Tag Archives: home-sewn

FUN 1960’S PRAIRIE FARMER GIRL FROCK

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Fun find today!  A custom-made prairie-girl dress that can go all year round.  Just put a blouse, t-shirt or t-neck underneath and there you go.  The fabric is a woven synthetic of the late-mid-century time so it’s a Sixties take on a much older style.  There are Amish in the area where I discovered it, but I’m not sure this is their style.  May be some other groups who wear slightly less modest clothing and would be allowed to show their arms. ?  It’s got an old metal CC zipper and hardly any wear so, who knows.  The sash ties in back and there’s ric-rac all around.

Just fun, so true vintage and cute!  Another mystery, which I love. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY

BLOG:  MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM

THE MOST WONDERFUL SHIRT – LET’S START HERE

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Handmade for a man in the 1950’s,  or maybe even the Forties, but I’ll make it my own.  Neat little way of unbuttoning the neckline so that it can be slipped on.  The most fabulous soft cotton, due to many washings and wearings.  LOVE the french sailors print!!!!!!!

And, of course, a chest pocket on the left.  There is damage under one arm, so I will be taking the sleeves off and making it a cap sleeve tunic.  Don’t mind – as an alteration, that’s probably better.  Love it when I find unusual things like this.  More coming . . . . . .

MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY

BLOG:  MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM

MID-CENTURY SWING DRESS FIND

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Fun find – a custom-tailored frock made sometime between 1960 and 1985.  It’s got overall a great day dress style, harking back to the 1940’s.  The best thing about the styling, I think, is the flared skirt design which will flip and twirl with every movement.  A perfect dress for dancing!

Another neat thing is that the seamstress put in a LONG side zipper so that it’s really easy to put on and take off – no need for contortion or someone to help you zip, as sometimes happens with back zippers.

This is a relatively simple dress, but little clues tell me that the maker put special thought into the styling and construction, which make it special.  Love it!

MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY

BLOG:  MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM

1970’S KNIT DRESSES – SOME OF THE BEST TAILORED CLOTHING FROM THE DISCO ERA

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Although the Seventies were full of schlocky clothing and many less-than-elegant designs, the full decline of everyday fashion hadn’t hit yet.  Here’s an example of a wonderfully-elegant style which was hand-made from one of those beautiful heavy double-knits that became popular in the early – mid decade.

Like the jersey knits of the 1940’s, this material was a real icon of the 1970s and performs very well.  The drape is very good and holds it’s shape.  This office-worthy frock was custom-tailored and is as simple as can be, which makes the design timeless.  The fabric and construction are of high quality.  If you find or still own a similar garment from that era, hang on to it!

A rare find (in my size!) that thrilled me to my toes.  But, we’re not finished yet – I’ll show you her party-going sister tomorrow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY

BLOG:  MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM

TRUE VINTAGE MID-CENTURY CUSTOM-TAILORED CLASSIC SUIT

TRUE VINTAGE CLASSIC WOMEN'S SUIT - JACKET/SKIRT FOR FALL

 

The style is so un-fussy and classic that it could be worn casually  like a day-dress or dressed up.   It could have been made anywhere from the late 1940’s to early 1960’s, but I lean toward the ’60’s because of the cotton velveteen-type fabric, which was popular then.  Hard to be sure, in this case.

I am certain that the suit was custom tailored.  It might even have been done at home. It’s amazing that many women were able to do this. Tailoring requires a lot of skill!

Look at all the covered buttons. And, the buttonholes are also bound. Amazing! Not to mention the lining, interfacing and padding required to make a garment like this fit properly.

Although it looks very elegant as pictured, imagine all the ways it could be worn and accessorized.  As separates, the jacket and skirt add more possibilities.  Simple suits like this can be great additions to any vintage wardrobe, making a variety of quick-changes possible . . . . . . . . . . . . .

MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY

BLOG:  MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM

 

1960’s MAD, MOD, FLOWER POWER A-LINE DRESS FIND – CUSTOM-MADE, TOO!

All those keywords in the title say it – just look at this frock   All the elements of mid-Sixties fashion are incorporated in this style, as well as the common mid-century feature of having been home-sewn.  What a fun discovery!  I’ll really enjoy it come summer.

Again, casual conservative styling in that flattering A-line shape.  Pretty trim detail and a Mod print.  So Sixties!  Just the kind of simple dress that so many women made when first learning to sew, though this one displays some skill by the well-done attachment of the neckline trim.

Back to the future again – and we’ll stay there for a while . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY

BLOG:  MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM

 

FUN, FUN, CUSTOM-TAILORED PLAY SUIT SHORTS SET FIND FROM THE 1960’S

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This Kennedy era, Mad Men sportswear ensemble was custom-tailored for fun in the sun, conservative-style.  High waist Bermuda shorts with a tunic top is dressy – casual and more versatile than a one-piece romper playsuit.  Kind of Preppy, without being too stuffy.

It’s always fun to see the vintage brand metal zippers plus the hand-tailored details.  As much as I love the most casual play-suits, it’s always good to have separates which can be worn so many ways and in interesting combinations.

This is just one of the hand-made garments that I just found – more to come . . . . . . . . . . . . .

MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY

BLOG:  MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM

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

BLOG:  MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM

 

 

 

 

BACK IN TIME AGAIN – 60 OR 70 YEARS. A COTTON HOME-SEWN TRUE VINTAGE FROCK – 1940’S/1950’S

IMG_1239An unusual dark plaid, but a shirtwaist style and definitely for warmish weather.  Notice the second layer of skirt, with a little ruffle at the top.  I wonder if the fabric she used was sold from a narrow bolt, so she had to piece the skirt for that reason???

It’s so much fun to try and unravel the mysteries that older garments, especially, can pose.  Unlike dresses made later, that usually buttoned lower down to make them easy to get into, these earlier ones often button only to the waist.  That’s why those side zippers were so necessary.

It also allowed the waist to be kept really tiny, rather than gathered in by the belt – just barely large enough to get shoulders through, with the help of that zipper opening.  Ahh, fashion . . . . . . .

MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY

BLOG:  MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM

 

MORE DRESSES! 2: CUSTOM-TAILORED MID-CENTURY SLINKY SHEATH

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This one’s a sexy day dress with ruching at the waistline to give it a bit of curvy shape, while still staying very proper.  Love the abstract atomic print in subtle shades that could go to work, or dinner, or . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Hand-tailored frocks are so much fun to discover because they always tell a story about the designer.  This style is so versatile – I’ll enjoy it, too.  More on the way . . . . . . . . . .

MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY

BLOG:  MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM