I show a lot of this style, because it was SO popular from the mid-forties until the early ’60’s. This example is quintessential in all its qualities.
I’m sure this was home-sewn because when I found it I found 3 others obviously made for the same woman. Yes, she may have had a tailor.
Lovely cotton which can’t be found anymore – certainly not in fabric stores. It’s hard to describe if you don’t know it. Looks wonderful, feels wonderful and gets better with age.
Also, the buttons she used are just great! They’re big, plastic and colorful. Some were sculpted in their shape. The sewing is impeccably done and fabric-covered belts always look so crisp and stylish. Naturally, there’s a generous hem (whatever happened to those?).
All four of these dresses were of exactly the same style, each one in a beautiful cotton print. Though I’m sure they were well-used, they hardly looked worn – a testament to the quality of vintage materials and workmanship, as well as the care of the owner.
Each one opens the book on a mystery, just as illusive as they can be . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . … . . . . . .
Morgana Martin, the Magicvintagespy
Blog: Magicvintagespy.com
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Book: How to Find the Best in Vintage Fashion available on Amazon.com
Photo # 2 -The colors are truer in the photo of the blouse, You can see how this skirt would swing, sway and billow during a dance. You ain’t got a thing if you ain’t got that swing.
Morgana Martin, the Magicvintagespy
This blouse was a dress – the skirt is shown in the next post. (Wish I could figure out how to publish multiple photos!)
It actually came to me as a gift!
There was a bit of seam damage and the waist was too small, so I turned it into a circle skirt and blouse.The greatest thing about this dress is the fabric.
Substantial woven rayon with a paisley design and metallic thread accents. I certainly couldn’t toss it aside! Just made for the jitterbug.
I love the style, but the material is what makes it really special. That’s true with almost all of the true vintage that I own. It’s a study in itself, and a feast for the senses. I hope you’ll be able to get a close-up view.
Morgana Martin, the Magicvintagespy
Blog: Magicvintagespy.com
Google+, Facebook, Twitter & Pinterest
Book: How to Find the Best in Vintage Fashion
For those of you who have been watching since last winter, you may have seen this dress before. BUT, the photo I had with me then didn’t do it justice. Now that I have Madge, I wanted to publish another one.
This frock was a rare find! For one thing, its age and superb condition makes it remarkable and it has such wonderful details.
The fabric is unusual. It may be a 100% cotton, as we might expect from the look of it, but it doesn’t feel that way. I’m not sure if that is age (though it’s in very good shape) or if it is another material or a blend. I’d love to have a laboratory where I could analyze the content of fabrics because it’s a fascinating question.
Another thing I love are the buttons. I believe that they are real mother of pearl, rather than pearlized plastic. Some of them are broken because they are a perforated design and somewhat delicate, but at least half of them are fine.
The slide-through buckle was missing (I could tell that was the type of buckle it was because of how the belt is made) so I added a vintage mother of pearl one that I already had and it’s perfect.
It’s another Bonnie Parker dress (remember – Bonnie and Clyde) and so much fun to have discovered it! Lots of imagination in this one – you just never know . . . . . . . . . . . ..
Morgana Martin, the Magicvintagespy
Blog: Magicvintagespy.com
Google+, Facebook, Twitter & Pinterest
Book: How to Find the Best in vintage Fashion available on Amazon.com
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