Tag Archives: shopping

1950s “KORET OF CALIFORNIA” LIGHTWEIGHT CASUAL JACKET FOR SPRING

True vintage nipped-waist jacket with big shell buttons and a fabulous fit. Love it. This is a hopsacking-type rayon blend material loosely woven. When I saw it I grabbed it up because all the vintage hallmarks were there in the materials, workmanship and the label. Yes, Koret is still manufacturing clothing, but I have not seen a modern label which reads Koret of California. And, of course, it looks like a vintage label.

Even though I found this in recent years, I was still not highly experienced – I wasn’t quite the magicvintagespy yet. After I got it home, I almost gave it away because of issues which I hadn’t thought of and made it less wearable for me. I’m glad that I didn’t give in, because I figured out how to solve them all. A frustrating problem for me when I finally had more time to do vintage-hunting was that I often ended up with some things that didn’t suit after all and I didn’t know what to do.

Now that is not an issue. i can address almost any problem that used to make me think I was at a dead end. When I’m shopping, I’m really good at knowing when to leave something behind that I might have picked up before and regretted. And, so many things that I might have given to a thrift shop, sadly, I can now make a part of my wardrobe after all! I find a lot more than I used to, as well.

It’s been worth every minute. Although sleuthing for vintage has always been a lot of fun for me, now the excitement is through the roof! My intention is to be contagious – I really want to spread the fun!! It’s so energizing to wonder – what will I find today? You just never know . . . . . . .

Morgana Martin, the magicvintagespy
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A FINDER’S TIP

Serendipitously (a word I love and wonderful experiences I love even more!), I just found a dress with a label name I’d been trying to remember to include in the list I posted a few days ago.  Magic always happens.

The label is R&K Originals.  They have made really nice ladies’ clothing for decades, and they still are!  How do you tell the difference between more modern items and one that is true vintage, especially if you are not an expert at spotting it? The label is always red and gray, embroidered on white.  Before about 1980, there is a small-print line below the company name that says “FOR THE GIRL WHO KNOWS CLOTHES”.  Isn’t that precious?!

 

Morgana Martin, the magicvintagespy

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A COLLECTION OF TRUE VINTAGE HANDBAGS FROM THE 1960s

A COLLECTION OF TRUE VINTAGE HANDBAGS FROM THE 1960s.

TRUE VINTAGE SHORT BLACK GABARDINE JACKET FROM THE 1940’S.

TRUE VINTAGE SHORT BLACK GABARDINE JACKET FROM THE 1940S..

A PARTIAL LIST OF THE TRUE VINTAGE LABELS THAT I FIND

It’s true that many of the true vintage (pre-1980s)  items that I discover don’t have labels.  Sometimes the label is missing or has been removed and or these items have been custom-made.  Sometimes a commercially-made item never had a label.  It’s the quality of the materials, the workmanship and design which are the most important to me but it’s always fun to find maker’s names that I know.

There are times when I don’t recognize a name and it may be difficult to find reference to it on-line.  Other times, the brand is well-known and those are the ones I’ll list below.  Although some of these brands are still in production, their vintage products are different and better, generally, than what they make now.

Naturalizer and Air-Step (shoes and purses)

Bobbie Brooks (sportswear)

Red Cross (shoes)

Princess Gardner (leather wallets)

Carol Craig (dressy dresses)

Frank Starr (dressier dresses)

Lanz (women’s clothing)

Stetson (hats – mostly men’s)

Fashionbuilt (coats)

Trifari (jewelry)

Koret (women’s clothing)

Coro (jewelry)

Sarah Coventry (jewelry)

Napier (jewelry)

Hudson Bay (car coats)

Gunne Sax (dresses)

Swirl (casual dresses)

Jantzen (sportswear, swimsuits)

Deliso Debs (women’s dressy shoes)

Morris Moscowitz (handbags)

Ande’ (purses)

Barbizon (lingerie & sleepwear)

Vanity Fair (lingerie & sleepwear)

RayBan (sunglasses)

Nellie Don (dresses)

Marshall Field (department store brand – Chicago)

Stix Baer & Fuller (department store brand, midwest)

Sax Fifth Avenue (high end store brand – Chicago)

Monet (jewelry)

Bulova (fine watches)

Keds (tennis shoes)

Skips (tennis shoes – Montgomery Ward brand?)

Carol Brent (Montgomery Ward brand)

White Stag (sportswear)

Ship ‘n Shore (blouses)

     There are well-known names that I can’t think of right now, and many others. Always a pleasure to uncover one, and it’s always a delightful surprise!  You just never know . . . . .

 

Morgana Martin, the magicvintagespy

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TRUE VINTAGE HANDBAG, 1950s TO EARLY 1960s WITH A TAPESTRY FRONT IN SPRING COLORS

TRUE VINTAGE HANDBAG, 1950s TO EARLY 1960s WITH A TAPESTRY FRONT IN SPRING COLORS

This beautiful bag was hanging on a rack with other very ordinary modern purses. I don’t think that the store personnel had a clue, but the magicvintagespy never fails to spot one . . . . . . .

Although it is faux leather and not top-of-the-line with no maker’s name inside, I love the pretty tapestry cover on the front. It is very well-made, as are most purses of that era, whether high-end or mid-priced. The colors are subtle and chic for Spring (or any season). It would be especially pretty with the season’s neutral colors like ivory, beige, or gray, as well as any solid color in the tapestry. It’s always great fun to find an unusual bag like this one.

My finds don’t always follow the weather, but I try to post photos of things that we would wear currently in North America. I know that doesn’t jibe for many of you joining in from some places in Europe, South America, Australia, the Middle East, Asia and the Pacific. Maybe the way the weather is changing, that’s not true after all!

Keep in touch and stay tuned because, you just never know . . . . . . . .

Morgana Martin, the Magicvintagespy
Blog: Magicvintagespy.com
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Book: How to Find the Best in Vintage Fashion available on Amazon.com

TRUE VINTAGE EARLY 1960s METALLIC SAPPHIRE BLUE STILETTO PUMPS

TRUE VINTAGE EARLY 1960s METALLIC SAPPHIRE BLUE STILETTO PUMPS.

TRUE VINTAGE EARLY 1960S SAPPHIRE BLUE TAFFETA PARTY FROCK

TRUE VINTAGE EARLY 1960S SAPPHIRE BLUE TAFFETA PARTY FROCK.

DOES THE TENDENCY OF VINTAGE CLOTHING TO BE SMALL DISCOURAGE YOU FROM GOING OUT AND HUNTING? DON’T LET IT!!

Granted ,many women were smaller back in the day – sometimes incredibly tiny compared to modern averages.  Especially if you are hunting for bargains, it might seem like everything you see is impossibly small (They really meant it when they coined the term “wasp-waist”?)

However, don’t believe it.  If you are fortunate enough to wear a small or x-small size, you will have lots of success.  Still, I regularly  find items of all types which are medium to large, too.  If you need a special item right away and haven’t been able to discover one in your size, you can visit a specialty vintage dealer and pay the market price.  There are lots of reputable people whom I have found whose prices are reasonable and their service is expert and trustworthy.  

If you have more time, a clear idea of what you want and some skills will find it for you eventually (maybe sooner than later!) Accessories, too, usually work for any size figure and many clothing items can be altered or adapted to fit.   

So, don’t let size discourage you because magic always happens when you believe in it.

 

Morgana Martin, the magicvintagespy

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LATE 1970s TRUE VINTAGE BOHO TOP

LATE 1970s TRUE VINTAGE BOHO TOP.