Tag Archives: day dress

1940’S ATOMIC PRINT SWISHY RAYON DAY DRESS – FABULOUS FIND!!!!!

IMG_1736This dress has a huge skirt that flows to mid-calf. The fabric feels like whipping cream pouring through your fingers.  True vintage synthetics from the Forties are just indescribable – you have to see and feel them for yourself.

This day dress was custom-tailored at home, I would guess.  The time frame is late 1940’s to early 1950’s.  It will look so great on Stella.

It’s been a while since I discovered a true vintage frock from the Forties.  This week I’ve found two!  This is SO much fun!!

MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY

BLOG:  MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM

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

ALL KINDS OF TRUE VINTAGE DRESS FINDS! THIS ONE’S A PREPPY DAY DRESS FROM THE SIXTIES

IMG_1709Pretty in pink again.  This beautiful summer dress is in virtually perfect condition – its owner was very meticulous about caring for her clothing, like so many women of two or more generations ago.  It’s a great example of the preppy styles that were very popular during the Sixties and early 1970’s.

Floral applique’s in front and a belted waist.  Traditional and lady-like in design, classic in tailoring with all the touches of a well-made garment.  This was the favorite every-day style of the country-club set back in the day (maybe still is – traditional tastes don’t seem to change much).

So, for a proper and buttoned-down look this frock is just right.  It’s so classic and subtle, you could get by with it anywhere and always look well-dressed – like, maybe, for dinner with the future in-laws . .. .. . . . . . . . . ..

MORGANA MARTIN,THE MAGICVINTAGESPY

BLOG:  MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM

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

THE FABULOUS BLACK & WHITE MID-CENTURY MOD DAY DRESS – STELLA MODELS

IMG_1699Here’s the neatest view of that great Caron Chicago frock I recently found.  With a black back-drop it creates wonderful negative space.  I’m so impressed by the ingenuity of the designer.

Stella and Madge make everything look better – you just can’t do this frock justice when it’s on a hanger.  This is one of the best-looking 1960’s op-art pieces I’ve ever seen – so unusual and unique.

I’m home from my weekend away, with 9 more true vintage finds to share with you!

MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY

BLOG:  MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM

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

FOUND YESTERDAY – THE CUTEST TRUE VINTAGE CHRISTMAS DRESS IN THE WORLD!!!

IMG_1686IMG_1687Well, probably – it would certainly have a huge chance of winning the contest!  Don’t you love the collar?  And the bright red wool.  It’s party time!

There’s no label – I suspect the dress was custom-tailored.  And, for a woman a lot shorter than Stella – the hem should at least be at the knee and the sleeves a tiny bit longer because I’d date it about 1960.

It’s finds like this that make my day – but there’s lots more . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY

BLOG:  MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM

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

STELLA SHOWS OFF MY “NEW” TRUE VINTAGE FIFTIES FROCK

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

This is one of the dresses which I recently found out West and it deserves a better photo so that you can see what a great find this was and why I’m so excited by it.  Look at that iconic Fifties fit!   In “real life”, the color is a bit warmer but still a light beige and it feels like a linen/rayon blend.  Who knows for sure?  Mid-century synthetics were so beautiful but they remain very mysterious . . . .

There are such beautiful tailoring details. The bodice is tucked and fitted, there are gussets under the arms to improve the fit and the satin ribbon trim is very artfully applied, with no visible seams. Pleats and faux slash pockets at the hip seams add style and enhance the fit, too.  These faux pockets are interesting – they’re about 1″ deep – too shallow to use, but they look real and add a bit of fullness to the hipline.  Vintage tailoring tricks were very creative and added incredibly to the style of garments that would otherwise seem ordinary.

In this picture, I have included a belt which would have been close to the original.  I’m convinced that the original belt was covered with the same fabric as the dress, so I plan to do that.  Some extra fabric can be taken when the hem is finished, without making the dress too short.  It’s a tiny size – about a 0 – 2 in modern numbers – and really would fit better someone without Stella’s 5’8″ stature.  The proper length should be below the knee.

So, you see why I gasped with delight when this one showed up.  My investigations are always peppered with moments like this that keep life in the shadows very interesting . . . . . . . . .

MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY

BLOG:  MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM

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

TRUE VINTAGE MID-CENTURY DAY DRESS – THE FINDS KEEP COMING . . . . . . . .

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERAHere’s another T.V. day frock that I love. To an uneducated eye, it looks like something modern. Actually, this dress is from the late 1960’s to mid-1970’s. Very sweet and simple style and totally practical for everyday wear.

