These lovely sandals are very fine, in beautiful kid suede. They have tiny peep-toes – a favorite feature of mine – and sling-back heels.
What a fabulous addition to any 3-season dress or perky pants outfit!
MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY
BLOG: MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM
An iconic Mod flower-power print, with sheer sleeves at the same time! The dress material is a loosely-woven stuff that they used to call “hop sacking” in the mid-Sixties (but, of course, not real hop sacking, which is a different thing – sort of like the sugar and flour bag material that women used to make shirts and dresses from on the farms WAY long ago).
It fits Stella in a way that’s too short and tight to look the way it is supposed to, and would do better on a model a little bit smaller and not quite so tall. But, anyway, oh so cute and DEFINITELY from about 1966. Notice the Peter Pan collar.
MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY
BLOG: MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM
Here’s a better look at my street – market find. When I saw the print and colors on this, I just HAD to have it! When I touched the slinkiest of slinky nylon/poly/whatever fabric, I was over the moon!
Just a simple shirt style, with an elongated collar, but the open sleeves are a really fun touch. It will be a very cool Spring statement dress – hard not to get noticed coming down the street in this.
And, so much fun to meet the daughter of the woman who had made it. Getting family stories along with the great clothing is the best!
MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY
BLOG: MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM
Really pretty outfits, a dress and skirts/blouses. I have combined more modern vintage skirts with sheer true vintage 1950’s blouses. The pink leather peep-toe slingback pumps are ’80’s or early ’90’s does ’40’s – Nina brand. (’90’s – I have a hard time calling that “vintage” , though some people do) since I love the old classics much more. The slips are true vintage and the silk dress is authentic 1940’s or 1930’s, too.
FABULOUS!!!!!!!!!!!
MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY
BLOG: MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM
The Toni Todd label was a mid-priced line of popular everyday dresses. Pretty hum-drum by the standards then, but nicer than lots of the stuff that is marketed today. The best feature of this one, I think, is the styling.
The fabric is a poly or poly-blend knit. It is a one-piece, but made to look like a two-piece ensemble and pulls on overhead. Two of the buttons on one shoulder can be unfastened to allow this, while the others that run down the center of both sleeves are purely decorative, as is the red vinyl belt.
In terms of dating it exactly, the length of the skirt throws me off a bit but it could just have been a style element even though lots of hemlines at the time were shorter. It is an unusual design which contains elements of Mod and military styling – both popular in the mid- to late 1960’s.
It’s so much FUN to find vintage garments like this, with several interesting and curious fashion features that make the deciphering of their history a little unusual or puzzling. . . . . . . .
MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY
BLOG: MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM
Navy leather pumps with a little bit of nautical-style trim, and modest platform soles. Chunky heels. 100% leather construction (of course!). Classic, classic, classic and built like a brick house. No wonder they’re still skipping the streets 70 years later!
Stay tuned . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY
BLOG: MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM
Here’s the tell-tale zipper in the back waistline. VERY rare find! One of my wonderfulest discoveries.
The tailoring is impeccable and they’re in almost perfect condition.
Be careful – modern copy-cats just don’t measure up . . . . . . . … . . . . .
MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY
BLOG: MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM
Let’s stay in the 1950’s ad 1960 with summer frocks. This dress is another keeper! I wish Stella were here to model it for you – it’s so beautiful. So chic and elegant, of 100% silk with a floral jacquard design, with all the fine details that would be expected from an expert tailor. This dress was made in the late 1950’s – early 1960’s by a tailoring firm especially for a higher-end shop in the Bahamas.
Excepting for the missing original belt and a few stitches in the hem which need to be repaired, it is in perfect condition. A dress of this type would have been especially prized by it’s mid-century owner, and protected from damage. That’s why it’s still possible, if you are lucky, blessed and skilled, to discover these frocks today.
I’m also fortunate to be of a size that was more or less average at that time, so I can wear many of my finds without alterations. However, an expert cleaning service will have skilled seam-sters who can work wonders when necessary, so carry on . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY’
BLOG: MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM
The Bobbie Brooks company has been a fabulous maker of classic sportswear for many decades and their true vintage items are very special – well-designed and made to a high standard. I always do a flip when I find one!
This “skort” is summer-perfect – dressier than shorts, easier than a mini-skirt (no ugly and ungainly exposures and attempts to avoid them), cool and FUN. 100% cotton!!
I love and discover all types and makes of true vintage fashion, but a high-quality brand name is always an extra plus.
MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY
BLOG: MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM
From the 1960’s back to, maybe the 1920’s, these three are my oldest vintage examples of Hawaiian gowns. From the farthest left, to right –
Psychedelic hues and patterns on the far left – not hard to see the late Sixties here. The center dress is from the 1950’s and is fashioned in the traditional Hawaiian style, with a panel on the back that is almost like a train, without the dragging hem.
On the far right is a mystery dress with a metal side zipper. It has images in the print that are not your standard Hawaiian shirt variety and the fabric is very different –
instead of being the heavy cotton that I’d usually expect, it is a fluid material that I’d guess is rayon. If the label did not indicate that it was made in Hawaii, I’d say it had come from Japan. The toggle closure at the neck is also something often seen on Chinese and Japanese garments. It’s also got a very 1930’s cut – close to the body.
Hmmm . . . . . . . . . this is REALLY Mata Hari undercover espionage stuff. I wonder how she wound her way to the place where I discovered her . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY
BLOG: MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM
Magicvintagespy 