Tag Archives: handmade

AUTHENTIC TRUE VINTAGE CUSTOM-TAILORED SHIRTWAIST DRESS – 1940’S/1950’S

AUTHENTIC TRUE VINTAGE CUSTOM-TAILORED SHIRTWAIST DRESS – 1940'S/1950'S.

AUTHENTIC TRUE VINTAGE CUSTOM-TAILORED SHIRTWAIST DRESS – 1940’S/1950’S

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA Despite the fact that this dress has damage, I couldn’t resist picking it up. When I’m ready to wear it, it’ll make a great sleeveless style or a skirt. Or, I could donate it for study to a theater group because of all its great features as a piece of fashion history. It was well-loved and well-worn!

This frock was home-sewn from the ground up. The belt is missing, but would have been covered with matching fabric by hand. The cross-stitch embroidery decoration is, of course, hand-done. Even the patches and mends are very well-stitched and give authenticity to the dress.

I wonder what brand of pattern the seamstress used – if she used one at all. So many women could make their own patterns at home by taking a few measurements or copying from an old garment. I have a couple of older friends who tell me that their mothers could make outfits for them by looking at a picture in a magazine, a catalog or a store window. Can you imagine that kind of fashion freedom? Wow!

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

A FABULOUS EARLY 1950’S JUNE WEDDING – IN HANDMADE LACE

A FABULOUS EARLY 1950'S JUNE WEDDING – IN HANDMADE LACE.

A GORGEOUS TAILORED DRESSY FROCK – TRUE VINTAGE FROM THE SIXTIES

A GORGEOUS TAILORED DRESSY FROCK – TRUE VINTAGE FROM THE SIXTIES.

TRUE VINTAGE 1960’S SLEEVELESS FROCK IN PRETTY YELLOW POLKA-DOT FABRIC

TRUE VINTAGE 1960'S SLEEVELESS FROCK IN PRETTY YELLOW POLKA-DOT FABRIC.

CAN YOU BELIEVE IT?! 1950’S NEEDLE-WORK PATTERNS THAT FOLLOWED RUNWAY FASHION IN EUROPE . . .

CAN YOU BELIEVE IT?! 1950'S NEEDLE-WORK PATTERNS THAT FOLLOWED RUNWAY FASHION IN EUROPE . . ..

CAN YOU BELIEVE IT?! 1950’S NEEDLE-WORK PATTERNS THAT FOLLOWED RUNWAY FASHION IN EUROPE . . .

IMG_1478McCall’s magazine  was a real stand-by for our thrifty and talented Grandmas who wanted to keep up with the latest fashion trends.  They could knit and crochet wardrobes that kept them feeling stylish at a fraction of retail costs, and have a lot of fun doing it!

From what I’ve seen online, the well-known pattern makers for seamstresses like Butterick and Simplicity did the same and were even more popular.  Practically every home had a sewing machine, but some women probably still had the skills to do everything by hand if necessary.

Although it was a lot of work and must have felt like another chore in times of necessity like the Depression, it also gave women a lot of creative freedom.  When they had the time and the funds to  be choosy about fabrics and to adapt their own touches to a pattern or add decorations, knowing how to do this and having the support of companies that sold the things that they needed was a real relief from economic and social limitations that may have faced them every day.

Today, people find that creative freedom by doing things online and go to Walmart to ease their financial hardships during tough times, but it’s not the same.  Somehow, the old way seems more attractive in some ways.  Your thoughts?

By the way, I’ve got several fabulous “new” discoveries and am preparing them to show you . . . . . .

MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY

BLOG:  MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM

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

TRUE VINTAGE FLOWER POWER MID-1960’S DRESS

TRUE VINTAGE FLOWER POWER MID-1960'S DRESS.

TRUE VINTAGE FLOWER POWER MID-1960’S DRESS

Back to Mad Men times . . . . . .

Morgana Martin, the magicvintagespy's avatarMagicvintagespy

TRUE VINTAGE FLOWER POWER MID-1960'S DRESS

Someone custom-tailored this dress in about 1965. I put the tie belt around it just for effect, but it is an A-line style, which can be worn belt-less, too.

Although it doesn’t show well in this photo, the neckline is a wide, high scoop with a collar. The material is unusual in that it is fairly heavy and is almost embroidered with the floral pattern – not printed. The style and flower design, plus the back metal zipper, are the clues to its age. Although many copycat styles and designs are on the market now, this one just looks different and you have to have a trained eye and know the details to spot it.

It’s always fun to suddenly see a dress like this, because it immediately transports me to the ’60’s and all the mod and English influence that was popular then. That’s what everybody wore, who was…

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TWO WONDERFUL MEN’S SHORT-SLEEVED SHIRTS – TRUE VINTAGE 1970’S & RETRO

TWO WONDERFUL MEN'S SHORT-SLEEVED SHIRTS – TRUE VINTAGE 1970'S & RETRO.