I’d much rather have it in my wardrobe than any of it’s similar lookalike cousins that were made recently. Until you’ve experienced the difference, you won’t know how much better it feels. Until you’ve owned one and used it, you won’t appreciate it’s superior qualities and how they can improve your life.

Sometimes the differences are subtle, but always valuable. The material is nicer, details of better quality and the cut is a little better. Which means – that it will fit in a more flattering way, last longer, perform better in the wash and feel better to wear. If you’re also helping the planet and your budget while preserving fashion history and quality workmanship, what could be better? Well, we’ll get in to that another time . . . . . . .. . . .

MORGANA MARTIN,THE MAGICVINTAGESPY
BLOG: MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM
BOOK: HOW TO FIND THE BEST IN VINTAGE FASHION – AVAILABLE ON AMAZON.COM

MOST EXCITING FIND YESTERDAY! – TRUE VINTAGE 1950’S DRESSY DAY DRESS WITH LOTS OF CLUES . . . . . . . .

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA Yesterday I found 3 more true vintage garments and none of them look exciting in the photos. But, if you know more about them and can “see” where they came from, each one is great!

This is a dressy frock for day, a date or a significant appointment. It should look fabulous on Stella because it’s tiny, as are many from that era. There are tailoring details that told me it was not a modern copycat and set my thrill-meter going.

Looks like a rayon/linen blend that needs a press and light cleaning, but it’s in great shape. The facings and hem need to be stitched down, but that’s a fast job that anyone can do by hand and doesn’t intimidate me at all. I’ll probably make a replacement belt from some fabric in the hem, which does take more time, but it’s not hard and is worth it for a dress like this because I’m almost certain that was the original look.

Since there’s no label, I’m wondering at this point if the dress was custom-tailored and maybe hadn’t even been quite finished yet. If so, the tailor was a real professional and it’s such fun to trace the story through the clues in the details.

Well, there’s another episode in fashion history when I get to experience the story from someone’s years-ago closet and lifestyle. It’s a great way to time-travel . . . .

MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY
BLOG: MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM
BOOK: HOW TO FIND THE BEST IN VINTAGE FASHION – AVAILABLE ON AMAZON.COM

TRUE VINTAGE SIXTIES DAY DRESS – IT’S A MAD, MOD, MID-CENTURY WORLD

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA What a fun find! Classic black and white knit dress by Caron of Chicago, in the most marvelous mod, op-art design.

It’s a beauty! Haven’t seen one by this brand name in a while, so I love catching up with a previous acquaintance. Although this classic style will never go out of fashion, the graphic is so eye-catching that it will always seem new and avant guarde.

What a great example of fashion artistry!! We always love the “timelessly elegant” design that is never flashy, but eternally beautiful and ageless no matter when it was made – but there’s also this category of knock-your-socks-off great designs that look fabulously new and fresh, even though they’re 50 years old!!!

No wonder its first owner took such good care of it, but then, treasure is always worth safeguarding. Quality true vintage – just like a pot of gold . . . . . . . . . . . . .

MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY
BLOG: MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM
BOOK: HOW TO FIND THE BEST IN VINTAGE FASHION – AVAILABLE ON AMAZON.COM

TRUE VINTAGE 1950S – ’70S “HAPPY DAYS” UNISEX JACKET

Can’t resist the autumn jackets right about now . . . . . . .

Morgana Martin, the magicvintagespy's avatarMagicvintagespy

Doesn’t this just make you want to pull out the Mickey Mouse ears, saddle shoes, or Keds and toast marshmallows? Or maybe put on the Frye boots, a workshirt and painter pants for a “70s thing – whatever mood you’re in, it’s fun to have garments like this in the closet. ONE GLANCE and I knew that it was not a modern item. That’s the cool thing about true vintage – even people who aren’t expert at picking it out will notice something different or intriguing about what you’re wearing that sets you apart from the crowd.

This one is of a heavy knit that has kept its shape beautifully. Aside from a little fuzz, which can be shaved away, it is in excellent condition. I suspect that it is from the 1960s, all things considered, though the style could span 2 or 3 decades. It’s certainly not a high-end…

View original post 46 more words

CUTE CUSTOM-TAILORED DAY DRESS WITH MATCHING SCARF – TRUE VINTAGE FOR FALL

Source: CUTE CUSTOM-TAILORED DAY DRESS WITH MATCHING SCARF – TRUE VINTAGE FOR FALL