IN A SIMILAR HUE, BUT THIS TIME FULL-ON WINTRY WOOL
The forties and early fifties are favorite fashion eras of mine and the suits from that time are delectable!
You can’t beat 1940 – 1960 for lovely tailoring and flattering fit when it comes to women’s suits. This photo is a bit dark, but I hope that you can see the detailing on the jacket. So many garments from that time have these beautiful elements, and I’m sure that this one was an off-the-rack choice.
I’d love to be able to go to a nearby shop or department store and know that I could always find lovely, well-made clothing in a moderate price range, with careful assistance from the staff. Our grandmothers, at least in North America and Europe, usually could.
Of course, in cultures where expert tailor shops abounded, such as in parts of eastern Asia, gorgeous custom-made clothing was the norm and, maybe, still is.
Ah, what luxury.
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WE CAN SOMETIMES GET AWAY FROM THE HEAVY WOOL NOW IN NORTH AMERICA – YEA!
For Spring or Fall – or any time the temps are in that mid cool-ish range – a lightweight wool knit skirt suit by Butte Knits. I LOVE the olive drab color and the flattering fit.
This is one of a few examples I’ve found of mid-60’s suits like this, or similar. The high-end knits are so comfortable and easy to wear, but ready for just about any setting. It’s also two separates that can easily be paired with other skirts or pants for a different look.
I think my Aussie friends down under would love a garment like it at this time of year . . . . . . . . . . .
MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY
BLOG: MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM
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Two days ago I had the privilege of talking with two of the owners of vintage clothing stores in Melbourne who have been doing business for years there. Both of these stores were included in my book’s reference section two years ago, but I hadn’t had the opportunity of meeting these women in person until now.
Nicole Jenkins, owner of CIRCA, is a true ‘grande dame’ of the vintage trade and has written several books. One was awarded a bronze medal by the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. Trained as a costume designer, she really knows her stuff down to the most technical details. I certainly learned new things during our short visit and her passion for the care and conservation of true vintage fashion items plus her wealth of knowledge earn my respect. She has lovely items for sale, plus a huge inventory behind the scenes – ranging from 1820’s to the present day. Well worth a visit.
“Annie” and her husband have operated RetroStar for eleven years and are real veterans among vintage-hunters. They have a delightful collection of remodeled true vintage and original true vintage, plus a smattering of new merchandise. Jewelry, accessories and clothing of all types – dresses galore. I especially enjoyed their relatively new “Forties/Fifties Room” that is filled with gems from those decades, in beautiful condition. No matter what you’re seeking, there’s sure to be something of interest. They bring in large numbers of “new” items every month. Don’t miss it – lots of fun.
So there – what a treat! Just another of the “perks” of my sleuthing investigations . . . . . . .
MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY
BLOG: MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM
BOOK: HOW TO FIND THE BEST IN VINTAGE FASHION – AVAILABLE ON AMAZON.COM
Disco Days again! This silver-sparkly knit dress and jacket are for dancing the night away.
The dress is bare shoulders with rhinestone-studded straps and trim, back zip and a side slit for doing the boogie. The jacket has rhinestone-studded buttons. I have some silver and black platform sandals from the same era that go perfectly!.
This is another of those specialty outfits from a small shop in South Beach Miami, Florida. It has the hallmarks of the late ’70’s – mostly in the fabric and some of the construction details.
Not a high-end garment this time in terms of its quality, but I’ll bet it was expensive because of where it was sold – even back then. Fortunately, all the rhinestones in the buttons and trimming are in place so we can’t fault the value of those items – they didn’t tend to fall apart.
I’m always pleasantly surprised to see how well decorative trimmings and buttons on true vintage fashion hold up over many years. It’s a blessing, because they’re irreplaceable! However, I have found a couple of stores that specialize in these authentic vintage items where you can look . . . . . . . .
MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY
BLOG: MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM
BOOK: HOW TO FIND THE BEST IN VINTAGE FASHION – AVAILABLE ON AMAZON.COM
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