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
Two “new” finds today – I’m on a roll. This little frock caught my eye because of the fabric – real, plush, beautiful VELVET. We just don’t see that anymore. The lace trim is also very nice. Stiff and Elizabethan.
Aside from the fabric, it’s just as cute as can be and oh, so of that time. Mini, slightly Mod but also demure. I love it and it was worth snapping up even if it isn’t quite my size, just for the fabric.
MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY
BLOG: MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM
Fun find – a custom-tailored frock made sometime between 1960 and 1985. It’s got overall a great day dress style, harking back to the 1940’s. The best thing about the styling, I think, is the flared skirt design which will flip and twirl with every movement. A perfect dress for dancing!
Another neat thing is that the seamstress put in a LONG side zipper so that it’s really easy to put on and take off – no need for contortion or someone to help you zip, as sometimes happens with back zippers.
This is a relatively simple dress, but little clues tell me that the maker put special thought into the styling and construction, which make it special. Love it!
MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY
BLOG: MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM
Interesting! I’ve come up, in the past 3 or 4 years, with three dresses in this basic style – crossover bodice, wasp waist, poufy sleeves and shoulder augmentation – all in formal styles.
The first find was true 1940’s, the second was ’40’s to early ’50’s and this last is 1980’s doing the Forties thing. This frock’s styling is a real dog’s breakfast. It gives a nod to the bubble skirts of the Eighties in spite of the mid-calf length and in a ’50’s-style bright pastel – which to me is kind of an awkward trendy marketing ploy that fails in the final analysis.
No matter. It’s fun to see what happened with the same style over the years and this one will go to the university theater due to some un-fixable damage. It’s a hoot to explore the back alleys of fashion history . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY
BLOG: MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM
Could be a Prom – party, wedding or casual summer day dress according to your wish! Love well-made frocks like this one, which has pretty fabric and trim as well as a liner that prevents see-through (excepting for a bit at the midriff and on the sleeves). Just right!
I’m always super-happy to find a gown or long dress of this genre and era. And, in perfect condition. Things just keep getting better . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY
BLOG: MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM
Two beautiful hand-crocheted or knitted shawls for party-wear or any festive occasion. In neutral pastel shades with metallic yarn accents.
Items like this were especially popular in the years moving from the 1950’s to the 1960’s. Many women made these garments at home. Nothing dresses up a little black dress in such a feminine and beguiling way as a needlework accessory.
If you like doing handiwork, look for old pattern and instruction books from the ’50’s and ’60’s. Although many types of scarves and shawls are sold now, nothing compares to a handmade item in a soft, genuine wool yarn.
And, if you can find a true vintage shawl – go for it!
MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY
BLOG: MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM
Here’s a lovely, oh-so-flattering jacquard blouse for cocktails, dinner, dancing and parties. It looks superb with a long black skirt or black cigarette pants.
Notice the little bows at the waist. It also buttons up the back (I LOVE that feature of so many ’50’s blouses) with 5/8″ covered buttons. Very swank.
The fun thing about 50’s separates like this is that they were dressed up or down, since rock and roll, rhythm and blues and, later, cocktail parties became such a rage – on top of the more formal and traditional occasions that were always part of the social scene.
As usual, the cut and tailoring of this piece is outstanding. The fabric is quite nice, too. Just the right thing for a woman of intrigue to have in her closet, no? . . .
MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY
BLOG: MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM
While we’re in a New Year mood, here’s a really special dress from, I believe, the 1950’s. It’s more or less a cocktail style, but could go to dinner and dancing, too.
Originally, it had nude netting on the front bodice and upper back, with skinny binding around the armhole area and the neckline. The purpose is to give a bare look, without the bare.
Very elegant but, unfortunately, the material had some small holes which could not be repaired. I could not locate material of the same type for a replacement, so I reluctantly removed it and restyled things a bit to make skinny straps instead. It works! Being versatile is an indispensable skill.
I love this dramatic pointy accent on the front! The fabric is also very elegant – probably a rayon that looks for all the world like silk shantung. And the hourglass shape!
Worthy of Peggy Lee any day . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY
BLOG: MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM
Although very similar, I might place this dress as having been made a little earlier than the one shown yesterday – looks late 1940’s to me. It might or might not have been worn with a crinoline underneath. Like the other, it’s completely hand-made and this one has the tailor’s label sewn into the neckline.
One of the best things about this gown is the fabric – a plush, heavy velvet that feels like old rayon. Love the sweetheart neckline and off-the-shoulder sleeves that, to my taste, are done a bit more artfully than those on yesterday’s dress. I think it’s mostly a style change that took place over a couple of years around the turn of the ’40’s to ’50’s decade.
Anyway, who wouldn’t love it! I so wonder what events these dresses were made for and where they went. That part of the mystery is as yet unsolved . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY
BLOG: MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM
This gown is hand-tailored with extreme attention to detail. It would be worn with a crinoline for a full, bell-shape. Because of the styling, I would guess that it was made in the early 1950’s but, possibly, as early as the late 1940’s. A special occasion dress, of course, and there’s hardly any evidence of wear. Maybe it was even made for a Prom or Homecoming dance back in the day.
Women were so happy to dress in longer skirts, sumptuous fabrics and new styles after the austerity of the war years.
I’ll be showing a sister gown tomorrow – very similar style and probably made a few years earlier. What fabulous discoveries!
MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY
BLOG: MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM
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