Tag Archives: classic clothing

JUST FOUND: LATE 1960’S CUSTOM-TAILORED SPECIAL OCCASION GOWN – HIPPIE PROM?

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This frock is sooo iconic late Sixties and in perfect condition!  It’s Flower Power, British influence and Edwardian style.  I’ll bet it was made for a Prom or Spring Fling dance.  What a Blast from the Past!!!

Look at the sequence of iridescent buttons at the sleeves and the ruffled flounces.  Sheer flocked flower design over a pink liner.  Back in the day, it was usual to hire a seamstress to make these types of dresses or to make them at home unless the high school was in an expensive neighborhood.

It’s just so cute and tells such a typical story.  It’s fun to know something about those times so that I can read the book very easily!  Not sure what I’m going to do with this, but it was just too fun to pass up.  It would make a really sweet short dress . . . . . . . . . . . . .

MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY

BLOG:  MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM

LOVE MID-CENTURY HOUSE DRESSES – HERE’S A WONDERFUL NEW FIND!

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Following in yesterday’s footsteps, here’s another summer-weight find but so cute that I had to pick it up.  I haven’t seen true vintage plaid house-dresses often, and I just LOVE them.  Wish you could feel this fabric – it’s the softest cotton imaginable – been loved and washed for many years and still looks wonderful!

Nothing could be simpler and more classic than this design, but it’s well-constructed and built to last. Ruffles around the pocket and pretty embroidery trim.  It’s nice when practical clothing is also elegantly well-made and just plain fun.  Makes housework like play-day (if your imagination is good!)

So, enjoy.  Tomorrow we’ll get to see more new-to-me true vintage dresses (they’re ALWAYS true vintage) but still for every season of the year.  If you travel, you just never know . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY

BLOG:  MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM

WELL-MADE PATIO PARTY DRESSES FROM THE LATE ’60’S – EARLY ’70’S

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I know that these are summer fun frocks but, for those who are wintering down south or just like to think about warmer climes, I had to show these recent finds and to buy them because of their good quality.  Nice, heavy knits and well-cared-for by their original owners.

Love little shoulder ties, fun prints and empire waistlines.  This style of dress is not unusual to see, but the quality is relatively rare.   Most of the time, you have to go back to the 1960’s to find them as nice as these.  Another genre that are often this good are the long dresses made in Hawaii – usually Sixties and before.

Of course, these discoveries didn’t thrill me as much as some that I make but still worth it.  It’s always good to appreciate garments like these while you’re on the lookout for what’s  around the corner – you just never know . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . …

MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY

BLOG:  MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM

BEAUTIFUL KENNEDY-ERA SILK SHEATH BY LILLI DIAMOND

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What a thrill to discover this one!  I’m on a roll, finding beautiful dresses and other true vintage garments in virtually perfect condition.  This is a sophisticated wiggle dress from the late 1950’s – early 1960’s time.

Another frock in my favorite turquoise, and beautifully-made.  Full lining and shapely cut. Couldn’t be better!   Marilyn would have loved it . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . .

MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY

BLOG:  MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM

BRIGHT RED GIRLY DRESS FROM THE EARLY 1960’S – LOVE IT!

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Even though it’s way too prissy for me, yes, I do love it.  There’s a certain genre from that time that this frock fits right into; and, what could be better than a bright hollyberry-red dressy dress right about now?  Below-the-knee length and just right for dancing.

Some women love the bow ties, ruffles and flouncy skirts, and why not?  Sometimes I do, too.  The long, sheer sleeves are pretty.  Just depends . . . . . . But, regardless, this dress was just too perfect to pass up.  It has many of the nice construction details that I appreciate in a quality garment and that are so characteristic of true vintage fashions.

So, Ho Ho Ho and all that.  This one’s going to party . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY

BLOG:  MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM

1950’S – 1960’S KNIT VEST; A SURPRISE FIND THAT MAKES ME SO HAPPY!

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I was so elated to discover this rare sweater knit.  There are only two others in my collection so far that are similar and obviously from the same era.  Possibly designed for men back in the day, but definitely unisex.

The knit is glossy and heavy and the patterns are absolutely fantastic in my others, too – very neat geometric designs – part of the atomic craze.  Just look at this one!  A very MOD pattern, but before that time.  And, in such near-perfect condition.  That ‘s one other advantage – they are quite durable.

Fun, fun, fun. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY

BLOG:  MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM

MID-CENTURY FROCK IN A RETRO ’40’S STYLE – SEE WHY IT’S ANOTHER UNUSUAL FIND . . . . . . . . . ..

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From roughly the same era as yesterday’s dress, this one is a poly-cotton 1940’s throw-back with a wasp waist and puffed shoulders, plus 3/4 cuffed sleeves.  Little button trimmings, a fabric-covered belt and contrast-pleated skirt complete the design features.

The most unusual and striking element, to me, is the use of an unusual and distinctive color combo that is also characteristic of some of the older styles and what made them so interesting.  True vintage garments are full of tailoring and color surprises.

I was happy to find this piece that is faithful to that tradition, even though it was an inexpensive retro style in it’s 1960’s – early 1970’s time.  Modern retro-styled dresses hardly ever do it so well.  Can’t wait to put it on Stella and see it properly displayed!

We’ll be hovering around the 1955 – 1975 time frame for a few days.  Stay tuned for more pleasant surprises . . . . . . . .

MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY

MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM

 

 

 

HERE WE GO WITH MY NEWEST FINDS: A MID-CENTURY SWEATER DRESS – RARE AND WONDERFUL – I LOVE THIS!!

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Back in the ’60’s and early ’70’s (even in the 1950’s!) some really flattering and pretty sweater dresses were popular.  Some were two-piece and some, like this one, were body-hugging sheaths.  They were of a high quality in terms of the construction and styling and they are SOOO comfortable to wear!

I love finding knits that have the pattern on both sides – not just in the front; rib-knit cuffs that fit well and hold their shape; a matching belt; a well-done hemline; a soft yarn that is easy-care and holds up it’s appearance over time.

I haven’t found one of these in a long time – they’re that rare.  And, with the original belt in fabulous overall condition and one of my favorite colors – Whooeeeeeeeee!  Didn’t expect this, but, the craft just continues to show me that – you just never know . . … . . . . .

MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY

BLOG:  MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM

JUST FOUND! “TED WILLIAMS” BRAND TRUE VINTAGE 1960’S SPORTSWEAR

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“For Active Americans” on the label – famous baseball star Ted Williams had his own sportswear line that produced outerwear, mostly, from the 1950’s – 1970’s and was sold by Sears & Roebuck and at Simpson Sears in Canada.  What an interesting item with history that I did not know!

Although this may have been a men’s or boy’s jacket, I think it is unisex.  Small – medium on a sportswoman with room for a heavy sweater underneath and FULL of pockets with sturdy metal zippers and features that would be very handy for a hiker, day-camper, cross-country skier (or hunter – some were made for this).   I guess the big pocket across the back was called a “small game pocket” but it would be PERFECT for carrying a lightweight sleeping bag or tent or many other trekking supplies with space above to allow a day-pack to hang.

Virtually unused condition, warm and toasty with a quilted lining and rib-knit cuffs and collar.  I hope to go to Montana next year, and this would be a great thing to take along! Reminiscent of mid-century family vacations to the national parks – there’s a whole Happy Days/Kennedy era novel inspired by this one.  Tomorrow I’ll show you it’s sophisticated sister . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY

BLOG:  MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM

A LOVELY TRUE VINTAGE 1940’S DRESS FOR DINNER AND DANCING

A LOVELY TRUE VINTAGE 1940'S DRESS FOR DINNER AND DANCING This frock is in black crepe, with sheer netting on the bodice to give the illusion of a bare neckline. I have seen this feature on one other dress of mine – demure, yet stunning.  Where the decoration begins, it is also lined. The shape skims the body and the whole effect is very flattering.

These dresses have side zippers or unusual back zippers which open only about a foot in the middle of the back, but don’t come to the top of the neck. I’ve seen this on ’40’s dresses only. It allows you to wiggle into the dress over your head but no hope if it’s too small for you!  There’s no way that Madge could get into it, so I’ll have to re-photograph it on Stella some time.

Anyway, it’s beautiful and you can probably picture it. Perfect for dining and dancing, or even a dressy movie date. Put this beauty on and you just never know . . . . . . . . . . .

MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY

BLOG:  MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM

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