Tag Archives: pajamas

TRUE VINTAGE MEN’S AND LADIES’ SLEEPWEAR & ROBES FROM THE 1950’S & 1960’S

While our mid-century gal is off on her snowbird vacation (see posts from the last few days), Baby, it’s COLD outside here at home! Although Spring is just around the corner (yes, it really is), we still need to be snuggling into robes and pajamas at night. I love doing posts about my archives of true vintage lingerie because it’s always so interesting and pretty. So, let’s take a closer look at these files –

For the men, a swanky rayon bathrobe makes any guy an instant sophisticate. Abstract medallion print with satin trim. How aristocratic! As for the PJs, cotton print men’s pajamas from the 1940’s and 1950’s are so wonderful. Of course, they wear to cozy softness but the real star of the scene is the art prints that many of them displayed. This pair have stylized hand fans all over – an unusual motif for men’s PJs, but that’s what they are. Both pieces show the standard tailoring for men’s garments, though it’s fun for women to wear them, too.

For the ladies, true vintage sleepwear and robes are always so lovely. Even very plain ones seem to have pretty tailoring details. The rosy red robe pictured above is made from a plush fabric. Details include pretty buttons, satin piping on the collar and 3/4 length bell sleeves. The deadstock cotton PJs are plain but still have pretty lace trim and pearl buttons. I think the plaid fabric is quite nice, too. The thing I like most about these old-style pajamas is how the waistline is made. It does have some elastic around the back, but the front is plain and closes with a side button. It also has at least one hip pocket, which is surprisingly convenient.

Tomorrow, before our vacationer gets home, I’ll look at another true vintage sleepwear archive with more Spring-like styling. Stay tuned . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY

BLOG: MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM

SNUGGLEY TRUE VINTAGE SLEEPWEAR AND LOUNGEWEAR 1950’S – 1970’S

Everybody seems to love red, especially this time of year. It’s certainly a color which can make us feel warmer, which is what we’re beginning to need in a big way now. On the left is a favorite 1950’s pajama set of mine, woven 100% cotton with little fans printed all over. The print would make you think that these must be women’s PJ’s but actually these are a large size boys’! Take a look at the direction of the button closure.

Although I have lots of women’s PJ’s and gowns, my men’s pajamas from the 1940’s and 1950’s are really special. Classic unisex PJ style (though, often, men’s have a fly), but the best feature is that the men’s garments are very sometimes printed with wonderful medallion prints or novelty prints like the one above. A large (16 – 18) vintage boys’ size will fit me well – I wear a ladies 4. A men’s small will usually do OK or can be easily altered. Women’s PJ’s are most often of a solid color nylon or silk or a fine cotton printed with small flowers, decorated with lace or other trim. Really beautiful and comfy, but sometimes a little boring.

However, true warmth comes from robes, and this is where the women’s garments shine. They are more often found in warm fabrics such as plush, chenille and quilting. Women traditionally spent more time at home than men did so ladies’ true vintage robes and dressing gowns are built to be worn for several hours, rather than just after getting out of the bath or shower. Although men’s vintage robes sometimes have nice prints, women’s are more often embellished with embroidery, trim and buttons. Each decade had it’s typical style and popular fabric but the general rules seem to apply to sleepwear and robes from all the decades from the late 1800’s to the present day.

My 1970’s robe above is certainly worthy of Mrs. Claus as she makes breakfast for the elves. (Sorry, but traditional folklore and myths tend to be very sexist.) It’s by Vanity Fair, a company which has made women’s at-home styles and lingerie for decades. I love the pretty style, but the long bell sleeves are very impractical in the kitchen and I don’t think the mid-priced market for this item targeted women who had hired “help” at home. That can be an inherent problem with true vintage fashions – occasionally they are poorly suited to an average lifestyle and can even be uncomfortable at times but that’s a minor consideration and not worth a mention as long as you are in the know. Wouldn’t stop me gathering the evidence for a second. When did practicality ever have anything to do with fashion and style, especially when a holiday or other special occasions are on the horizon? Stay tuned . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..

MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY

BLOG: MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM

FUN FIFTIES PJs FIND

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Hello, Climate Change! The weather has suddenly morphed from sweltering to chilly and I’m pulling out these snuggly cotton flannel pajamas. Nothing beats the comfort and durability of these common Fifties garments. So comforting and warm, and I love the design that Stella wears above!

Morgana Martin, the magicvintagespy

Blog: Magicvintagespy.com

TRUE VINTAGE PAJAMAS FIND – DEFINITELY ON MY “WANT IT” LIST

TRUE VINTAGE PAJAMAS FIND – DEFINITELY ON MY “WANT IT” LIST

Just found these PJ’s from the early 1960’s, or 1950’s, – one of the things I’ve been hoping for and not someplace I expected to discover them. Tailored design, blue with red piping, big plastic buttons and snap-close fly. When I first saw the top mixed in with dresses, etc. I thought that they were womens’ but later noticed that they are men’s. Fortunately, they are a size Small and will fit me, even if a little oversized, and appear to be like new.

This is a wonderful and rare find. Although I have some great printed versions from the 1950’s, was hoping for a plain tailored style – et voila! Olina is a brand I’ve never seen before, but did some research and saw one for sale on eBay with a label indicating “Made in U.S.A.”, which is a 1980’s – ’90’s thing. It was still in the original package.

This one doesn’t have any label like that or sign that a second label had been present. The sizing measurements indicated on the packaged set on eBay are vintage by today’s standards and it looks as though this company made pajamas over at least 2 – 3 decades.

I love it that the Universe always hears me. See the dress I found tomorrow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY

BLOG: MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM

FAB DISCOVERY – A 1960’S BABY DOLL NEGLIGEE’ & PANTS

FAB DISCOVERY – A 1960’S BABY DOLL NEGLIGEE’ & PANTS

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A rockabilly Bye-Bye-Birdie Playboy hot weather classic – the short short baby doll nightie.  Just right for after the St. P’s party. I’ve come across a few of these during my investigations, but rarely with the original panties!  The green is more or less unusual, too, and goes perfectly with Stella’s new auburn hairdo.

Although “baby doll” nighties started out in the 1940’s when many fashion hemlines skyrocketed because of the shortage of fabrics, the earlier ones did not tend to be as short as they became during the Kennedy era.  Many 1950’s babydoll nightgowns were just above the knee – shorter than the skirt and dress hemlines popular then, but hardly short by today’s standards.

As always, though, it has pretty lace and ruffle trim and has held up like crazy over more than 50 years!  It’s always new for the Magicvintagespy – I wonder what will be next . . . . .

MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY

BLOG:  MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM

A CACHE OF TRUE VINTAGE LINGERIE FINDS: TREASURE WORTH SAFE-KEEPING

I came across a whole bunch of classic nylon sleepwear pieces that are ALWAYS worth adding to your collection – even if you already have several.  My rationale? :

1. if you’ve never slept in mid-century nylon pj’s or gowns (just about 1950’s to very early 1970’s), you don’t know what you’re missing!  There is nothing (including silk) that is more comfortable as well as practical in bed and for lounging.  They add warmth and are also cool, plus luxuriously smooth and soft.  The fit is forgiving.  2.  well-made and classically stylish, you won’t find anything equal in modern garments.  3.  often you may find single pieces – these are great for matching later, with an identical or similar mate, or as an accessory, such as the black sleeveless cape pictured above.  I plan to wear it over a black nightgown.

Not to forget, photo 3 is of a satin storage bag I discovered.  These have been staple pieces in women’s undie drawers and storage chests for decades.  Not sure if they are still being made to the same standard, but this one is great.  Pretty peachy pink and brown in the classic style with inner pocket and fold-over styling, plus ribbon closure ties.  Nothing is better for keeping hosiery and delicate garments safe from snags and dust.  Grab these, too, whenever you see one.  A girl can never have too many . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY

BLOG:  MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM

 

FUN FIFTIES PJ’s FIND

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Nothing better than Sanforized cotton flannel pajamas on cool nights.  Although these were made for men, the Medium size would be OK for lots of women today.  At first, I thought that they were “new”, but one of them was probably worn a little.  They were made in Hong Kong, so the workmanship is up to a higher standard.  I love all of the old details and vintage buttons.  They were sold by Sears back in the day, under the stores’ own label.

Not the most flattering or delicate of sleepwear, but still wonderful!

MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY

BLOG:  MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM

JUST FOUND! GORGEOUS 1930’S – 1940’S WARTIME TO POST-WAR RAYON BED JACKET

 

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What a neat discovery!  I have 2 or 3 lingerie bed jackets from this era already, but haven’t found another for a long time.  Rare, rare, rare.  This one may have been part of some woman’s trousseau, which she stored away lovingly for decades.  Some were made of silk.  This one is glossy rayon.

Pretty bed jackets from the post-war 1950’s are also fabulous, but much different from the older wartime ones.  Notice in the detail close-up the embroidered mesh decoration.  Remember that from the nightgown I showed just a few days ago?

Oh, I’m over the moon again and will also store this garment away lovingly, probably for decades . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY

BLOG:  MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM