Tag Archives: vintage clothing

MAYBE A LITTLE BIT EARLY FOR THE TIKI TORCHES, BUT . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Good-bye coats! Patio enthusiasts will be hauling out the grill about now. Stella is decked out in her oh-so-fashionable vintage lounging dress from Henri Bendel, by a specialty maker. Love the color combo – very distinctive.

Not much cover for wearing a wire here, but a thigh holster can easily conceal a tape measure, cellphone, lock-pick and other small tools of the trade. As long as there’s a big bush or a garden shed to step behind, she’s set. Of course, an indoor party would be a cinch.

No, I’m not suggesting break-and-enter or other similar crimes. However, during an investigation in an unfamiliar locale there are many times when a photo, measurement or even a GPS locater can come in handy. Occasionally, this agent has encountered old locked boxes, as well. You just never know . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY

BLOG: MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM

CAN’T BELIEVE THIS WEATHER! TIME TO ADJUST THE GAME-PLAN . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

It’s just so crazy – suddenly WHOOMPH! we’re in patio-days temperatures. We went from no visible leaves to a forest of green within 1 week. I’m not complaining, but my plans to vet the “summer” evidence file got moved way ahead. An investigator always must be prepared for an unexpected change of plan. Stay tuned . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY

BLOG: MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM

NOT TO BE OUTDONE, EVEN BY THEMSELVES, 1960’S KNITTING STARS TOOK ON MAKING THEIR OWN SPRING COATS

Harking back to 1950’s styles, or with Swiss, Italian and British style inspiration and yarns, intrepid needlecrafters went for it. In the spirit of Jacqueline Kennedy’s famous cloth coats in elegant designs by Oleg Cassini, home-knitters made coats with European and designer style. Even the two white Fifties-inspired designs at top were au courant with an open front or cruelty-free collar which looks like an animal skin (although we know that wool, including knitting yarn, IS fur and is NOT cruelty-free).

I especially like the cape with matching skirt and high-neck sweater. Worthy of Sherlock Holmes, himself, with it’s identity-concealing, equipment-hiding capabilities. A sleuth can swan around undercover, looking like a brainless fashion-plate . . . . . . . . .

MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY

BLOG: MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM

NEVER-BEFORE-SEEN FRENCH WOMEN’S CLOTHING STYLES HIT THE SCENE IN THE EARLY TO MID-1960’S

Pants, skirts and culottes! Very avant garde for the U.S. But, ladies with knitting needles were not timid and the pattern magazines spurred them on. No one can say that “American” women didn’t avidly follow European high fashion. Investigators have long known that, wherever we are, successful sleuthing depends on being able to blend in. (Must be cautious about calling people from the U.S. Americans, as if we’re the only ones. People from Mexico, Central and South America also identify themselves as American).

The photos I publish are all from vintage McCall’s Needlework and Crafts magazines, an offshoot of the well-known and popular McCall’s women’s magazine that published monthly from 1873 to 2002.

MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY

BLOG: MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM

“CAMELOT” CHANGED EVERYTHING

Right around 1960, when the Kennedys stepped foot into the White House, women’s fashion underwent a major change. Jacqueline Kennedy’s elegant and modern simplicity of dress was a powerful influencer of women’s fashion. See the changes here from top to bottom, left to right. Conservative styles, old standards like the nautical themes and midi lengths phased out or disappeared. Hemlines rose to just below the knee and sleeveless dresses were more commonly worn. Pastels and bright tones also made a bigger appearance. We weren’t quite MOD yet, but gettin’ there.

Women loved the new, more youthful styles and these patterns with simple sleeves and a minimum of detail were also more straightforward to make, though adding belts and texture can be tricky to do just right.

MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY

BLOG: MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM

THE MODERN 1950’S LIFE OF LEISURE IS THE SPORTY LIFE

This had always been true for the upper classes, so in the 1950’s the whole family got in on the act and Mom knit activewear for everyone. Although commercially-made knit bathing suits were common in the 1920’s, I can’t imagine a more likely opportunity for a wardrobe malfunction. As advertised above, the “bulky” or “stretch” yarns would probably help.

The newly popular “short shorts” with a coordinating top were a perfect project for beach and lawn sports like volleyball, badminton and croquet. The classic and endlessly-versatile cardigan and short-sleeve sweaters were just right for boating, birding, tennis and golf. How civilized . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY

BLOG: MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM

TUCKED-IN HAND-KNIT SWEATER-TOPS WEREN’T JUST FOR SKIRTS ANYMORE. A FUN 1954 OUTFIT.

Women were wearing pants more and more in the 1950’s. You’d really want to create this outfit after your trip to Spain! And, DOLMAN SLEEVE SWEATERS – LOVE, LOVE, LOVE!! They’re so Forties and I can’t get over them – just like wedge heels and platforms.

1954 was still pretty conservative, but girls just wanna have fun. And, speaking of fun . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY

BLOG: MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM

EARLY 1950’S HOME-CRAFTED ACCESSORIES FOR THE NEW CASUAL LOOK. FINGERTIPS TO TOE . . .

Big decorated tote bags! These are often associated with the 1960’s, but the trend started long before. Whimsical, cute, pretty; whatever your fancy. Big skirts of hand-woven material; how Boho of you! This called for home-made colorful ankle-wrap sandals, designed to match your outfits – a bit of throw-back to 1940’s styles.

As always in mid-century magazines, the pages are also filled with special-interest advertisements and mail-order offers. Women were constantly encouraged to go into home-based business selling accessories and home-assembled items which they could start with a kit by mail or correspondence course – early front-runners to today’s online marketing.

While time and culture kept marching forward, we can continue to see the reluctance to give up previous ways of being and doing things. Just like today, there were big leaps forward that surprised everyone alternating with slow-grinding incremental change that almost seemed like no change at all. However, also like today, it was accelerating . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY

BLOG: MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM

DRESS IT UP OR DOWN – A MID-CENTURY SWEATER-BLOUSE COULD BE MANY THINGS

Sportswear, day outfits, professional attire, dress-up events – you name it. Beaded or ribbed, plain or patterned; the combinations were endless and all set off that full skirt to perfection. Many would also look great with your Capri’ pants, a straight skirt or even short shorts.

Of course, some needed special accessories . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY

BLOG: MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM

ANOTHER SUPER-CLASSIC WARDROBE ELEMENT FROM THE EARLY 1960’S – THE SHORT-SLEEVED COTTON BLOUSE

Here we see all of the elements – a Peter Pan collar, roll-up cuffs, 100% cotton fabric and an emphasis on “easy care”. Manufacturers and designers of the 1950’s and 1960’s capitalized on making women’s lives easier and more “luxurious” by selling products that helped them to spend more time away from the kitchen and laundry room. Strawberry motifs had their day, too, and were often seen in prints and decorations on skirts, dresses and sweaters.

The Arrow company, well-known manufacturer of men’s daily apparel, also branched into a women’s line back when a Misses size 10 was tiny but also very commonly worn by the women of that day. Imagine opening your front door in the U.S. on a world where most women wore a modern size 4 and stood about 5’3″ tall. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY

BLOG: MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM