It is always appropriate to show my great Native American and Hawaiian dresses in Summertime, even though they are not always the most cool garments to wear. Ocean breezes and high mountain altitudes can help with that! The two on the right are from Arizona, sold by a company called Thunderbird Fashions which made lots of Western-wear dresses, blouses and skirts back in the day. The dress on the left was made in Hawaii. In most cases, women bought these outfits while on vacation in the American West or Hawaiian islands but sometimes a woman living there would include these in her day-to-day wardrobe.
Like a couple of the other items I’ve shown before, they are of heavy cotton with loads of braid trim, ric-rac and color! The Western-wear blouses have a side zipper at the waist.
The Hawaiian outfit on the left was made about the same time as those from Arizona. It is interesting that there are so many similarities in the style although no zipper in this blouse, and the contrast is in the fabric panel on the bodice.
Both styles have a flattering fit, with a wasp waist and free hips. I love wearing them on cooler days in the Summer and Fall and sometimes wear the skirts with another top. Each of these ensembles is different and they are from a time when Western and Hawaiian fashion were all the rage – probably in the 1950’s. Women loved wearing them and vacationers loved bringing them home.
MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY
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I love the colors of these dresses – pink to lavender, with black and white. Both in a similar shirtwaist style, below-the-knee length and made of a substantial cotton. Perfect mid-century design. Absolutely LOVE the collar shapes!
The dress on the left has little houses in a novelty print and some interesting tuck and piping details. The fabric is a bit heavier, and I’d wear it into Fall. The one on the right has cute pockets, ric-rac trim and a great plaid. It really says “summer” and farmers’ markets, to me. I took the sleeves off for a more flattering fit for me (and saved them, of course!) and wear it often.
Neither one has a label, but I doubt that they were made at home – especially not the left-hand one. Just goes to show, that labels often go by the wayside. . . . . . .
MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY
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I love wearing this dress and it’s special because it belonged to a family member. Cos Cob was a well-known maker of women’s sportswear back in the day, similar to Bobbie Brooks, but I don’t think that the company was as old.
This dress is cotton in a wonderful print, with a long pointed collar and nice, easy shape. Thank goodness it isn’t culottes, which were popular then. They look convenient, but they’re really not.
A sleeveless shift is great for casual summer wear and always looks smart if you accessorize properly. That’s the key to transforming most ensembles and women used to do that so well. The Europeans, I must say, are better at it than Americans now.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY
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Here we have two beautiful sundresses, in similar colors. Not really my colors – I’m a Summer skin-tone, rather than Spring or Fall, but who’s going to quibble when faced with these!
I’m guessing that the one on the right is the newer of the two. The one on the left has more detail on the bodice and even has bows fixed to the shoulder straps in back. It has a covered belt, whereas the other dress just has piping at the waist.
They’re both lovely, in a beautiful heavy cotton. Madge wears it very well, don’t you think? Such exceptional fit and tailoring.
Either of them could go from simple daytime activities to work (probably with a sweater or jacket), dinner, dancing, a party or date.
I often see dresses like this in movies from that era. Wear them and step into a time warp . . . . . . . . . .
MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY
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Just which decade is this dress from? I don’t know – it’s so classic in style, that it could be from either the 1940’s or 1950’s. I’m going to bet on the earlier time, but can’t be sure. Dare I say that it could even be from the ’30’s?!
I am certain that it’s true vintage and I love it to pieces! The back, of course, is open to mid-back and there is a metal zipper on the side. I expect that it was custom-tailored. Just look how well the pattern is matched!
This is a favorite style of mine, and I really responded to the fabric when I discovered it. Love the colors! I also like the fact that the cut of the top is modest without being unnecessarily so. Makes it very easy to wear.
Just right for a beach town, vacationing or a hot summer day anywhere. Put on a big straw hat and just look like one of the tourists . . . . . . .
MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY
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Now that we’ve passed the first day of glorious Summer and the weather is certainly cooperating, it’s time to show this little frock. It’s very simple, cool, and very cute!
So much fun to discover one of these because not many of them have survived. Plain shift style – but certain features tell its age. Notice the vintage snaps on the shoulder straps. Usually you see these on older Western-wear garments.
I especially like the way that the neckline is constructed – it makes all the difference in how the dress falls. Even though it’s as casual as a house-dress, it also looks good with a chain or macrame’ belt, and I like the patch pockets, too.
This is just the kind of “jeans-and-t-shirt” outfit that women were likely to wear for everyday in the late Sixties, when actually wearing jeans and a t-shirt was not quite as common as it is now.
Put on some pretty sandals and a necklace, carry a cute purse and you’d look super out and about town.
MORGANA MARTIN, the Magicvintagespy
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Here’s another dress from about the same time as the last one. It has the same features of design – the side metal zipper is the most significant. I don’t know why that was a favorite feature, rather than allowing the front opening to be longer.
Although it was more trouble to put that side zip in, it was hidden (more or less) from view and allowed the front and back lines of the garment to be unbroken. My best guess is that this style feature is more elegant than a back zip or long front opening would be.
So many of the styles and tailoring methods from the ’50’s and before paid a lot of attention to keeping the lines of a garment very elegant, with good fit and clean silhouette. Back zippers on pants and skirts are a good example of this.
This dress is, I’m sure, custom tailored. The skill of the sewer is excellent and it would challenge the quality of any commercially-made things today, outside of haute couture.
The reds, golds and mossy browns in this print make me think of leading into Fall, but let’s not rush our summertime, when the livin’ is easy . . . . . . . . . . . .
MORGANA MARTIN, the Magicvintagespy
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Book: How to Find the Best in Vintage Fashion available on Amazon.com
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