This dress is at least 30 years old, and I can’t tell much more about it than that right now. The colors are VERY mid-sixties Mod and I LOVE what the designer has done with the black and white trim.
It’s also a nice kind of older rayon blend that hangs so well and shows off with a little sheen. And, it has a flattering cut and nice tailoring, too.
A bit of a mystery, but a choice garment . .. . . ..
MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY
BLOG: MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM
I love this little shirtwaist with a saucy, sassy French foodie print. The style is what almost every woman wore as everyday dresses in the Fifties and early Sixties. A classic day dress – house dress.
It’s a little bit sheer, so you have to wear one of your lovely slips underneath, but women almost always did during the mid-century era – sheer dress or not. Because they were usually wearing a garter belt or girdle and nylons, they needed lingerie to mask the lines and let the dress move on top.
Perfect for shopping and light work around the home; coffee with the neighbor. Easy to wear.
It’s what “happy days” was all about . . . . . . . . .
MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY
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Handmade back in the day by “Rosalie Couturier” – I’ve never seen this common and popular style done so elegantly, by one seamstress. All the best of beautiful little details and stunning fit are really only found in purely hand-tailored examples. What a treat it was to find this one!
The fabric is also very special – a rayon or rayon blend that was used in off-the-rack garments only in the 1940’s – 1950’s, if you were lucky. And the buttons! I’m over-the-moon on those – heavy, polished and perfect in their iridescence. Nothing can compare to old shell buttons. You can see in this photo another example of the phenomenon I mentioned a day or two ago – the belt looks slightly darker, probably because it was never cleaned along with the dress. Spy-craft!
Just in time for Spring, right out of classic cinema – Mrs. Miniver or June Cleaver would be right at home wearing this frock any old day . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . .
MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY
BLOG: MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM
Here’s another lovely shirtwaist dress for a Spring day, this one in rayon. It could have been custom made or ready-made – no tags or tell-tale details to help me be sure. In most cases, dating true vintage clothing is not an exact science, but with knowledge and experience can be pretty close. This frock makes me think of something Bonnie, of Bonnie & Clyde, might have worn.
Due to its age and previous history of wear, it did require a bit of rehab despite the wonderful condition. Buttons had to be replaced and, as I mentioned in a previous post, a “new” belt had to be constructed as the original was missing. I keep a store of vintage buttons for cases just like as this. Also, I keep vintage belts that are worn in order that they can be re-covered. That’s exactly what I did here – as there was lots of extra fabric in the hem allowance, I was able to harvest enough to re-cover a belt without messing up the original hem length. You can see that the color of the fabric in the belt is slightly darker than that of the dress, but I don’t mind. Sometimes that is done on purpose to add extra interest. Also, since covered belts usually would not be laundered along with a dress (since their insides are like cardboard), the dress fabric might fade a bit more over time. So, this un-faded piece of fabric from the interior of the hem (never exposed to sun) ends up being a perfect authentic-looking touch!!
To me, nothing says “Spring” more than these pastel printed dresses in breezy styles. The lingerie that must go with them, because of their sheerness, just adds to the package.
When I find one of these I really jump for joy! It’s just one thrill after another because, you just never know .. . . . .
MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY
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This conservative little style is very sweet, no?
It is made of a pure cotton material, I would guess, and was probably custom tailored (from looking at the details). I have at least one more dress which has cross-stitch embroidery on it but, to tell the truth, many true vintage dresses that were commercially made have lovely detail, too. And, of course, it could have been added later by the owner.
I also really love skinny, fabric-covered belts on dresses – a common feature on dresses made at this time. As I’ve mentioned before, I’ll sometimes shorten an extra-long hem and make a covered belt from the extra fabric when an original belt is missing.
These dresses look nice with a cardigan sweater or a shawl, so they can go from Spring into Fall with ease. They were standard daytime wear for just about everybody back in the day. It’s so great to see how the classic styles remain elegant and wearable for decades.
And, because fabrics and construction were so well done and women took good care of their clothing, I continue to find them. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY
BLOG: MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM
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Still for cooler weather, but a pretty, peachy color. It’s hard for me to classify this dress. It’s kind of a hybrid style with an unclear purpose. Part Boho prairie, part Victorian lady, part Prom dress, part hostess gown. Got me!
The prairie-style and long Victorian/Edwardian-style dresses became really popular again in the late Sixties and early Seventies; plus the construction and materials give lots of clues to it’s original era.
Made of a heavy nylon-feeling fabric and has an embroidered makers’ tag. Never seen anything quite like it, but I was intrigued.
Could even be a Spring party dress! Good idea . . .
MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY
BLOG: MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM
This time it’s Seventies Does Forties, in 100% cotton. No matter what decade you’re in, navy and white, polka dots and nautical themes are always part of the shoulder season style line-up.
The designer, Robin Gayle, has the collar and waistline down – those huge collars were really popular for a while in the Forties and on into the early Fifties. I’ll show some more later.
With a nice midi hem, too. Get your pert little hat and let’s go! . . . . .
MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY
BLOG: MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM
Isn’t this a pretty little day-dress? Ruffles, flowers and a criss-cross neckline are so feminine and becoming, in a very simple style. In spite of being a little inconvenient (you’ve got to wear a slip or something underneath), designers and women (and, probably, men!) loved these sheer styles in the 1950’s. They are very lovely, floaty and ethereal. And, SEXY!!
Women with elegant taste have always known that flattering clothing that suggests what’s underneath without exposing it is FAR more alluring and sexy than showing lots of skin or bare body.
The best designers still know this. . . . . . .
MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY
BLOG: MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM
Believe it or not, I do not have a single GREEN slip that would be suitable for my St. Paddy’s Day dresses! Two green rayon beauties in my closet from the 1930’s are way too long and full . . . . . . .
So, here are some blue-green pretties from the Forties & Fifties that might suit. If they’re not showing through, I don’t think any one would really mind, do you? Once the dress is off . . . . . . . . . . .
Again, we have beautiful fabric, contrasting embroidery and some applique’. Gorgeous, gorgeous, gorgeous. . . .. . . . . . . . . ..
MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY
BLOG: MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM
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Looking for a St. Paddy’s frock? Here we go again – a lovely pouf dress from the 1950s of acetate rayon and chiffon, in minty sherbet green this time. I love this for Spring, with the sheer 3/4 sleeves and the jewel neckline. Look at that deep hem in the overskirt!
This is a below-the-knee formal dress that could also be worn to a Prom, dinner, dance or any formal event that doesn’t require a full-length skirt. ‘It would also be lovely worn in a wedding by attendants or by a bride who didn’t want to wear the typical white or ivory. Many ’50’s brides wore gowns of this length.
The sheer chiffon covers the rayon dress underneath and there is a sewn-in crinoline of netting. I don’t believe that there are any tags remaining but I suspect that it was commercially-made. However, it’s not always certain – many seamstresses in business or at home were VERY skilled.
Finding dresses like this is always magical. Where was it first worn? Who kept it for decades and why was it so special? You just never know . . . . . . . . .
MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY
BLOG: MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM
BOOK: HOW TO FIND THE BEST IN VINTAGE FASHION – AVAILABLE ON AMAZON.COM
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