Believe it or not, at one point in the 1950s/early ’60s (no pun intended) tennis shoes were made with pointed toes! I also have another pair in beige canvas. When I first saw them, I couldn’t believe my eyes.
Very non-traditional in a black and red plaid – the material feels like wool, but might be a synthetic – and made by SKIPS, which I think was sold at Montgomery Ward. My beige pair is of a different brand. What a perfect little casual thing to wear whenever, and completely unique!
Just goes to show what sorts of things turn up, especially when you are off the beaten path. I discovered these while out for a relaxing walk one day, on vacation, nowhere near a vintage clothing store, town
or a garage sale.
I did a count of the TYPES of places where I uncover true vintage clothing and accessories and came up with more than 12. Not individual places that I have gone to – but CATEGORIES of different places where I find them. You just never know . . . . . . . and it just gets funner and funner . . . .
Morgana Martin, the magicvintagespy
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Here’s a little tip that can save you lots of time and frustration . It may seem like common sense, but it really helps .
Things are changing fast these days and vintage dealers sometimes change their addresses, merchandise, or names all of a sudden. Sometimes they give up a physical address and become internet-only or vice versa. I have experienced the frustration of searching for a store and finding that it didn’t exist as my information said it should. That can throw a kink into your day!
When you can and, especially when you are far from home or pressed for time, call ahead or check on-line to get the current details. Do this no matter where you got the info – been there before, someone told you or you read it in a publication or a book like mine. You can even have a conversation with them about what you’re looking for. No matter what, you will always come away with more information.
But, don’t give up your adventurous spirit if you can’t make contact. Go anyway because many of the best places are off the radar and when you’re on a mission, you just never know . . . . . . .
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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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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