Tag Archives: cocktail dress

ANOTHER BEAUTIFUL 1950’S COCKTAIL FROCK

Yes, it’s a wiggle dress again. Despite the killer silhouette, it looks very demure until you see the back, where it plunges to the waist. The tailoring features are the most notable to me – the fabric is wool as I may never have felt before. It is woven and opaque, but so lightweight that it feels almost as soft and silky as tissue paper. There are also gussets sewn in at the armholes, which is a relatively rare 1950’s construction detail.

MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY

BLOG: MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM

FABULOUS FIND! 1940’S OR EARLY 1950’S 2-PC SWEATER DRESS – VA-VA-VOOM!!

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What a wiggle dress this is!  Marilyn Monroe – move over!!  What a rare find – couldn’t believe it when it appeared (no, I fib. Of course I could).  It’s hand-knitted, as was the one given to me several years ago by my friend Rosalie, who had made it herself in 1952.  Likely, many women who were competent needle-workers did so when this style was popular.

This example is made of the same glossy yarn I wrote about several days ago.  My other garments made from it are casual sweaters, so I was floored to find this lovely dress of the same material!  Just perfect for a sophisticated occasion.  I’m keeping it for wearing at just the right vintage venues (local museum events come to mind) or theme cocktail parties, Halloween  . . . . . . . . ..

Anyway, I’ll be having LOTS of fun with it.  That’s what it’s all about!!!  Too much enthusiasm?  Never . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY

BLOG:  MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM

BEAUTIFUL TRUE VINTAGE 1960’S COCKTAIL/DINNER DRESS AND A FAVORITE 1940’S BLOUSE IN EMERALD

Sorry I didn’t get this photo into my St. Patrick’s Day series.  Can you imagine that dress worn under the emerald green satin evening coat I showed then?  Perfect!

Both these garments are in a lightweight fabric.  The blouse is probably a rayon georgette and the dress in a crinkly rayon or poly that is lined with acetate.  Pearl buttons on the blouse and a rhinestone detail on the bow belt of the dress. Stella is wearing my favorite leather Deliso – style pumps from the Eighties.   IMG_0954

The dress has a well-known label of the time which I have shown before – L’Aignon (the spelling might be a bit off).  A bright jewel tone like this and filmy fabric could be worn any time of year, but I like it in Spring or Fall.

These are not new finds – I’ve had them for a while and they are keepers!

MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY

BLOG:  MAGICVINTAGESPY .COM

LOVELY LONG GREEN SHEATH DRESS FROM THE EARLY 1960’S

LOVELY LONG GREEN SHEATH DRESS FROM THE EARLY 1960'S

For a Spring cocktail party or a dressy date, here’s a lovely gown custom-tailored in the early Sixties.  Blue and green combined was a big trend at that time.

In a mid-weight embroidered fabric, with back zipper and simple lines. Purely sophisticated and elegant, but not a bit stuffy.

Tomorrow I’ll show some embroidered pumps that you might wear with this gown, or with the one that I’ve picked out for the  St. Patrick’s dance!

More pretty Spring fashions to come – stay tuned . . . . . . . . . .

MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY

BLOG:  MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM

TRUE VINTAGE 1950S LINGERIE SLIP OR DRESS

TRUE VINTAGE 1950S LINGERIE SLIP/DRESS VALENTINE'S DAY STUNNER

This amazing slip (or dress?) is something I have seen only once.  It is of all-over lace, with a red nylon lining, side zip and a side slit.  It has construction features of a slinky dress but in all other ways is made like other lingerie slips of that era.

Imagine wearing this under your party frock or, if you are more daring, alone. Perhaps you won’t want to wear it until after the party . . . .

In any case, it’s a true vintage knock-out item with that great Cat-on-a-Hot-Tin-Roof feeling. Would be a nice little anniversary or Valentine’s Day surprise. When I found it I certainly couldn’t resist.

It was a bit too small for me and I no longer have it (sob).  My only regret now is that I can’t photograph it on Stella, who it would fit to a “T”.  Eat YOUR heart out, Elizabeth Taylor . ..

MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY

BLOG:  MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM

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

 

TRUE VINTAGE 1950’S WIGGLE DRESS FOR VALENTINE’S DAY

TRUE VINTAGE 1950S WIGGLE DRESS FOR VALENTINE'S DAY

Oooh!  Wish I had a party to go to – you can be sure I’d wear this.  By Jonathan Logan in cherry-color velveteen.  Deep V-neck front and back, back zip.  The straight sleeves have short zippers at the wrists – a surprise feature that I’ve rarely seen excepting on wedding dresses.

Looks good on Madge, huh?  You can be sure that there are no pockets! Nothing shows off the figure like a “50s wiggle dress or 1930s bias-cut gown.  Women wearing these look nothing but elegant because they are cut and made so well.  Let’s bring back the days of high-quality, elegant AND alluring clothing again (but till then, I’m thrilled to be the Magicvintagespy. ) And, you just never know . . . . .

MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY

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KENNEDY-ERA SHEATH DINNER DRESS IN FABULOUS CONDITION

A gold rayon satin sheath, perfect for cocktails and dinner out in 1960. The over-dress with high slits and frog decoration is very much a style of that time. The white embroidered design is a little showy, but understated fashion wasn’t a big thing then. However, this dress still manages to be elegant.

Sadly, there is no label remaining and I doubt that it was home-sewn. Could have been custom-tailored by an expert dressmaker, which was a favorite thing to have done back then. Of course, I miss my mannequin models big-time when showing off this frock. A fitted sheath looks best on hourglass figures and was really cut to fit that way when it was new.

I’m discovering things from the late ’50’s and early ’60’s a little more often in the last year or two and it’s obviously a sign of the times. Not sure how many 80- and 90-year-olds might still be hanging on to a favorite Mod designer outfit. I guess I’ll find out later, but we’re still going in that direction tomorrow. Hang on . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY

BLOG: MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM

FABULOUS FIND! EARLY 1950’S COCKTAIL FROCK

Iconic evening style of the time – 3/4 length sleeves with fur cuffs. This one has the bateau neckline that I love, with a deep plunge in back. The hemline is below-the-knee, but not quite midi.

An off-the-rack piece with only an inventory label, but very lovely. The tailoring is quite good, with a full lining, underarm gussets and the overall condition is exceptional. Obviously, the owner considered it a spacial frock and guarded it carefully over the decades.

More to come, tomorrow . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY

BLOG: MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM