How to Dress in Retro Style?

The allure of the past and the appreciation for fashion from previous eras remain timeless trends. Retro elements serve as inspiration for stunning fashion designs that seamlessly blend classic style with modern touches. Discover how to embrace retro fashion and craft a unique, standout look!

What Is Retro Style in Fashion?

The truth is, what we wear today was once in vogue. That's why you shouldn't rush to discard old clothes—especially those hidden gems in your mother's, grandmother's, or even your teenage wardrobe. Why? Retro fashion is not just a nostalgic nod to the past—it's the hottest trend of recent and upcoming seasons!

Retro style is often associated with the fashion of the 1950s, from the polished housewife aesthetic seen in classic films to the sensual and ultra-feminine looks made iconic by Marilyn Monroe.

While the 1950s represent the essence of retro fashion, the retro style isn't limited to just one decade. In fact, every era—from the swinging '60s to the bold '80s and even the grunge-infused '90s—continues to inspire today's fashion trends. What once seemed like a relic of the past is now making a stylish comeback!

Which Decade Should Inspire Your Retro Style?

If you want to embrace retro fashion, choose the decade that best matches your taste.

Perhaps you are drawn to the classic elegance of the 1940s and 1950s, where the focus was on accentuated waists and flared skirts, with hemlines gradually becoming shorter. Or maybe the playful 1960s, known for its love of big and small polka dots, which remain a leading trend today.

Retro styles also include influences from the hippie and boho era, reimagined in a vintage way. Wide-leg pants cropped floral tops, or fully embroidered fabrics are excellent choices for summer and casual outfits.

The 1980s also made a strong comeback, when powerful, confident women ruled not just the office but also the streets of the most fashionable cities. Oversized blazers with structured shoulders, cinched at the waist with a belt, define the essence of ‘80s fashion—an iconic look that continues to dominate today's runways.

Retro Fashion with a Royal Touch

Princess Kate Middleton has long been one of the world's leading fashion icons, and her wardrobe continues to inspire thousands of women across the globe.

The Duchess of Cambridge favors comfortable yet elegant clothing and often incorporates retro style into her looks, creating outfits that set new trends. A perfect example is her charming polka-dot dress, full of vintage inspiration. This piece blends the sophisticated fashion of the 1940s with the playful aesthetics of the 1960s, an era when polka dots in all sizes adorned nearly every type of clothing.

With a pointed collar, large buttons, a timeless color, and a classic brooch, retro style dress is an ideal choice for various occasions—whether casual or more formal. It showcases retro fashion at its finest.

It's no surprise that Princess Kate has such a profound influence on women's fashion not only in Britain but worldwide.

Retro vs. Vintage – What's the Difference?

The difference between retro style and vintage fashion is a frequently asked question, if not an eternal debate.

• Retro refers to recreating the aesthetics of past decades using modern clothing and accessories.

• Vintage clothing, on the other hand, means wearing actual clothing from a specific historical period.

For example, you can achieve a retro look with a dress from a recent Chanel or Max Mara collection inspired by past styles. However, a true vintage outfit requires an authentic garment from the 1920s, 1930s, or 1950s, preserving its original charm and history.

How to Stop your Vintage Outfit Looking like a Costume?

Outfit Ideas One

To get acquainted with vintage style and truly feel your connection to it, start with the help of a basic wardrobe—the safest choice in terms of styling. Choose one or two vintage pieces—nothing too bright or flashy, just calm and understated—and pair them with simple, modern clothing items.

For example, you could wear a vintage-style blazer and shoes, complemented by basic jeans and a T-shirt or button-up shirt. Accessories in this look will serve as a stylistic indicator:

• If you want to emphasize the vintage aesthetic, opt for accessories that match the era.

• If you prefer a subtle vintage touch, balance the outfit with modern accessories.

Outfit Ideas Two

This option is just as safe for your usual dressing style as the first one, but it adds a special touch, shifting the focus to a particular piece. You'll need one vintage item, but instead of being calm and neutral like in the first option, it should be bold and statement-making.

All the other pieces in the outfit should be modern, serving as a backdrop for this focal point. Their cut, style, and details mustn't compete with the piece that will be the main attraction and draw the most attention.

Outfit Ideas Three

With this approach, it's no longer possible to “tone down” the vintage elements so that the look feels interesting, and well-thought-out, but still subtle. This option is for those who enjoy drawing attention by creating bold and impactful looks.

To create such an attention-grabbing ensemble, you'll need a statement piece: a striking, interesting vintage item that unmistakably conveys its connection to a specific era of the past, paired with a modern, trendy piece of clothing, footwear, or an accessory. The combination of key trends from both the past and present is the key to crafting dynamic and powerful outfits.

Outfit Ideas Four

This technique is quite similar in expressiveness and approach to the previous one, but it requires a bit more creativity. Unlike the third option, where we simply combined trends from different eras, this one involves using vintage pieces with modern items in a way they were never paired in the past.

For example, today no one is surprised by the combination of a feminine skirt and rough military boots, or a flowing dress with a men's blazer. However, a few decades ago, such combinations were simply unthinkable, which is exactly what you need to keep in mind when using this technique. In other words, if you find a vintage dress from the 70s, think about what it definitely wasn't paired with back then, and look for a modern or vintage piece that contrasts with it. The contrast will work, no matter whether the second piece is modern or vintage.

How Do You Dress Like a Retro Style?

It's accurate to say that retro style spans a wide range of fashion from the 1920s to the 1990s, covering several decades. This broad timeline reflects dramatic shifts in fashion that have deeply influenced and transformed the fashion world. To create retro outfits, it's essential to recognize the key fashion trends from these eras, each of which left a lasting mark on style and continues to inspire designers and fashion enthusiasts today. Whether it's the elegant flapper dresses of the 1920s or the grunge-inspired looks of the 1990s, retro fashion draws on these defining moments in history to create timeless, vintage-inspired outfits.

Retro 20s style: pumps and loafers, elegant trousers, and a little black dress

The 1920s retro style was marked by groundbreaking changes in fashion, with Coco Chanel being one of the most influential figures of the time. Her contributions revolutionized the fashion world, most notably by turning black from a symbol of mourning into one of elegance and minimalism. This transformation helped introduce the little black dress (LBD), a timeless piece that is still iconic in modern fashion.

In the 1920s, women's fashion embraced comfort and sophistication, which is reflected in the elegant trousers that became widely accepted as an alternative to skirts and dresses. The flats and low-heeled pumps (often known as "kitten heels") were also popular, offering both practicality and style. Among the most beloved footwear of this time were loafer-style shoes or moccasins, which were comfortable yet chic. These shoes epitomized the era's balance between elegance and comfort, making them a staple in the wardrobe of women who sought both style and ease of movement.

This retro style from the 1920s remains influential, with Chanel's timeless designs continuing to inspire modern fashion.

Retro style of the 40s and 50s: sandals and high-heeled shoes, lace collars, and straight skirts.

In the 1940s, the main focus was on functionality. Straight skirts that reached mid-calf, overalls, wide-collared shirts, and wide trousers became popular. To enrich their everyday style, women chose various scarves, hats, and bags. The iconic footwear of the 1940s, known even today, was round-toe shoes with sturdy heels. The individual style that emphasized feminine shapes and chic outfits gave birth to the glamorous style.

In the 1950s, footwear featured low heels and comfort. Flat sandals were the choice for casual wear, while formal shoes were pointy-toed pumps. Dresses with full skirts and very thin waists, along with tailored jackets (preferably double-breasted), reflected the elegance of that time.

Retro fashion of the colorful 1960s and 1970s: platform shoes and flowers.

The 1960s and 1970s were an exceptionally colorful period, where circles, diamonds, stripes, metallic clothing, and silver fabrics became iconic. The rise of subcultures brought a lot of diversity – hippies were amazed at their colorful styles, rockers were inspired by the rock-and-roll look, and youth were shocked by their extravagance. The retro style of the 1960s was complemented by distinctive boots, originally made in white, which over time evolved into various models that are now back in fashion. It was the era when hippie, disco, and punk styles came to the forefront. The most iconic fashion items of the 1970s included flared pants, mini skirts, jumpsuits, and striped prints. A breakthrough in footwear was platform shoes, which accentuated the figure and visually elongated the legs.

Retro fashion: the 80s and 90s

In the 1980s, light jeans and high-waisted pants paired with basic blouses and denim vests dominated. Trapeze, draped, and asymmetrical dresses, as well as midi dresses, became popular, and the disco style inspired shiny, trendy looks.

A characteristic element of the 1980s was the wide range of footwear. In line with fashion trends, neon sneakers, and white sports shoes took the lead. For disco, very high heels or stiletto shoes were chosen, although fashionable platforms remained on top. Bright high-top sports shoes caused a real stir in 1990s fashion.

Create Your Own Unique Retro Style

The retro style combines modernity with a return to classic fashion from the past. By understanding the key elements of fashion from different eras, you can create a unique outfit that highlights your individuality. Retro fashion is all about playfulness, where you mix clothing and accessories from various periods. Don't limit yourself—embrace your take on fashion and be stylish in your way!