Tag Archives: ladies

A REAL VINTAGE -SLEUTHING MIRACLE!

Must report this major success – I believe it’s a first for me. Two weeks ago I was doing an investigation and discovered, in a very disorganized and jumbled collection, an old plaid cotton robe from way back that was missing it’s tie belt. Ho, hum – that’s the usual case, unfortunately. This item was posted on the blog on June 20.

Today I was able to get back into the field again and a thought in the back of mind was that perhaps somewhere, sometime soon I might run across a black or burgundy belt that would work as a substitute. Well, one of the first things I spied in the motley mess was: THE ACTUAL MISSING BELT!! If these belts have not been preserved along with the garment, it’s virtually unheard of to see them again. It will need some mending since it’s very old, but can be rehabbed with no problem.

Found something else very neat today which I’ll be showing soon, but this was my little victory dance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY

BLOG: MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM

TAILORED BLOUSE THAT IS BOTH TRUE VINTAGE AND RETRO . . . . . . . . . .

1940’s styling from the early 1970’s, when a Forties wave was happening in fashion. Under the Shirt Accent label, this blouse has Dolman sleeves, a ’40’s style wing collar and side seam vents at the waistline.

As is often seen with vintage tailoring, the blouse is purposed to be very versatile. It can be worn casually, un-tucked with jeans, pants or shorts. However, dressed up a bit with skirts and high-waist slacks it will tuck in nicely.

No doubt, this garment had been someone’s staple for 45 – 50 years with only one tiny seam repair needed. Now it will be mine for another 50?

Tomorrow we’ll be traveling back in time to a much earlier era . . . . . . . .. . .

MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY

BLOG: MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM

A Cozy Mid-Century Housecoat and Very Vintage Robe

This pretty aqua at-home garment by It’s A Charm is remarkable because it looks virtually new after about 60 years. Classically styled, the front snaps are made to look like buttons. The string tie at neckline is fastened on with a little safety pin in order to be removed when you put the item in a washing machine. So practical. The cute flower basket embroidery on the pocket really is Charming.

On the other hand, I can’t help but love this ratty robe (men’s, I think) that needed a little mending at the collar. It’s probably the older of these two pieces and testifies to lots of loyal service on weekends and evenings, year in and year out. Made of cotton fabric in an attractive plaid – I’ll still need to find or make a belt for it, but that should be a cinch (no pun intended?). Who knows – I may even encounter one the next time I get out in the field . . . . which brings up the aviso that outlets may be closing again due to current threats . . . . . . . . . . . .

Still more to come, however.

MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY

BLOG: MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM

Fab High-waist Slacks from the 1960’s

Drat! Clear channels are blocked so I won’t be able to send the entire inventory in one product. So, each acquisition will be covered in a separate communique.

These slacks could possibly be from the 1950’s, but I’m going to bet that they’re a few years younger than that. Pants like these have been on my discover list for some time. They have a slim, but not tight, fit. The pleats in front are not bunchy and the hip pockets lie flat!! Plus, there are little notches in the side seams at the ankles. Nice summer-weight fabric in basic bright colors. Perfect condition, fabulous vintage tailoring and THEY FIT!!!

After several months off the streets, it’s nice to venture into circulation again but – as always until further notice – sleuth cautiously and with protection.

MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY

BLOG: MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM

REPORT FROM TEMPORARY SUBSTATION: Investigations resuming cautiously

Some local avenues re-opening. Surreptitious reconnaissance resuming at a modest pace. Marketing activity still hampered by global events. Recent capture of various goods transported undercover. Report to follow, with documented inventory.

MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY

BLOG: MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM

KENNEDY-ERA SHEATH DINNER DRESS IN FABULOUS CONDITION

A gold rayon satin sheath, perfect for cocktails and dinner out in 1960. The over-dress with high slits and frog decoration is very much a style of that time. The white embroidered design is a little showy, but understated fashion wasn’t a big thing then. However, this dress still manages to be elegant.

Sadly, there is no label remaining and I doubt that it was home-sewn. Could have been custom-tailored by an expert dressmaker, which was a favorite thing to have done back then. Of course, I miss my mannequin models big-time when showing off this frock. A fitted sheath looks best on hourglass figures and was really cut to fit that way when it was new.

I’m discovering things from the late ’50’s and early ’60’s a little more often in the last year or two and it’s obviously a sign of the times. Not sure how many 80- and 90-year-olds might still be hanging on to a favorite Mod designer outfit. I guess I’ll find out later, but we’re still going in that direction tomorrow. Hang on . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY

BLOG: MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM

RARE FIND. 1950’S TEX-MEX STYLE COTTON CIRCLE SKIRT

Haven’t run across one of these in a while, so I’m thrilled. They were so popular in the 1950’s and early 1960’s. Travelers to Mexico and the southwest U.S. loved to buy them at stores carrying souvenirs, Western-wear and Native American goods and bring them home. The women living there wore them every day(especially if they were transplants from up north)-so comfortable and flattering.

Casual ones like this were often worn with white peasant blouses with puffy sleeves – see Kim Novak wearing one in Picnic(1955) with William Holden. Native American versions with LOTS of ric-rac usually had matching blouses. Pretty sure this one was home-sewn, but nicely done. The hem had been taken up from it’s below-knee original length but it was easy to take those stitches out. It’s fun to see clothing that has been altered over the years to go along with changing fashions. There is one old mend and some wear near the waistband closure that will require a little rehab, but that’s A-OK. I love vintage garments with a history and it testifies to the authenticity.

So, this one’s probably the oldest, but not by much. We’ll got forward in fashion history tomorrow. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY

BLOG: MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM

NEWEST FIND! MID-CENTURY COTTON GRANNY DRESS

Ooh, groovy mama! I love these – from a small-ish label in California this hippie boho dress from the late 1960’s or early ’70’s is a pure sign of those times. 100% cotton, with flounces and smocking. To be worn barefoot or with army boots.

I’ll have a lot of fun with this one. Wonder what’s next . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY

BLOG: MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM

STYLISH ITALIAN LOAFERS IN 100% LEATHER – VINTAGE?

True vintage or retro? It’s not easy to tell with shoes from European makers. The styles are so classic and the construction methods so traditional that they still look like the beautiful footwear we used to see in North America before marketing and cost-cutting robbed them of their elegance and high quality.

Whether these were made in the Sixties, the Eighties or 5 years ago, they were too good to pass by. The value, of course, is that I can have them repaired as needed for as long as I want to wear them.

That’s it for my most recent treasure hunt but now that I’m on dry land again, you just never know . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY

BLOG: MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM

CLASSIC, CLASSIC, CLASSIC TRUE VINTAGE HANDMADE SHEATH DRESS

This is a style I love and it even got better when I saw the full lining and hand-stitching. A tailor-made dress that I’ll wear for decades to come.

Boring? NOT!! From the late 1960’s to the early 1970’s, this design has been around at least since the Forties. Nothing says comfortable, tasteful and well-dressed better than this.

Add a scarf, an elegant necklace or a statement belt – good leather shoes and handbag (true vintage, of course). Your profile is instantly elevated. Working with vintage garments and accessories, it’s easy. That was the nature of fashion for our mothers and grandmothers. Durable, stylish and well-made does the trick. That goes for shoes, too . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY

BLOG: MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM