Tag Archives: circle skirt

A CUTE LITTLE HOME-SEWN COTTON CIRCLE SKIRT FROM THE MID-CENTURY

In an unexpected place, this was my first find. A full circle, this skirt is pure fun. From the carved button to the barbershop braid to the bright red tier it might have been worn with a peasant blouse in the 1940’s, the 1950’s or even the early 1960’s. Home-based seamstresses used to use notions from their stockpile of previous years, so the button, zipper, braid and even the fabric could have been from years before this garment was actually made BUT, all things considered, I place this skirt in the post-war 1940’s or early to mid-1950’s.

The length and tiny waist measurement (22″) back up this assessment. I had to get the zipper back on track, but otherwise perfect! A great start to my brief investigation, but there’s more to come . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY

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POST-WAR 1950’S NEW LOOK FASHION MADE THE CIRCLE SKIRT A GO-TO FAVORITE

Whether daily shopping, a rockabilly event or dressy dance, circle skirts were a style front-runner and showed up everywhere. This trend had started with some peasant styles in the 1940’s, but really took off after the war ended. Of course, it called for a new kind of blouse and top. Favored styles were close-fitting, whether tucked-in or extending over the hips. The natural stretch of knits made them perfect for the job.

The upper photos show casual tops that worked well for warm or cold weather. Needlework magazines published both patterns for these tops and instructions for making and decorating the skirts. Below, we see two-piece dresses in another iteration of those we’ve recently looked at. The apricot-colored dressy skirts pictured met the need by including matching tops in the patterns. The striped outfit has a cap-sleeved blouse for tea-time and one for an evening event with longer sleeves and a plunging back. The solid-color dress is a bit more demure. All of them carry the added possibilities of separates to be mixed and matched within a wardrobe.

And, what a wardrobe! We’ll see how many looks the home needle-worker could create with a few pieces . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY

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FABULOUS FIND!!! 1940’S – 1950’S COTTON CIRCLE SKIRT DRESS

A dream find for any vintage-hunter!  Love this pretty day-dress so much.  It needed some TLC with stains from storage, but I was up to the challenge.  Beautiful decoration and comfy cotton; it’s the perfect summer frock.

Imagine this kind of intricate stitchery on an everyday dress today – even similar-looking examples are only cheap imitations of what used to be the standard of quality back in the day.  More newly-discovered treasures are coming – we’ve only just begun . . . . . . . . . . .

MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY

BLOG:  MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM

 

FLATTERING TRUE VINTAGE 1950’S – EARLY 1960’S SUMMER DRESS IN APRICOT

FLATTERING TRUE VINTAGE 1950'S - EARLY 1960'S SUMMER DRESS IN APRICOT

I love the styling of this frock, with its wasp waist, free hips, cap sleeves and delicate neckline that really enhance the figure.  Madge’s fuller measurements give it the right “va-voom” fit.  I also like the peek-a-boo effect of the white band below the waistline.

This was another “surprise find” – always the most fun!  Summer days and nights, here we come . . . . . .

MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY

BLOG:  MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM

TRUE VINTAGE MID-1950s POUF-STYLE PARTY FROCK BY FRANK STARR

TRUE VINTAGE MID-1950s POUF-STYLE PARTY FROCK BY FRANK STARR

Another of my absolutely fabulous finds – fit for a princess at a party or Prom. This one is a quintessential 1950s pouf dress by Frank Starr, (of California, I believe) in a floral print.  He was a well-known designer at that time.

I’m always amazed at what I find, and this frock really turned the lights on! Organza over rayon or acetate, with a velvet-covered belt & the makers’ label on an inside seam.. In virtually perfect condition.

I can just see Elizabeth Taylor flouncing around in this in one of her movies, playing a young woman ready to go to a dance party.  Imitations are made, but true vintage can’t be replaced and it’s priceless, in my opinion.

This example can hardly compete with the one shown yesterday, or the day before. They are all wonderful and uniquely original. We’ll step backwards in time just a little bit tomorrow. What’s coming up until then? You just never know . . . . . . . .

Morgana Martin, the magicvintagespy
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A CLASSIC CASUAL DAY-DRESS FROM MID-CENTURY

A CLASSIC CASUAL DAY-DRESS FROM MID-CENTURY

In a pretty blue & white print cotton or cotton blend knit, this dress has classic fit and style characteristics i.e. cap sleeves & a keyhole neckline.  It falls to mid-calf.

This one will take you into Spring and right on into Summer.  There is no identifying info inside and I’m placing it 1950 – 1970.  I have seen others similar from those times.

With such an attractive silhouette and pretty fabric, I’m not going to nit-pick.  Sometimes the clue trail is tantalizingly inconclusive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY

BLOG:  MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM

HERE’S ONE OF MY CIRCLE SKIRTS FROM THE 1950’S – IN AN ATOMIC PRINT

ANOTHER OF MY CIRCLE SKIRTS IN AN ATOMIC PRINT FROM THE 1950'S

Hanger by hanger, moving on through my closet, a true vintage atomic print skirt in a lightweight cotton, so it really moves. That’s an advantage of the circle cut, especially for dancing.

Nothing could be nicer on a hot summer day or any other time from Spring to Fall, with the right additions. The top shown with it is a nice faux linen thing but is not true vintage. I paired them because of the color match, which can be tricky with aqua.

It’s blue, green and black with little satellite-looking things on a white background. Side metal zipper and button closure, with a built-in side-seam pocket for convenience.
Embroidered label says “Nelly de Grab New York”.

This is one of the few items which I have found on the Internet. Online is not my first choice for shopping, because I love my feet-on-the-ground investigating, but it is certainly a worthwhile one as long as you are savvy about how to do it wisely . . . . .

MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY
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RARE FIND. 1950’S TEX-MEX STYLE COTTON CIRCLE SKIRT

Haven’t run across one of these in a while, so I’m thrilled. They were so popular in the 1950’s and early 1960’s. Travelers to Mexico and the southwest U.S. loved to buy them at stores carrying souvenirs, Western-wear and Native American goods and bring them home. The women living there wore them every day(especially if they were transplants from up north)-so comfortable and flattering.

Casual ones like this were often worn with white peasant blouses with puffy sleeves – see Kim Novak wearing one in Picnic(1955) with William Holden. Native American versions with LOTS of ric-rac usually had matching blouses. Pretty sure this one was home-sewn, but nicely done. The hem had been taken up from it’s below-knee original length but it was easy to take those stitches out. It’s fun to see clothing that has been altered over the years to go along with changing fashions. There is one old mend and some wear near the waistband closure that will require a little rehab, but that’s A-OK. I love vintage garments with a history and it testifies to the authenticity.

So, this one’s probably the oldest, but not by much. We’ll got forward in fashion history tomorrow. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY

BLOG: MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM