The colorful, naive graphics of true vintage souvenir scarves and hankies are SO much fun!! It’s wonderful to find one in silk, or any high quality vintage fabric like rayon or fine 100% cotton.
The designs are always so cute and bright. Not a good disguise, though, unless I’m wanting to look like a tourist . . . . . . . . . . . . .
MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY
BLOG: MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM
SWEET LITTLE BIAS-CUT FROCK WITH A SWING AND SWAY HEMLINE.
This dress is so simple, but there are very interesting and attractive details – true to its mid-century era. The bow at the neckline and little covered buttons are precious. The fabric, also, is lovely. It feels like rayon and has a weave that makes it look like shantung – very smart for such a plain dress, but – that’s true vintage – they put really nice details on even the most everyday off-the-rack garments.
Although this style would be very easy to home-sew, the dress was commercially made. A tag inside says it’s a vintage plus size 18 1/2, believe it or not. Equivalent to a size 6 or 8 today. Size 4 me can even wear it with a belt, though I might want to pad my bra a bit . . . . . .. .
MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY
BLOG: MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM
BOOK: HOW TO FIND THE BEST IN VINTAGE FASHION – AVAILABLE ON AMAZON.COM
A cotton suit like this is a very unusual discovery. Casual wear often didn’t stay in good shape over the years and separates, especially, didn’t stand the wear and tear of frequent use. It’s not rare to run into seersucker, which is a really fun and durable fabric. But, to find a true vintage piece is quite uncommon.
Like in the Fifties, it seems that little casual suits were also popular in the Sixties and were worn like day-dresses used to be. Pants were STILL not hugely popular, with women generally sticking to dresses and skirts more often than we do now.
This outfit has cute little details like waist tabs and notches in the hems – nice tailoring details that are a hold-over from the 1940’s and 1950’s, though I think this suit was sold through one of the catalog houses that were popular then, like Montgomery Ward, Penneys or Sears & Roebuck, and wouldn’t have been considered a high quality item.
Not quite my color and a little large for me, so it probably won’t stay in my closet forever. But, can’t pass up a beauty like this! Such fun . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..
MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY
BLOG: MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM
This conservative little style is very sweet, no?
It is made of a pure cotton material, I would guess, and was probably custom tailored (from looking at the details). I have at least one more dress which has cross-stitch embroidery on it but, to tell the truth, many true vintage dresses that were commercially made have lovely detail, too. And, of course, it could have been added later by the owner.
I also really love skinny, fabric-covered belts on dresses – a common feature on dresses made at this time. As I’ve mentioned before, I’ll sometimes shorten an extra-long hem and make a covered belt from the extra fabric when an original belt is missing.
These dresses look nice with a cardigan sweater or a shawl, so they can go from Spring into Fall with ease. They were standard daytime wear for just about everybody back in the day. It’s so great to see how the classic styles remain elegant and wearable for decades.
And, because fabrics and construction were so well done and women took good care of their clothing, I continue to find them. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY
BLOG: MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM
BOOK: HOW TO FIND THE BEST IN VINTAGE FASHION – AVAILABLE ON AMAZON.COM
What’s special about this find? Aside from being about 40 years old, it is made in Hawaii – which used to mean beautiful, quality cottons and rayons and lovely workmanship. This one doesn’t disappoint. It has a back zipper with a small bow trim there. The neckline has piping around it and the heavy cotton material drapes nicely. As usual, the print and color saturation are wonderful in these fabrics.
A straight, mu-mu style is very versatile and flattering to most figures.
Are you planning to attend or host some casual event this weekend, or just a laid-back day at home? In keeping with the green spirit of this St. Patrick’s holiday, I suggest a dress like this one. As long as it’s warm enough where you are, a dress like this can be worn almost anywhere, to do anything. It’s even possible to dress it up with jewelry, shoes and bag.
Vintage made in Hawaii has always been so distinctive – it’s a special look all its own. It does tend to follow style trends a bit, but some of the classic looks don’t change. I’ll be showing others that are older, too. These have been so popular over the years that they sometimes turn up in my searches and I’m always thrilled to find them. Just putting one on takes me to an exotic time in my mind and then, well you just never know . . . . . . . . . . . . .
MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY
BLOG: MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM
Lime green was a huge color in the mid to late-’60’s. Some gal decided to whip up a little mini dress in that hue for Spring or Summer. The style is almost like the tent dresses that were popular then, too, but with more fitting on top. It’s a little small on Stella, but the basic fit is right.
Again, it’s made of the looser-weave hopsacking kind of material that I’ve talked about before, used a lot in the Sixties. You can’t see them well, but I also love the opalescent plastic vintage buttons. Plain design, but a very distinctive true vintage style and cute, cute, cute!
It’s the right dress to wear when you want to be very COOL, in more ways than one . . . . . . . . . . . ..
MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAESPY
BLOG: MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM
BOOK: HOW TO FIND THE BEST IN VINTAGE FASHION – AVAILABLE ON AMAZON.COM
Love this turquoise green tam-o-shanter style for St. Paddy’s Day. No matter what you’re doing or where you’re going, this hat will let you pay tribute to Spring. Some green “hattitude” is definitely called for, and what an unique style! These are from the early 1960’s.
Spring has always been a traditional time for ladies’ hats, in pastel and floral colors, even without the huge amounts of decoration from earlier years. Nothing celebrates the season better!
MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY
BLOG: MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM
BOOK: HOW TO FIND THE BEST IN VINTAGE FASHION – AVAILABLE ON AMAZON.COM
From the Mad Men Kennedy era, this cute little dress went to town, a casual lunch with a friend and a movie afterward. It’s not dressy enough for the Women’s Club but just right for a relaxed day out.
This little number is an easy-wear slinky knit (LOVE how they feel!) with a pull-on waist in the skirt. We’re started to get Mod – psychedelic lime green calla lillies!!! Hand-washable, of course. Life was getting so easy ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?
By the Sixties, sometimes women could get by without the hat & gloves, especially in areas with a warmer climate. However, you needed to be very careful about where you were going in something this dressed-down . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY
BLOG: MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM
I’m appreciating the crisp transitional temperatures and rain right now, even though it seems cold!
I know many people are experiencing this all over the world. Makes me want to show my wonderful capes, which are great for this type of weather. Want to make an entrance at the St. Patrick’s party? Wear the cape on the right with the green side turned out.
From the 1960’s, one is in always-wonderful-red kind-of traditional/military style and the other a blue & green reversible paisley pattern with an open front and decorative string tie.
Like a bright hat, either of these makes a big impression on the street. Both are wool, so provide warmth while the loose fit keeps it from being too hot and can be worn over just about anything. Just right!
MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY
MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY
Magicvintagespy 