For a strict fashionista, true vintage items must be dresses and accessories created between 1920 and 1980. Therefore, owning a truly vintage item is not easy.
Retro, a fashion and beauty trend inspired by the last century, was born from there, with clothes and accessories designed according to the shapes, materials, colors, … of past decades.
ELLE introduces famous fashion trends of each decade for you to understand and transform into the most perfect vintage style.
The 20s: The free-spirited Flapper
A flapper dress is a style of dress with the waist lowered to the hips, or the waist completely disappears like loose dresses.
The 1920s marked a period of strong emergence of the feminist movement.
Accompanying accessories have many exotic influences from Asia, Egypt, Greece and Mexico, shown through headbands and handbags embroidered with shiny fabric, beaded with a combination of colorful materials.
1920’s inspiration in contemporary fashion:
Flapper dress inspiration from the 20s in the Gucci, Marchesa, Etro and Ralph Lauren 2012 collections
The accessories at Mercedes Benz Fashion Week 2012 also have a flapper quality
Actress Carey Mulligan plays Daisy Buchanan in the movie The Great Gatsby (2013) – a movie set in the 1920s
1930s: The return of feminine long skirts
Actor Ginger Rogers in the movie “Swing Time” (1936)
The 1930s were the return of the feminine image with plunging collars and tight-waisted skirts.
1930’s inspiration in contemporary fashion:
The wedding dress is influenced by the tailoring lines of the 30s
The dresses at the 2011 Vera Wang show were inspired by 1930s fashion
1940s: Minimalist trend in chaotic times
Fashion in the 1940s was absolutely minimalist compared to the lavish, lavish designs of the previous two decades.
World War II affected every aspect of life, and fashion was no exception.
Also during this period, right after the war ended, fashion houses, pioneered by Christian Dior, satisfied women’s thirst for fashion by quickly launching the “New Look” – a groundbreaking collection with innovative designs.
Bar suit, famous outfit from Dior’s New Look collection (1947)
1930’s inspiration in contemporary fashion:
Fashion of the 40s with big shoulders, small waists, and thin belts was the creative inspiration for designer Donna Karen in her Fall/Winter 2011 collection.
Nicole Kidman in a New Look dress
1950s: Seductive curves
Marilyn Monroe (left) and Audrey Hepburn (right) are among the famous Hollywood stars who created fashion trends in the 1950s.
The darkness of war and economic recession passed, bringing bright colors back into fashion, marked by the arrival of hourglass dresses as well as curve-enhancing bra styles that captivated the hearts of fashionistas.
While Marilyn `promoted` tight dresses, Audrey made girls `crazy` with kitten heels and oversized glasses.
1950’s inspiration in contemporary fashion:
The Dolce & Gabbana Spring/Summer 2012 collection has a touch of vintage from the 1950s.
Vintage swimsuits of the 50s also appeared loudly on catwalks.
(to be continued)
Continue reading Fashion through the 60s, 70s, 80s
