The period in the development of fashion, which is now most often called "retro", falls on the 40s - 60s. last century. Some fashion historians can relate to retro and later periods, but most often they set such a time frame.
This time is characterized by an emphasis on feminine silhouettes, flared wide skirts with a narrow, tight top. Legislators at the time were such legends as Coco Chanel, Elsa Schiaparelli, Yves Saint Laurent, Christian Dior, actresses Greta Garbo, Marlene Dietrich, Katherine Hepburn, Vivien Leigh.
The influence of this style is still felt, especially today, when femininity is back in fashion. Practically any woman can wear retro clothes; you just need to choose the right accessories and choose a cut to fit your body.
How to choose a dress in retro style on the figure
Retro style covers a fairly long period of time, and it includes dresses with a variety of cut. This allows you to choose the right fit for any shape.
Women and girls with the type of hourglass figure (pronounced waist, rounded thighs and chest of harmonious proportions) will suit almost all dresses in the retro style. It is necessary to avoid only the cut in the shape of the boat - it is better to stop at the V-shaped or closed.
Slender owners of a boyish figure with a small chest and narrow hips better to opt for dresses with a high waist, emphasizing the chest. A flared (but not too lush) skirt will create extra volume at the hips. But the length should be chosen just below the knee.
Girls with a noticeable belly, as well as an unexpressed waist with large breasts and not too wide hips, should choose options with a high waist or straight dresses (such a cut can already be found closer to the 70s, but it is also often referred to as retro style). Skirts should be slightly above the knee.
Women with pear-shaped figure (big hips with narrow shoulders and relatively small breasts) dresses in retro style will help to make the upper part of the figure more feminine, giving a more rounded shape of the chest. It is worth choosing models with small sleeves as the dress without sleeves will make shoulders more visually.
For the figure, characterized by the absence of a pronounced waist, rather wide hips and shoulders, a later version of the dress in retro style is best - with a straight, slightly widening down silhouette, a high neckline, often with a collar.
This cut will make the figure more feminine. The skirt can be quite short. Or, on the contrary, you can choose the maximum length.
For those who have shoulders much wider than hips, retro sleeves with a full skirt will suit, which will make the proportions more harmonious and visually reduce shoulders.
It is better for girls inclined to completeness to choose monophonic fabrics, or a vertical strip.
For what occasions a retro outfit
For this trend in fashion is characterized by an emphasized femininity of the silhouette, which may be superfluous when working in an office or a strict dress code. Therefore, dresses in this style are best suited for the following situations:
- city walks, romantic meetings;
- celebratory, festive events;
- parties
To work, you can wear such a dress, if you choose a model with a small sleeve and not too tight top. From the lush skirts, draperies and other decorations in the working version of the dress should also be abandoned. The preference in this case is given to monochromatic fabrics of soothing colors.
In other cases, you can show imagination and choose the style, color and accessories in accordance with the preferences and situation.
What colors, fabrics and patterns are preferred for retro style?
There are practically no restrictions for such dresses. Today you can combine the main features of this style with modern trends and details from other eras. If you need to create an image as close as possible to the time when such dresses were worn, then you can follow the following rules:
- color can be almost anything other than acid, which then was not yet in clothing. Also, golden, silvery fabrics were not used as the main (with the exception of rare evening options);
- the fabric itself must be dense enough, preference should be given to natural silk, cotton, satin, velvet, lace;
- in the 50s - 60s, polka-dotted, striped, French Vichy fabrics were popular.
Depending on the style, light flowing or thick, heavy fabric may be more appropriate. Also used a lot of lace for multi-layer draperies of different lengths.
Dress styles
The following styles are most characteristic and recognizable for this style:
- a light, flowing dress of monophonic fabrics, with a slightly high waist, grabbed by a belt, high or shallow neckline, most often without sleeves or with a sleeve-flashlight;
- a dress with a tight top, emphasizing the roundness of the forms and a wide skirt in the shape of a bell or a sun, often draped in different lengths from lace on the bottom of the skirt. The cut-out of such a dress should not have been very deep. It is this cut in combination with a polka dot fabric that is most often repeated and used today. Also for the skirt could be used large pleating;
- a dress with a high neckline, sleeves are three-quarters long and a tight-fitting skirt. Such a style may well be suitable for work, since it does not imply any excesses in design;
- a later version is an A-shape dress, most often without a belt. With a neckline or stand-up collar, which could also be with a lapel.
Retro evening dresses
For evening dresses in this style, it is better to choose silk or satin fabrics. In the evening, the maximum length of the dress is preferred.
In the early dresses of this direction, the top is looser, the waist is slightly lowered. A characteristic feature is a large number of draperies, folds.
Alternatively, a wide belt of contrasting color fabric could be used, the long ends of which fell down along the back of the skirt. Be sure to use a lot of jewelry, various capes, light scarves, boas.
In a later version, the top of the dress should sit on the figure. The skirts usually clung to the hips, and to the bottom they widened and lay down in beautiful folds. The hem at the back could be slightly longer than the front, resulting in a small train. Above could appear additional decorations - large bows of the main fabric of the dress, a complex cut of the bodice.
The dress could not have sleeves, or the sleeves were short. The neckline was usually shallow, even in evening dresses in retro style.
Wedding outfits
In such a dress the bride will be especially gentle and romantic. To create a retro look, lace can be used as the main fabric and a satin or silk lining.
In this version of the early retro, the top is sewn freely enough, the skirt of maximum length is laid down with loose folds or is made almost straight but free. Complement the image of a wide white silk belt. Looks good with this cut and satin fabric.
If the option of a short dress is considered, then you can take as a sample later retro patterns and sew a dress made of satin fabric, with a fitted top and a bell skirt.
Shoes and accessories to the retro dress
Elegant, elegant shoes with a steady heel fit the dresses of this style. High fitting boots with heels or neat boots are suitable for cool weather. The color of the shoes is chosen in accordance with the color of the dress - they can vary, but the combination should be harmonious.
Accessories should be chosen appropriately for the time when they wore dresses of a similar cut. For example, bags-bags made of satin fabric or silk are characteristic of early retro; for later periods, graceful bags-cases, sometimes on a strap.
Also different brooches, earrings with tassels, clips, elegant, intricate rings and bracelets are welcome.
Makeup and hairstyle - the final touches to the retro image
The image in this style is characterized by neat styling, smooth shiny hair. In the early period, the girls made smooth styling with embossed curls framing the face. Hair can be picked up with a rubber band. In a later retro the volume appears, large waves, but the hair should lie neat and be smooth.
Retro makeup should not be too bright. Eyes are emphasized with dark shadows to create a smoky effect. You can emphasize a little blush line cheekbones and cheeks. The most characteristic of this style is matte lipstick of saturated colors.
Dress patterns
Dresses of retro style should ideally sit on their owner. In the majority of options, rather complex elements of the cut are used, which can not be managed immediately, even with certain sewing skills. All measurements should be carefully carried out so that the finished product is pleasant to wear and the work is not done in vain.
Simple summer dress with flared skirt
Pattern dress with a skirt below the knee and pleats on the sides
Pattern dress with flared skirt and fitted top
Dress with pleated skirt
Pattern short wedding dress in retro style
About modeling dresses in retro style, you can watch the following video.
