Tag Archives: women’s

A PRETTY BELTED SHIRTWAIST DRESS FROM THE 1950’S

A PRETTY BELTED SHIRTWAIST DRESS FROM THE 1950'S     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

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

TRUE VINTAGE VICTORIAN/PRAIRIE-STYLE GOWN FROM THE ’60’S

TRUE VINTAGE VICTORIAN/PRAIRIE-STYLE GOWN FROM THE '60'S

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

TRUE VINTAGE DRESS WITH SAILOR COLLAR. NAUTICAL STYLE IS CLASSIC!

TRUE VINTAGE DRESS WITH SAILOR COLLAR. NAUTICAL STYLE IS CLASSIC!

IMG_1084 IMG_1085This 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

 

MY TRUE VINTAGE 1940’S SHOULDER SEASON FROCK BY LORA LENNOX – FROM KANSAS CITY!

A PRETTY LITTLE TRUE VINTAGE DRESS FOR WARM WEATHER – 1950’S SHEER!

GREAT MID-CENTURY FIND – 3 ICONIC SPRING DRESSES

A PRETTY LITTLE TRUE VINTAGE DRESS FOR WARM WEATHER – 1950’S SHEER!

IMG_1348Isn’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

 

GREAT MID-CENTURY FIND – 3 ICONIC SPRING DRESSES

Fun – three in one! More surprise finds. I think all these dresses were owned by one woman who loved the easy-wear shirt-style frocks of the late 1950’s to early 1960’s. Although two of them have back closures, The nicest one, in center, was custom-made and is maybe the “newest” of the 3. It’s got a vintage nylon zipper whereas the other two have metal zips. They came from Montgomery Ward and Sears and Roebuck.

A little large for me, so they’ll probably find their way onto eBay next Spring, but I love them just the same. Wonder who recently had to give them up ? Part of the mystery – you just never know . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY

BLOG: MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM

FOR A ST. PATRICK’S DAY DRESSY EVENT, A GREEN FEATHER HAT IS CHIC!