Posts Tagged ‘circle skirts’
For autumn one of the biggest trends this year is going to be the fifties silhouette. Curves are back on the agenda with full skirts, pencil skirts, cinched in waists and fitted tops. The fifties silhouette celebrates the feminine figure with clothes that both flatter and enhance. Fifties style clothes look particularly good on ladies with an hourglass figure but this look can really work for anyone. The fifties was a great time in history when ladies after the utilitarian clothes of the wartime forties, felt they could indulge themselves with clothes and feel like women again. The fuller skirts (which required lots of material) were a result of materials being more readily available.
After seasons of baggy and empire line clothes, many women can’t wait to try out the fifties trends (sometimes second time around) for a more defined shape. One of the key influences on fashion during the fifties was the French designer Christian Dior whose signature style with a full skirt and cinched in waist was called ‘new look’. There were lots of other silhouettes also around in the sixties such as the shirt dress, Chanel’s boxy suit and Hubert Givenchy’s sack or straighter waisted shift dress. But it is the ‘new look’ silhouette that is proving particularly popular for the season ahead.
Inspiration
This seasons inspiration comes from catwalk shows including Louis Vuitton, Prada and Paul Smith who all showed ladylike calf length flared skirts teamed with fitted tops or jackets. Hair, make up and accessories this season are also strongly influenced by the fifties presence seen at the shows for these labels. Mad Men seems to have had a massive influence on styles for this season and was possibly the influencing factor for many of the designers. There are also a growing number of celebrities wearing the retro look at the moment including Dita Von Teese and Katie Perry.
Outfit Ideas
It is fairly easy to put together your own fifties inspired outfit by teaming a full skirt with a fitted blouse or top. A pencil skirt with a blouse also works really well and exudes that fifties glamour. The look in the fifties was really polished with styled hair and immaculate make up but you don’t need to copy the whole look instead you could take just one of two aspects of it and adapt it for today by missing with modern styles.
This turquoise a line skirt is a great example of the fifties style, it even has a petticoat. The ladies floral design tie dye knit top is the perfect combination for a fun and feminine retro style outfit.
Accessories
High heel shoes, lady like handbags and strings of pearls were all popular in the fifties and would look great when combined with a circle skirt. You could also opt to wear full on Hollywood glamour with diamonds and faux fur. The fifties pin up style also featured cute hair flowers which can look great for a special occasion.
Orange Sleeveless Summer Dress
There is only one week to go until Vintage at Goodwood the civilised festival for grown ups that celebrates 5 decades of British cool. With thousands of people turning up to listen to some great music from the forties, fifties, sixties, seventies, eighties and nineties in their favourite pieces of vintage clothing it is a sure sign that vintage clothing is becoming even more popular. Attendees at Vintage at Goodwood will not only have the opportunity for camping but also glamping, a very glamorous type of camoing with all of lifes little luxuries. But for those who just don’t have time to trawl car boots sales, vintage fairs and shops, there is plenty of vintage inspired clothing available on the high street and in online stores ready to cater for the huge interest in clothing from bygone years. Even for those who are not lucky enough to be going to to the Vintage at Goodwood weekend, there is no reason why they should not indulge in dressing up in some vintage inspired clothes.
There are lots of reasons for the current interest in vintage clothing and vintage inspired clothes. Part of it is perhaps a little nostalgia for those good old days before computers, Blackberries (the handheld computers, not the fruit)Â and mobile phones but also there is something about the vintage styles of clothes that we love. Some of the classic styles of vintage clothes have definitely proved their worth and stood the test of time like the circle skirt and the sixties style baby doll dresses. These styles of clothing are not only feminine but also very flattering for women to wear. They are a refreshing change from the jeans and t shirts that so many people live in these days and they make you feel a little bit special.
It is no surprise really that so many of these vintage features are re emerging in modern clothing designs. They are just the sort of clothes that women want to wear and the intricate embellishments and attention to detail are irresistable. Here are some of my favourite vintage inspired features that you can find on modern clothes.
- Lace – delightly feminine and delicate, lace trims on dresses, cardigans and tops are big news this summer but lace never really goes out of fashion as it is such a beautiful fabric.
- Washed out Florals – the paler coloured florals have a really nostalgic and comforting feel about them.
- Tea dresses – the classic shape of a tea dress is incredibly popular as it is so flattering. The a line is the perfect way to cover up larger hips and thighs and balance them with a wide hemline.
- Beading and embroidery – the beautiful decoration on many vintage pieces is usually handcrafted. Modern day reproductions of these works of art are perfect for evening dresses.
- Pencil Skirts – pencil skirts are incredibly versatile and are great for work wear.
- Flared or circle skirts – the fifities silhouette of a full skirt with a nipped in waist is still hugely popular today. It looks so elegant and this style looks like it will be a huge trend this winter.