Tag Archives: Mad Men

TWO TRUE VINTAGE PURSES FOR SPRING & SUMMER BY MORRIS MOSCOWITZ & ANDE’

TWO TRUE VINTAGE PURSES FOR SPRING BY MORRIS MOSCOWITZ & ANDE'

These two are very special, though they may not seem so at first glance. Let me tell you why –

The coral-color clutch is by Morris Moscowitz, a maker of fine handbags until about 1975.  This one is from the Fifties or very early Sixties.  It is fabric on the outside – a linen/rayon blend is what it looks like – and fabric-lined inside (much more nicely than anything I see in the mid-priced range today).  Love the color and the fabric exterior – great for Spring and Summer.  You will find the maker’s name printed in gold inside – MM with the full name in small letters below.  Beware, as always, of logos that look similar, but are not authentic.

The second one can double as a clutch or handbag, made of imitation leather with a fabric lining.  It is by Ande’.   Purses by this maker, in my experience,  were not high-end items but their designs were always innovative and creative and they are nicely made.  For example, this one has a make-up mirror that folds out on a hinge.  You’ll never lose or break this one!  Of course, it would usually be stored inside the purse, as the handle can be, too.  Notice the Lucite clasp.

What else makes these handbags wonderful?  Remember, they are at least 50 years old and have stood up exceptionally well.  Their construction speaks to the quality of the materials and the workmanship in the manufacture of them which is something that we, unfortunately, see very rarely today.

I’ve discovered several of these in my various vintage-hunting episodes and they are each different and distinctive.
Little details are always a surprise! You just never know . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY

BLOG:  MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM

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

TRUE VINTAGE FIFTIES / EARLY SIXTIES SCARF BANDEAUS – BEAUTIFUL FOR SPRING AND SUMMER!

TRUE VINTAGE FIFTIES / EARLY SIXTIES SCARF BANDEAUS - BEAUTIFUL FOR SUMMER!

These scarves are of a vintage style I see rarely – sewn in a continuous circle and open in the back.  You can scrunch and spread them but they have no elastic built in.  Mid-century film stars loved this style.

The idea is to make a chic “hat”, pinned and adjusted to your type of hairstyle, or a quick and elegant solution to bad hair days.  They’re usually sheer rayon, nylon or silk.

Must have been, more or less, a brief “fad”. It would be easy to make or fake now, but the real thing is always more intriguing . . . . . . . . .

MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY

BLOG:  MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM

AN ALWAYS-WELCOME TRUE VINTAGE ACCESSORY: MID-CENTURY VERA SCARF

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Isn’t this one a  beauty?!  There are the green and blue tones so popularly paired together in the early 1960’s, the great graphic design and, of course, the designer’s signature.  Whenever I see one in excellent condition (that’s almost always true), I always pick it up.

I love how well these scarves hold up over the years.  That’s a testament to quality, and to the women who treated them with care.  Nothing adds a better and more authentic vintage touch to your outfit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  . .

MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY

BLOG:  MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM

VERY CUTE! TRUE VINTAGE EARLY 1960’S SPRING DAY DRESS

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SWEET LITTLE BIAS-CUT FROCK WITH A SWING AND SWAY HEMLINE.

This dress is so simple, but there are very interesting and attractive details – true to its mid-century era.  The bow at the neckline and little covered buttons are precious.  The fabric, also, is lovely.  It feels like rayon and has a weave that makes it look like shantung – very smart for such a plain dress, but – that’s true vintage – they put really nice details on even the most everyday off-the-rack garments.

Although this style would be very easy to home-sew, the dress was commercially made.  A tag inside says it’s a vintage plus size 18 1/2, believe it or not.  Equivalent to a size 6 or 8 today.  Size 4 me can even wear it with a belt, though I might want to pad my bra a bit . . . . . .. .

MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY

BLOG:  MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM

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

ANOTHER SURPRISE FIND! TRUE VINTAGE 1940’S/’50’S DRESS WITH THE TAGS STILL ON!!

ANOTHER SURPRISE FIND! TRUE VINTAGE 1940'S/'50'S DRESS WITH THE TAGS STILL ON!!

I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE surprises like this!! A polished cotton Spring shirtwaist frock from back in the day that’s new to me!

This dress would have been sold in a hometown store or a department store – it was a budget to mid-priced item – but the quality of workmanship would beat most of what is sold today.  That’s not even to consider the fabric – it’s really superior and you won’t find anything like that now!

It was just an everyday day-dress to Rosie the Riveter or Lucy Ricardo, but I think it’s cute with a lot of attitude today. That’s what it’s all about.  Madge thinks it’s pretty swell . . . . . . . . . .

MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY

BLOG:  MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM

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

A HAPPY TRUE VINTAGE MID-CENTURY PARTY DRESS

BYE - BYE BLUES! A HAPPY FIFTIES PARTY DRESS ENDS MY BLUE SERIES, for the time being . . . .

If you find a good deal on a vintage dress with stains like these, don’t let it worry you. I’ve had great success learning how to deal with them . . . . . . . . .

In heavy rayon or a blend, with its own rhinestone pin and a sassy fit, this dress has 1950’s party written all over it. In a pretty robin’s egg print, it’s just right for Spring. Try it with a little bolero jacket or sweater.

A frock such as this one is too good to pass up, if you feel confident about your skills. . . . . .

MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY

BLOG:  MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM

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

CUTE LITTLE SEERSUCKER MINI SKIRT SUIT FROM THE MID-SIXTIES, FOR SPRING, SUMMER AND EARLY FALL!

CUTE LITTLE SEERSUCKER SKIRT SUIT FROM THE SIXTIES, FOR SUMMER!

A cotton suit like this is a very unusual discovery.  Casual wear often didn’t stay in good shape over the years and separates, especially, didn’t stand the wear and tear of frequent use.  It’s not rare to run into seersucker, which is a really fun and durable fabric.  But, to find a true vintage piece is quite uncommon.

Like in the Fifties, it seems that little casual suits were also popular in the Sixties and were worn like day-dresses used to be.  Pants were STILL not hugely popular, with women generally sticking to dresses and skirts more often than we do now.

This outfit has cute little details like waist tabs and notches in the hems – nice tailoring details that are a hold-over from the 1940’s and 1950’s, though I think this suit was sold through one of the catalog houses that were popular then, like Montgomery Ward, Penneys or Sears & Roebuck, and wouldn’t have been considered a high quality item.

Not quite my color and a little large for me, so it probably won’t stay in my closet forever. But, can’t pass up a beauty like this! Such fun . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..

MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY

BLOG:  MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM

MORE TRUE VINTAGE MID-CENTURY ACCESSORIES – IN RARE CONDITION

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TRUE VINTAGE 1950’S FASHION ACCESSORIES

Look what cropped up yesterday?  3 beautiful accessories from the Fifties – handbags and a silk scarf.

What’s so special about these is their rarity and excellent condition.  The scarf is perfect in gorgeous silk, with no snags, holes or hemming problems.

The raffia purse is rare and very clean.  The weaving is undamaged, as is the liner!  It’s only issue is a bit of discoloration in places – probably from sun.

The white purse is hard to see in detail because of the glare but is totally covered in TINY white seed beads.  Excepting for a few missing beads near the clasp, there is no damage, inside or out.  It was made in Belgium for Bonwit Teller.

Couldn’t be more pleased. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY

BLOG:  MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM

 

NEW TO ME – PRETTY PASTEL YELLOW CLASSIC 1960’S FROCK

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Very early Sixties Spring dress from the early to mid-1960’s.  It’s a real blast from the past in a lady-like style, so typical of that time.  The zipper is metal, but the fabric an easy-care knit which was also popular then – “wash and wear” had become the common thing.

A dress like this is so versatile.  It can be worn almost everywhere, dressed up or down. Especially now when footwear choices are completely open, boots, pumps, sandals or flip-flops could all be possibilities that would not have been “right” when this dress was made.  Oh, you might have gotten by with go-go boots, flats, pumps or dressy sandals but that would have been all.

Ahh, fashion freedom.  Love it!  Can’t have it without true vintage in your closet, too . . . . . . . . . . . . .

MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM

BLOG:  MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM

TRUE VINTAGE MID-SIXTIES – 1970’S EMPIRE WAIST SEMI-FORMAL LONG DRESS IN NAVY, WITH MATCHING JACKET

IMG_0981 IMG_0982     So typical between the mid-Sixties and mid-Seventies.  In spite of all the frou-frou Edwardian/Prairie/Hippie stuff that was popular, plain knit dresses with clean lines were also a staple – more elegant and timeless, but still very fashionable.

This ensemble is a polyester or poly blend with an empire seam that rises from waist level up under the bust-line in front, fold-over neckline, back zip and a princess cut.  The long-sleeve bolero jacket echos the military trend that was also popular then with it’s metal buttons.

Otherwise, the design is  plain and undecorated.  The fabric has a slight ribbed texture to add interest.  It’s hard to call this dress “semi-formal” because it is so tailored, but at that time the style would not have been a day-dress.

Especially good for Spring or Fall.  What a treat!

MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY

BLOG:  MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM