Tag Archives: cocktail dress

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

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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

FABULOUS MID-CENTURY COCKTAIL OUTFIT

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No, it’s not a dress for Siamese elephants – this is a first-ever-seen hostess/cocktail one-piece “thing” with embroidered and sequined mesh over lined satin pants and bodice.  Not exactly a jumpsuit, though it has those elements.  I’m going to say early 1960’s, but it could be earlier.

This is a well-tailored garment with long panels front and back which are completely open at the sides.  The upper part of the bodice is lined with flesh-tone mesh, also.  Extremely well-made, with two labels – the brand and the store which sold it.

To be worn with a pair of black sandals or mules and, of course, diamonds . . . . . . . . . . . . .

More to come.

MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY

BLOG:  MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM

 

A VERY UNUSUAL TRUE VINTAGE STATEMENT DRESS!

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I have dresses and a couple of coats trimmed with fur on the sleeves and a a couple of coats with fur around the hems but this is my first find of a dressy dress with this kind of trim.  Made in a 1950’s style, but I think it is from the 1970’s (maybe the 1960’s).  How unusual!

Very much of-the-season in perfect plush velvet for all the holiday party activities that about to crowd our calendars.  What an entrance I’d make to an evening Thanksgiving dinner.   Hmmm. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY

BLOG:  MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM

LET’S DANCE!

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What a beautiful Kennedy era party frock.  With beads and rhinestones at the waist, and a swing and sway two-layer skirt.  This dress is made by Carol Craig, New York – a well-known brand name of the time.

Pretty, pretty, pretty – and in perfect condition.  Someone loved it very much.  See what else we love, tomorrow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY

BLOG:  MAGICVINTABESPY.COM

HERE’S THE TRUE VINTAGE SOPHISTICATED SISTER – A LITTLE BLACK DRESS FROM THE 1970’S

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Ditch the mini-length, add a bit of va-voom and some frills et voila! – dinner or cotillion dance-worthy.  Although the comfortable style and flexible double-knit would probably permit it, this is no frock for the bar scene or Stayin’ Alive dance party.

Yes, it was still possible to find garments of quality construction and elegant design in the 1970’s.  Sadly, most of them are gone now because the knit fabrics didn’t make it till today or simply because women had begun to stop taking the care of their clothing which was common in the 1960’s and before.

So much more precious for me to discover two frocks of this type (see yesterday’s post, too).  Both are definitely keepers that I can wear for decades to come . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY

BLOG:  MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM

POST-WAR DRESSY DINNER FROCK, CUSTOM-TAILORED IN SOUTH AMERICA

Here’s another dressy frock from Montevideo, Uruguay – probably just a few years younger than her sister shown yesterday.  This dress is stylish, but not as Crawford vampish as the other.  The 1940’s styling has been played down, excepting for the puffy shoulders and embroidered mesh trim.  I forgot to take a picture with the black curly lamb jacket  which was also a recent find, from the early 1950’s.  Would be a perfect wrap over this dress.

No, it is not bare on the bodice.  The mesh has been lined with a flesh-tone panel which is a perfect match for bare skin peeking out at the shoulders.  The tailoring of these mid-century frocks is just astounding, especially when they were hand-made by dressmakers.  The well-to-do ladies in Montevideo would have had much of their clothing custom-made to their specifications and fit.

However, remember the dressing gown from a few days ago?  It was also hand-made, but from France, and probably purchased before the European war.  Many Montevidean women purchased French fashions and accessories back in the day.

MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY

BLOG:  MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM