Hot Pants & Seersucker & Loewe!
Exploring Unique Pieces with Maggie from Really Good Vintage
I'm thrilled to share a special collaboration with Maggie Lanham from Really Good Vintage! I’ve researched four unique pieces from Maggie’s collection (2 are for sale) and compiled everything I discovered for you here, along with some vintage and modern styling ideas.
Maggie Lanham is a writer, stylist, and store owner based in Louisville, KY. For the last few years she's written Really Good Vintage, a weekly newsletter dedicated to curating the most chic, most affordable vintage out there. Kind of like a Khaite wardrobe on an Everlane budget. She also recently opened her first brick-and-mortar to bring her missives to life! Shop her weekly drops here and follow her on IG here!
1. Yellow Seersucker Blouse
This charming yellow seersucker blouse is a delightful piece reminiscent of the breezy and casual styles from the mid-20th century. Seersucker fabric, known for its puckered texture, is perfect for warm weather due to its lightweight and breathable nature.
Seersucker became particularly popular in the United States during the 1940s and 1950s. Its distinctive puckered texture, which allows air to circulate and reduces the need for ironing, made it a favorite for summer clothing. This blouse’s bright yellow hue and relaxed silhouette are indicative of the era’s trend towards more casual and practical women's wear.
Although I wasn’t able to find much information on the brand “Saginaw” I would guess by the “Guaranteed Washable” label that it was potentially a department store brand, meant to be easy to wear and wash.
2. Gold Column Brooch/Earring Set
These extremely fun gold column brooch/earring set is a unique mystery to me as I’ve never seen anything like them! The column design suggests a neoclassical inspiration, reminiscent of ancient Greek and Roman architecture which became popular in the 1930s and again 1970s.
According to this article, this style of “butterfly back” earrings debuted in the 1950s and got it’s name from the butterfly shape of the earring back, designed to securely hold the back of the earlobe. This would suggest these pieces to be after 1950. Without specific markings or labels, it is challenging to determine the exact origin or designer, however the neoclassical style and earring back suggest 70s/80s to me.
3. Arlette Decourt Black Blazer and Shorts
This Arlette Decourt set definitely stumps me a bit! The style is reminiscent of 1970s hot pants and double-breasted style, while the label and lining make me think it’s older.
Unfortunately, there isn't a lot of detailed information available on Arlette Decourt, but we can assume it was a Parisian brand or fashion house and the style and construction of the garment suggest it was made during a period when French designers were highly influential in shaping global fashion trends.
To me, the style is reminiscent of YSL’s 1967 “Le Smoking” suit which revolutionized women's fashion by introducing tailored suits, challenging traditional gender norms and offering women a sophisticated, yet bold alternative to dresses. Although I cannot say with complete certainty (it may be much older 1940s/50s specialty or resort wear), I would guess this set is from around 1967.
4. Loewe Suede jacket
Loewe is a Spanish luxury fashion house founded in 1846 which began as a cooperative of leather artisans in Madrid and expanded to include a wider range of fashion items, including ready-to-wear clothing, perfume, and accessories in the mid-20th century.
Judging based on the information I found here, this label is probably pre-1970s although the style of the jacket itself is reminiscent of 1970s suede fashion. My best guess would be 1960s.
Additionally, there is this label:
ART. 200: This likely refers to the "Article" or "Model Number" of the jacket, a way to catalog different designs within a collection.
TII: This could be shorthand for "Type II," indicating the specific cut or style of the jacket. "Type II" is often used in reference to classic denim jacket styles but could also be used in other contexts to indicate variations in design.
48: This is almost certainly the size of the jacket, with 48 being a European sizing. This size would generally correspond to a medium to large fit in men's sizing, depending on the specific measurements.
Thanks to Maggie for letting me nerd out over these incredible pieces! Be sure to subscribe to Really Good Vintage and check out her shop!
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Thank you so much for diving in on some of my favorite pieces, Gabi!
Awesome stuff, Gabi and Maggie. Where is our time machine to find out if the sleuthing is correct?