Retro Fashion Definition

When you hear the phrase “retro fashion,” it tends to refer to the wearing of clothing that was popular in the past. This type of style often uses elements that were helped to define or are closely associated with a previous era. Popular eras to pick from for this style are the 1920s, the 1950s and the 1960s.

1920s Retro Clothing

If looking to incorporate retro clothing from the 1920s, the most popular tends to be the “flapper” look. During this time period, women’s dressing started to advance from the traditional long, modest dress to sleeker, shorter, tight-fitting dresses. Popular items to emulate this look are the flapper headband or the flapper dress. The flapper headband is worn around the head and is normally decorated with feathers or large flowers; while the flapper dress is short, tight-fitting and fringed.

1950s Retro Clothing

If looking to include clothing from this time period into your retro look, look to the movie Grease for your inspiration. Wide skirts, day dresses, and scarfs are all used to pull together a retro 50s look. Popular men’s retro clothing includes leather jackets and slicked-back hair. Of course, when it comes to footwear, this decade’s saddle shoes are a must-have.

1960s Retro Clothing

When it comes to 1950s retro clothing, look to the TV show Mad Men for your inspiration. One such popular item during this time was the shirtwaist dress and the seersucker. For a more elegant look, Jackie Kennedy, most noted for her pillbox hat, is the perfect example of 1960s fashion.