Tag Archives: formal

TRUE VINTAGE 1950’S WIGGLE DRESS FOR VALENTINE’S DAY

TRUE VINTAGE 1950S WIGGLE DRESS FOR VALENTINE'S DAY

Oooh!  Wish I had a party to go to – you can be sure I’d wear this.  By Jonathan Logan in cherry-color velveteen.  Deep V-neck front and back, back zip.  The straight sleeves have short zippers at the wrists – a surprise feature that I’ve rarely seen excepting on wedding dresses.

Looks good on Madge, huh?  You can be sure that there are no pockets! Nothing shows off the figure like a “50s wiggle dress or 1930s bias-cut gown.  Women wearing these look nothing but elegant because they are cut and made so well.  Let’s bring back the days of high-quality, elegant AND alluring clothing again (but till then, I’m thrilled to be the Magicvintagespy. ) And, you just never know . . . . .

MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY

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TWO TRUE VINTAGE MID-CENTURY EVENING COATS FOR SPRING AND SUMMER

TWO TRUE VINTAGE MID-CENTURY EVENING COATS FOR SPRING AND SUMMER

Here’s another view of the green evening coat I like to show for St. Patrick’s Day – this time with a more versatile and elegant style from the same decade.  These coats are from the 1950’s/1960’s. Lighter-weight fabrics and fresh colors make them suitable for mild evenings.

So fun, with a little sparkle, the one on left is more subtle with just a bit of pattern in the glossy pale yellow material.  Both have easy, elegant styling but the coat on the right is in-your-face BRIGHT with a silky emerald floral jacquard and huge collar.  VERY much a sign of it’s time.

It’s so important for me to have alternative disguises available . . . . . . . . . . . .

MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY

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MY MOST QUIRKY, OLDEST EVENING COATS – FROM THE 1930’S & 1940’S

MY MOST QUIRKY, OLDEST EVENING COATS - FROM THE 1930'S & 1940'S

These black crepe coats are so fun and individual – I really love wearing them!  While not being fully antique, they are earlier examples from the ’30’s & ’40’s.  One may be from the early ’50’s . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . .

On the far left, the characteristic feature of this one are the shoulder tails, which are folded across the front in this picture.  It also has a deep slit in the back hem – almost a long jacket, rather than a coat.

In the center is a rather plain, tailored black crepe coat, but you can see the scalloped hems on the sleeves.  Perfectly elegant and discreet.

On the right, a plain, one – button front crepe coat with ivory lining, deep side slits and mink cuffs at the elbows.  Hardly inconspicuous . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY

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3 TRUE VINTAGE 1940’S – 1950’S VELVET EVENING COATS & JACKETS

3 TRUE VINTAGE 1940'S - 1950'S VELVET EVENING COATS & JACKETS

In three lengths, sumptuous and elegant, black velvet evening wraps from the ’40’s and ’50’s.  Can’t see detail in these photos (black is that way!) but the detail, though lovely, is not terribly important because you can see the lines.

The detail is subtle in the garments – the focus is on elegant simplicity, beautiful fabric and beautiful cut.  What could be better over your choice of evening ensemble?

Besides, they’re very discreet at night, in the dark . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY

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MID-CENTURY HOME-SEWN FLORAL FORMAL DRESS —PROM, ANYONE?

    Empire A-line styling with flutter sleeves and a floral print – couldn’t get more ’60’s early ’70’s than that. But, there are so many retro versions made recently – why would I decide to collect this one?

    Frocks that I might otherwise pass on if they were commercially – made, I will collect if custom-tailored. Hand-sewing always tells it’s own story, with special touches and unique designs or fabrics.

    So, this dress is especially pretty and versatile. It only needs a few TLC interventions and will be ready to go. I might lose the sleeves, as I like sleeveless styles so much, but will decide later.

    More finds from this general era, but very different. Stay tuned . . . . . . . . . . .

    MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY

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    1950’s FUR-TRIMMED GOWN

    OK, we’re going from oldest to youngest in these next 3 posts. My apologies for the poor focus. Cropping efforts didn’t come through, either, but you can see all that is necessary for this description. Was astounded a few days ago to find this rare garment! In the past two years 3 or 4 frocks in this early 1950’s style have suddenly come my way; haven’t seen them before that for quite a long time. . . . . . . . . . . .

    Like only one of my other examples of this fashion, the gown pictured here was custom-tailored (probably at home) and made for an adolescent girl, from the style indications. Usually, dresses made with the fur-trimmed sleeves, neckline or hem were sophisticated styles made for women. Of course, girls like to wear their own versions of adult designs in every decade.

    Aside from the empire styling, rather than a New Look design, one tell-tale clue is the type of fur used. Garments made for women usually had mink trim, whereas the 2 girls’ dresses I’ve discovered have had what looks like rabbit hair. However, the cranberry velvet is plush and I’m sure the young miss who wore it was pleased. It’s so much fun to follow the stories that these old clothing items tell. Stay tuned for a 1960’s item – a repeat of another recent find . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

    MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY

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    AN ELEGANTLY-TAILORED BOHO FORMAL FROM THE LATE 1960’S (IS THAT AN OXYMORON?)

    via AN ELEGANTLY-TAILORED BOHO FORMAL FROM THE LATE 1960’S (IS THAT AN OXYMORON?)

    SECOND FIND – AN EIGHTIES DOES FORTIES SEMI-FORMAL DRESS

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    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

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    LATE 1960’S 1970’S PRAIRIE STYLE DRESS FIND – THIS ONE CAN HAVE MANY LIVES

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    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

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    GORGEOUS CUSTOM-MADE POST-WAR FORMAL GOWN IN SUMPTUOUS BLACK RAYON VELVET

    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

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