ANOTHER GREEN MID-CENTURY FIND – RARE RIBBON SKIRT FROM THE 1950’S!

IMG_1705In almost the same shade of green as yesterday’s dress, I discovered this skirt on the same day. Wow – I’ve just recently found a trove of true vintage dresses, skirts, accessories, lingerie, shirts and blouses (we’ll get to the one Stella’s wearing later).  Not to mention, of course, my fabulous vintage navy pea jacket find!

Dresses and suits made of this knit material with grosgrain ribbon sewn closely all over in a swirly pattern were very popular among the dressier set in the Fifties. I have a black suit decorated this way and I remember that my great grandmother had a dress.  This skirt might have had a matching jacket originally since, as I said, this style is usually seen in dressy garments.

However, it will work well as a separate, too, and is a great foundation for a beautiful blouse or sweater – no jacket needed.  That’s one thing I like about true vintage suits as opposed to dresses – although our grandmothers were tied in to wearing the jacket and skirt together as an “outfit”, as dictated by the fashion rules of the time, we can do so many wonderful things with the separate pieces now, as well.

Once in a while I see one of these ribbon garments, but very rarely – SO, it was ANOTHER Eureka moment for the Magicvintagespy.  Life is fun!!

MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY

BLOG:  MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM

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

WONDERFUL TRUE VINTAGE CIRCLE SKIRT FROM THE FIFTIES

IMG_1685This beautiful skirt is a full circle, decorated in the style of some Native American costumes that was very popular in the 1950’s.  It seems like these beautiful clothes were “discovered” by tourists and movie-goers during the Forties and it became a real trend to buy them as souvenirs of travel and to wear to casual parties (in the eastern U.S.) and for everyday out West.

Made of a substantial cotton, and always colorful with braid trim or ric-rac.  Some were made by Western-wear companies and some were made at home.  I love these for summer, but they are really 3-season skirts that look nice with sweaters, too.

Always makes me happy to find one!

MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY

BLOG:  MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM

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

TRUE VINTAGE FULL CIRCLE SKIRT – A SOUVENIR OF MEXICO CIRCA 1950’S

Source: TRUE VINTAGE FULL CIRCLE SKIRT – A SOUVENIR OF MEXICO CIRCA 1950’S

TRUE VINTAGE FULL CIRCLE SKIRT – A SOUVENIR OF MEXICO CIRCA 1950’S

IMG_1668Hand-painted on 100% cotton in “fast colors”, this skirt will swirl and twirl with a gazillion different blouses and tops, depending on your mood.  It’s typical of the souvenir garments available then, but different from the ones my older relatives had collected in the 1940’s and 1950’s – each one is unique!

I love the typical scene of tropical nature, a small dwelling and workers resting in the shade.  Perfect to wear while sipping a Margarita or Mojito under a palm tree (or on the back patio – Patio Party, anyone?)

Handcrafted pieces are always collectible, gorgeous and make nostalgic mementos of travel back in the day.”South of the border – down Mexico way” . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY

BLOG:  MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM

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

TRUE VINTAGE TWO-PIECE KNIT DRESS FROM THE LATE ’50’S/EARLY ’60’S – MOD MEETS MAD MEN

PERFECT DINNER TO DANCING DRESS – TRUE VINTAGE MID-CENTURY

Morgana Martin, the magicvintagespy's avatarMagicvintagespy

TWO-PIECE KNIT MAD MEN DRESS FROM THE LATE '50'S/EARLY '60'S

For dinner or after-work cocktails, this little number would fill the bill. Pair it with some matching blue pumps and you’d really be swank.

Simple as can be, but with the neckline decoration and the little vents at the waist, it’s very stylish. And, like a sheath dress, the fit is classic and really flattering.

If you are a DIYer, this style is very simple to sew.  I have another very similar in lightweight soft green wool – made by the grandmother of a friend in mid-century, as a 3-season dressy day dress.

