This dress was made by Liz Claiborne back in the Eighties day. Rayon again, of course. The fabric print colors say more Fifties to me, but the styling is right for a salute to styles from the middle of the Forties decade. The shoulders are padded substantially and the classic shirtwaist styling is very mid-1940’s. I especially like the slightly-dropped waist which gives a great fit on the hips. Love it – come on, summer!
While not a sarong style a la Dorothy Lamour, it’s still got that Pacific vibe which became popular after Japan joined the fight. Exotic island colors and little palm trees so we could forget about the actual horrors taking place halfway across the world. . . . . . . A sad memory for the day after Veterans Day, but thanks to the Liz Claiborne designers for getting a lot of it right!
MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY
BLOG: MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM
Patriotically short and with minimal sleeves in observance of wartime rationing, this drapey frock still looks fashionable and sweet for day. Belted, with a bow at the neckline and cute little apples all over. I’ve been itching to photograph it on Stella for almost 2 years and I knew it would suit her to a T. I love Forties rayon dresses – they fit like a dream.
That means I can probably wear it, too, but first it needs attention to a couple of tiny holes on the back of one shoulder. No sweat for the Magicvintagespy and it will be ready for next summer!
During this series, I’m going to do something a little different from the usual. Garments will be posted in the order of their style decade, even though that might not be when they were actually made. All are true vintage, at least from the 1980’s – ’90’s or before, but I picked up several well-done retro pieces 1 or 2 years ago that I’d like to show you. So, stay tuned . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY
BLOG: MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM
Back to wartime or post-war frocks. This is the cutest rayon dress ever, with that iconic swingy skirt that ’40s dresses often have and a wonderful relic from the ever-popular women’s bowling teams of the war years. Just like splashy musical movies, recreational activities like hometown sports were a great distraction from the reality of the times.
Anhauser-Busch or, more likely the local beer distributor, was the team sponsor. Hence, the Busch Bavarian Beer patches on front and back. The belt had the player’s name embroidered on it. Perfect features for costume-wear!
Without the patches, the dress is styled like many day dresses from that time. This one is probably from the late 1940s or, possibly, the early 1950s.
What a thrill to find it, and in excellent if not near perfect condition! You truly just never know . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY
BLOG: MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM
Yes, at first glance this looks like so many cheesy LBD’S made today and that’s why some discriminatory powers are important to develop. I can tell when something is true vintage or not, with a just little investigation. This example was truly made about 40 years ago.
It is still not a prime favorite frock, but was worth picking up and I’ll keep it because it would make an outstanding costume for a play or Halloween (which is creeping up on us as we sit here!). Keep your eyes open – it gets better . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . ..
MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY
BLOG: MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM
Magicvintagespy 