Couldn’t wait for summer! What a great discovery – an iconic halter frock in luscious cotton. These sexy and cool dresses are perfect for hot days (and nights). Move over, Marilyn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY
BLOG: MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM
This dress is pristine – a beautiful example of a custom-tailored frock from the 1960’s or 1970’s. The fabric is quilting-type cotton with small floral detail. Very patriotic, too, if you’re into that.
Prairie style was huge during the 1965 – 1975 decade and I suspect that was when this dress was made. However, it’s almost like new with very little evidence of wear. Perhaps it was made for a special occasion. Because of the style – a bit prissy for my taste – it might not have been worn regularly. Long sleeves limit the summer usefulness but are a great plus for Fall. All things considered, I’m thrilled to find a frock in such perfect condition!
Unraveling the clues is always the icing on the cake. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY
BLOG: MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM
Classic cotton summer sundress in lemonade yellow – this is a Sixties frock with the cute bodice detail that is so common on vintage dresses. . . . . as well as the belted wasp waist.
Yellow and white are so Summery. It’s wonderful to be out and about again!!
MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY
BLOG: MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM
So very “Country Club” with it’s nice details and smart styling. Just the right thing for ladies who lunch or club meetings. Today I’ll wear it just about any old time that the weather is warm and I want to look a little bit well-dressed.
It used to be taken for granted to have such elegance in normal, everyday wear. However, I like the fashion freedom that we have now – especially when I can still go to my closet and pull out something like this beauty!
MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY
BLOG: MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM
A dream find for any vintage-hunter! Love this pretty day-dress so much. It needed some TLC with stains from storage, but I was up to the challenge. Beautiful decoration and comfy cotton; it’s the perfect summer frock.
Imagine this kind of intricate stitchery on an everyday dress today – even similar-looking examples are only cheap imitations of what used to be the standard of quality back in the day. More newly-discovered treasures are coming – we’ve only just begun . . . . . . . . . . .
MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY
BLOG: MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM
Ooh, LOVE this! Stella’s got a real rockabilly thing going on. What a pretty and flirty dress someone made back in the day!
Just right for summer shopping, dancing and just playing around. The bust-line flounce, wrap tie cummerbund belt and full skirt are really flattering features that also allow for some size variability when you have skinny or fat days. Although, this frock was made for a slender gal because there are no zipper or buttons.
Ah, well. Stella can do it, and so can I. So, definitely another keeper . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..
MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY
BLOG; MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM
I believe that these are all from the 1960’s. Floral self-belted house dress/casual day-dress (LOVE these vibrant colors!) and shoes for late summer days. I’m always happy to find red! 
MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY
BLOG: MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM
More custom-tailored stories coming my way – this cute cotton summer frock practically lets me follow the seamstress’s journey as she made this dress for herself. It’s so fun to think of a girl or woman, way back in the day, going to the fabric store and finding a pattern she loves – picking the material she wants and using her sewing skills learned in Home Ec class and the dreams in her imagination to create a dress that she’ll love to wear.
Wish Stella were here to model it for me, but if you know anything about sewing, all the details of this dress make it crystal clear. Although I love finding gorgeous designer frocks from the 1940’s, Fifties and before, a simple homemade garment is one of the sweetest surprises. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY
BLOG: MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM
Another favorite, the ’50s styles with nipped waists. Love ’em! – who doesn’t – they’ve remained a fashion favorite for many years and a style that keeps on repeating itself. The bateau neckline is also a favorite – SO flattering. I call it a summer dress, but the cotton material is heavy, so it’s perfect to wear almost all year.
The skirt on this one has a bell shape, too – an unusual feature that is somewhat unique. This dress was custom-tailored and the construction is very unusual. I’ve never seen anything like it. Although it zips up the back, there is also an inner bodice that hooks together. It may have been the design of the woman who sewed it – in place of a bra(?)
Sometimes you’ll find a garment like this that is as interesting on the inside as it is on the outside. The tailoring details can sometimes be elaborate, even on commercially-made items. Not to mention what seamstresses can come up with on their own when they’re being creative –
I actually bought this at a shop, which is unusual for me. There are lots of great ones that I have visited and included in my book references – no better place to see a collection of wonderful things in one spot and get the wisdom of the owner’s knowledge. It pays to know all the different types of places where true vintage likes to hide – because you just never know .. . . . ..
MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY
BLOG: MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM
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