Just the thing to have in your closet for that unexpected invitation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY

BLOG:  MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM

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

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3 TRUE VINTAGE NATIVE AMERICAN/HAWAIIAN COSTUMES FROM THE 1940’S – 1950’S

TRUE VINTAGE TRADITIONAL” WESTERN-WEAR” DRESSES – EARLY MID-CENTURY CASUAL CLASSICS

Morgana Martin, the magicvintagespy's avatarMagicvintagespy

3 TRUE VINTAGE NATIVE AMERICAN/HAWAIIAN COSTUMES FROM THE 1940'S - 1950'S

I’ll be heading out West again in early September, so it is appropriate to show my great Native American/Hawaiian 2-piece dresses. The two on the right are from Arizona, made by a company called Thunderbird Fashions which made lots of Western-wear dresses, blouses and skirts back in the day.

Like a couple of the other items I’ve shown before, they are of heavy cotton with loads of braid trim, ric-rac and color! The blouses have a side zipper at the waist.

The outfit on the left was made in Hawaii, about the same time. It is interesting that there are so many similarities in the style. No zipper in this blouse, and the contrast is in the fabric panel on the bodice.

Both styles have a flattering fit, with a wasp waist and free hips. I love wearing them on cooler days in the Summer and Fall and sometimes wear…

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3 TRUE VINTAGE NATIVE AMERICAN/HAWAIIAN COSTUMES FROM THE 1940’S – 1950’S

3 TRUE VINTAGE NATIVE AMERICAN/HAWAIIAN COSTUMES FROM THE 1940'S – 1950'S.

A TRUE VINTAGE 3 – PIECE 1960’s WOMEN’S SILK SUIT FROM NEW ORLEANS – PERFECT WITH YESTERDAY’S SHOES!

A TRUE-VINTAGE 3-PIECE SUIT FROM NEW ORLEANS – PERFECT WITH YESTERDAY’S SHOES

Morgana Martin, the magicvintagespy's avatarMagicvintagespy

A TRUE VINTAGE 3 - PIECE 1960's WOMEN'S SILK SUIT FROM NEW ORLEANSOne of the finds that I picked up during an investigation in New Orleans was this lovely ladies’ suit. Wouldn’t those shoes I showed yesterday be perfect with this?

Oh, so proper in 3 pieces with a knee-length skirt, back-button blouse and high-hip length jacket, it’s just perfect for lunching or for a business appointment. The styling is plain, but elegant and well-cut. Hand-tailored and fully lined, with VERY unusual buttons – kind of like woven ropes – to make it interesting.

This is a basic that is flattering, well-styled and versatile – a staple to have in your wardrobe for decades and with many possibilities. Of course, the pieces can be worn separately and accessories can vary the look.

I always LOVE finding gems like this when I’m out on the prowl. They look back to an era of couture-quality fashion that was available to many people – when even…

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A TRUE VINTAGE 3 – PIECE 1960’s WOMEN’S SILK SUIT FROM NEW ORLEANS – PERFECT WITH YESTERDAY’S SHOES!

A TRUE VINTAGE 3 – PIECE 1960's WOMEN'S SILK SUIT FROM NEW ORLEANS – PERFECT WITH YESTERDAY'S SHOES!.

HERE’S ONE OF MY CIRCLE SKIRTS FROM THE 1950’S – IN AN ATOMIC PRINT

Morgana Martin, the magicvintagespy's avatarMagicvintagespy

ANOTHER OF MY CIRCLE SKIRTS IN AN ATOMIC PRINT FROM THE 1950'S

Hanger by hanger, moving on through my closet, a true vintage atomic print skirt in a lightweight cotton, so it really moves. That’s an advantage of the circle cut, especially for dancing.

Nothing could be nicer on a hot summer day or any other time from Spring to Fall, with the right additions. The top shown with it is a nice faux linen thing but is not true vintage. I paired them because of the color match, which can be tricky with aqua.

It’s blue, green and black with little satellite-looking things on a white background. Side metal zipper and button closure, with a built-in side-seam pocket for convenience.
Embroidered label says “Nelly de Grab New York”.

This is one of the few items which I have found on the Internet. Online is not my first choice for shopping, because I love my feet-on-the-ground investigating, but it is certainly a…

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