A very cool find from Canada. This one is bright red & white cotton plaid, with big white buttons front and back and patch pockets. By Nu-Mode, it’s just the cutest sundress!
Ankle length, with a big ruffle at the bottom and looks very good on. Quintessential late 1960’s, for sure!
MORGANA MARTIN, the Magicvintagespy
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Time for a new color. This dress is spun sugar pink, with bubblegum, white and (dare I say it – puce). That’s an awful name for a color, but mixed with these others it is very effective.
There’s no tag remaining, so I don’t know for certain that this dress was commercially-made but it certainly looks as though it was. The bodice is lined and the belt would have required some exceptional skill to make at home.
This type of fabric was called “whipped cream”, I think. A type of synthetic, but I can’t say which. It has unusual body that gives it a form of its own. The tie belt and blousey effect create a flattering fit.
Back zipper – simple style, but very much a stand-out. It makes me think of an ice cream social in the summer . . . . .
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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So, under all these sheer dresses . . . . . . . . . This is a pretty tame but VERY practical full slip, made of cotton batiste for wearing under summer clothing in hot weather. There don’t seem to be many of these around anymore, and usually they are not as nicely embellished as this one.
But, just look at that ruching and lace. It’s lovely, sweet and would be so cool. Now, women might wear THIS as a summer dress alone! There’s also a deep ruffle at the hem.
The length gives it away as a 1940’s to early 1950’s style. Possibly even 1930’s. Because of the label, I’m going to go with the ’50’s.
Of course, on really hot days it’s nice not to be wearing more than one layer. But, if you’ve got a pretty, sheer dress on in the bright sun, well, it’s up to you but I’ll wear the slip.
Cotton, naturally, is better than nylon (can you imagine!?) when it’s 95 degrees in the shade. I’m certainly glad to have found one that’s so pretty, just in case . . . . . . . . .
MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY
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This was a fun find, with its own attached scarf and in cool, floaty fabric again. The really unusual thing, to me, is the color combo.
It’s an all-over print in purple with black accents on an olive background. That’s a great combination which you don’t see often – especially for summer!
By Westover – New York. Fabric-covered belt. It’s one of those fun, flirty and feminine styles that I’m sure some woman loved wearing, even if her day was just a pretty average one. Of course, she’d have a pretty slip underneath, too.
I’ve never seen another one like it. It’s a real one-of-a-kind style, as so much true vintage is. Each one is a unique discovery – you just never know. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
MORGANA MARTIN, the Magicvintagespy
Blog: Magicvintagespy.com
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Book: How to Find the Best in Vintage Fashion
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