What is Retro Apparel?
Retro has become a fashionable trend in many cultures and its influence can be found in many forms, including art, media, music and most significantly apparel. Retro apparel is also referred to as vintage or mod, which has become a norm style in the modern age. It usually references any style before the 90's.
Retro, by definition, implies a sense of nostalgia or past times and is derived from the latin prefix retro - "backwards". Retro style has been increasing in popularity in the fashion world and is becoming more accessible.
Genuine Retro Apparel
Genuine retro apparel is "recycled" clothing that was worn in a previous era; because fashion is continuously changing, many styles from the past will be recycled into the future. Therefore, when shopping for a vintage/retro style, old clothes can be worn as modern fashion. For example, during the women's liberation movement - the struggle for equal rights and social status among men and women - women began wearing more risque clothing, showing off more skin and emphasizing their legs. Many short dresses with bold colors and shapes are considered "retro" clothing.
1960's apparel - This was an era of many women's movements and fashion traditions began to break. Trends from the 60's included mini-skirts, bikinis, go-go boots, tie-dye clothes, bell-bottom jeans, box-shaped dresses and paisley prints.
1970's apparel - Apparel in the 70's included platform shoes, wide-leg jeans, wrap-around jersey dresses, straight-leg jeans, hot pants and baseball jerseys.
1980's apparel - In the 80's people began openly displaying their wealth and brand names became more important. Trends included tights, loose shirts, shoulder pads, tracksuits, gold jewelry, leg warmers, mini skirts, spandex leotards and Hawaiian shirts.
1990's apparel - Clothing in the 90's included leather jackets, denim, babydoll dresses, neon colors, turtlenecks, crop-tops, low-waisted jeans, capri pants and Ugg boots.
Modern Retro Apparel
Modern retro is new clothing that resembles the styles of previous eras. Many designers have given ode to the 70's and 80's in their work by creating similar versions of the platform shoe, wrap-around dresses and tights with mini skirts. These clothes signify the trends of before and are often called "modern chic" or "vintage chic,” even though they are technically new.
Essentially, fashion will continue to be recycled and retro apparel will never go out of "style.” It is a continuous change and retro will continue to look backwards and move forwards.