Rare fabric, rare makers, rare designs. Men’s shirts, but small – for me! Love these!! I have a few, but these are unique. So fun to find labels that I rarely or have never seen, fabric that I had to research and these great prints that just pop out like nothing else.
And, as always, at a fabulous bargain . . . . . . . . . . . .
MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY
BLOG: MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM
I have lots of pearl jewelry – costume and real – in my vintage fashion collection, but couldn’t pass these up. Large costume pearls in graduated sizes – difficult to find now! I would say that this example dates 1930’s – 1950’s.
Also, it’s in great condition, with a lovely golden color. The cord is knotted between each bead. Equally wonderful is the clasp, which has a pearlized center, surrounded by small ruby-pink rhinestones or crystals. The necklace is long enough that the clasp can be draped a bit in back if I’m wearing a neckline that plunges there.
There’s nothing more elegant or alluring than pearls . . . .
MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY
BLOG: MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM
A kind-of unusual-looking style, don’t you think? These need a polish and a little cleaning, but they’re in excellent condition. Leather pumps by “Diana” – rather high cut on the vamp. They remind me of what I see teachers wearing in old photos.
Investigating across the world is challenging, exciting and always intriguing. One thing that was fun in Australia is that several of the things I found are familiar, but still a bit different from what I discover in the U.S. and Canada. Their own brands and, maybe, some other foreign influences have given the styles a unique twist.
As always, you just never know . . .
MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY
BLOG: MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM
Beautiful true vintage western-wear jacket from the 1950s/early ’60s. Notice the superb workmanship and tailoring (even though it would look best on a size 4 model rather than size 6).
I LOVE the older leather items made in the American west, or in Mexico and Europe. So beautiful! Forgive me if your country has made wonderful leather items, too, and I have not mentioned you here.
The materials are of high quality and have enabled it to last for 50 years with very little sign of wear. Find a jacket of this type and enjoy it for life!
MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY
BLOG: MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM
Yes, a lot of our grandmothers and great-grandmothers knitted dresses like these at home! So hard to imagine.
These photos from the Fifties and early Sixties come from McCall’s Needlework magazine – a popular and easy-to-find magazine that could be bought the way we might buy Vogue or Glamor now, on a newsstand somewhere. Of course, knitted dresses were made commercially, too, and I’ve found several. But, the custom-made one-of-a-kind is always the most special.
P.S. Please vote in the Presidential election if you are a U.S. citizen. Get registered if you need to or check your registration status. This is a very important one – not one to sit out. . . . . . . ..
MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY
BLOG: MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM
What fun! I haven’t discovered a fabulous true vintage hat in quite a while.
Very pretty turban-look that’s actually a large pillbox style. Sits nicely at any angle. The color is a mushroomy brown with hints of green and it’s from the 1940’s, 1950’s or early 1960’s. Velour/velvet fabric in great condition – so sophisticated, but versatile. I’ll wear it a lot.
So goes the day of . . . . . . . . . . .
MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY
BLOG: MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM
I’ve always loved the garments made by this company, SWIRL, and this one is no exception. It may not be as old as some of the ones I own, but still has the ’60’s – ’70’s applique’ and the great styling.
Like some other things (the dresses I just came up with . . . . .), you can never have too many . . . . . . .
MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY
BLOG: MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM
Here we have a Lanz Originals cotton flannel gown from the 1960’s. Yes, the hearts & flowers print is too sweet but for this kind of quality and warmth, I bit and bought. I always trust their true vintage clothing to be well-made and classic – in fact, they’re very traditional. Not my favorite, but on a blustery winter night by the fire . . . . . . . . . . .
MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY
BLOG: MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM
Isn’t this pretty? It’s another iconic early to mid-Sixties style that I’ve seen before – a party/dance/special occasion frock made for junior sizes. Empire styling and cute bows. These are almost always manufactured by some smaller maker – sometimes they have a department store name.
That’s how some of the best middle-priced dresses were marketed – sold in small stores around the country or well-known department stores. More popularly-priced clothing was available through the Sears, Montgomery Ward and Penney’s stores and catalogs – catalog shopping was huge.
I think it’s so cool that our grandmothers could buy a moderately-priced dress like this and find hand-stitched details inside. That disappeared not long after this one was made . . . . . . . . . . .
MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY
BLOG: MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM
Not terribly “different” or “vintage-looking” until you examine the details. This is a typical dance party frock from the time when Barbie was Homecoming Queen . . . . . ..
MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY
BLOG: MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM
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