the time when our grandmothers would get out their knitting needles and crochet hooks . . . .

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MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY

BLOG:  MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM

TRUE VINTAGE HAND-KNIT FALL STYLES FROM THE FIFTIES – SO SPORTY AND ELEGANT

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It’s the details and the fit that make these things so wonderful!  That’s what I love about true vintage and hand-constructed clothing.  Check out these photos from a 1950’s needlework magazine, given to me by a woman who did this every year.

For a woman who had the skills to make these, it must have been so much fun to look through the new knitting magazines.  These weren’t runway styles that were out of her reach!

MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY

BLOG:  MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM

TRUE VINTAGE MID-CENTURY BEAD NECKLACES THAT WILL GO GREAT RIGHT ABOUT NOW . . . . . . .

IMG_0878     Necklaces like these are not uncommon in thrift stores and lots of copies have been made more recently, BUT these are the real deal from the Fifties, give or take a few years.

In this case, the beads are plastic or composite, glass and metal.  Sometimes you will find natural stone, including crystal.  Sometimes they are nicer pieces, which you can pick out because of the construction, and sometimes very cheap or mid-priced costume.

For me, the deciding factor is always quality and appearance, as well as age.  So-called “statement necklaces” are very popular now in mainstream fashion and these work well that way because they’re showy and draw attention..  Although they were very de rigueur back in the day, they are distinctive and stand out now and add a very definite vintage touch.  These colors can work year-round, but I’d like them best in the Fall.

MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY

BLOG:  MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM

NEW FINDS! CAN’T AVOID IT . . . . . . . THIS TIME, A 1960’S STACY AMES DAY DRESS

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Isn’t this the cutest thing?  And, such high quality.  It’s probably a wool blend, but is so soft that there’s no need for a slip.  Stacy Ames is just one of the mid-century brands that created really nice clothing for the mid-priced market in the early 1960’s and I’m always thrilled to find an example like this.

Casual elegance.  So nice to slip into Fall in . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY

BLOG:  MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM

 

 

TRUE VINTAGE 1940’S MOCHA DRESSES – A SLINKY SHEATH AND A PRIM SWEETHEART

IMG_1006 IMG_1004       Two very different frocks.  This first dress is pictured from the side so that the pocket detail shows.   It is  very figure-hugging and zips on the left.  The pocket has interesting glossy braid decoration.   I’ve pictured with it a dark brown silk slip of that era that I wear with it.

The short-sleeved shirtwaist dress is very straightforward and modest, but with cute tailoring details on front.   A pointed collar and bow at the high neck.   Easy to wear with a button front.   The fabric is probably rayon, with a soft sheen.

Both have shoulder pads (of course!) and fabric-covered buckle belts.   Great style and true vintage 1940’s cache’.

MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY

BLOG:  MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM