Let us first tell you how the idea of vintage style came to be.
The concept of vintage emerged in the 1970s in London, when mass production made modern clothing extremely accessible. That’s when the legendary vintage boutique "Biba" opened its doors to aesthetes and bohemians who wanted to wear things that couldn’t be found on the streets.
Let’s start by saying that "vintage style" is one of the favorite ways of dressing among famous celebrities like Kate Moss and Peaches Geldof.
If we had to define what vintage is, we’d say it refers to antique items — or in this case, clothes — that were at the peak of fashion in their own time.
Let’s take a look together at how vintage style has evolved over the decades.
✨ Fashion of the 1930s. Marlene Dietrich and Greta Garbo are considered icons of the ’30s. Popular during this time were fluid lines and the hourglass silhouette. Silk and satin were the most preferred fabrics, especially for designs that hugged the body. Draped sleeves or exaggerated puffed ones were also very characteristic of the 1930s.
💃 The Rock’n’Roll Style of the ’50s. If you can’t remember anything from that era, let us refresh your memory with just two names: Marilyn Monroe and Elvis Presley. Timeless legends who transformed the way we perceive fashion and style. One of the typical ’50s outfits was a polka dot pin-up dress combined with a denim jacket. To fully capture this look, add a scarf or hairband, retro-frame sunglasses, and bold red blush. Other key elements from this decade include: flared dresses with tight waists, checkered or polka dot patterns, and cheerful prints. The signature shoes were ballet flats and saddle shoes.
🌼 Hippie Vibes from the ’70s. The 1970s were associated with rebellion against fashion norms. If you want to transform into a star from that era, you need to know what to wear. Flared jeans, knitted vests, and tunics were extremely popular. Icons like Janis Joplin and Joni Mitchell were adored by millions during those years. Headbands were a total hit again, but this time the hairstyle was different — long, freely falling hair, layered bracelets, necklaces, and natural-material accessories had a huge influence on the future of fashion.
Today, the vintage trend is embraced not only by famous women, so here are a few simple tips to help you dress in vintage style.
How to Dress in “Vintage”?
1. The internet is full of images and inspiration from “back in the day,” so choose your era wisely. Vintage from the ’50s? Or perhaps the ’30s?
2. If you truly want to look “authentic,” we recommend having either very short or very long hair. For example, if you want to recreate a 1920s look, you’ll need a short bob haircut.
3. It’s not easy to find real clothes from past eras, so check out second-hand shops — you might just uncover a hidden gem from the past.
4. We’re almost certain you have at least one jacket or cardigan-style sweater in vintage fashion in your wardrobe.
5. When it comes to accessories, we can’t forget to mention the pearl necklace — an absolute hit during our grandparents’ time.
6. As for footwear, we all agree that the most suitable are “square toe” shoes — those with a squared front.
7. If you've decided to wear a skirt in vintage style today, we recommend a high-waisted one — a true classic.
8. And of course, we can’t forget about the trousers — a true emblem of the 1970s.
By the way, vintage style is extremely eco-friendly, as wearing such clothing is a form of recycling — in addition to being a style that, paradoxically, never goes out of fashion.
9. Veil hats are also very emblematic of the vintage era.
