Wearing a retro outfit is a great way to make a callback to styles or fashions you grew up with, or to incorporate some of the most popular styles of our past into your modern-day outfits. When it comes to retro outfit ideas, however, you may be a little lost about where to begin.
Our article gives you an overview of retro style so you can better understand this fashion, in addition to giving you our best retro outfit ideas.
What Is Retro Style?
Retro style is a style that calls back to something from the past, and this style is intentionally derivative or imitating past styles. We most often think of retro style being dated back to the 60s and 70s, but any clothing that imitates styles from the 80s, 90s, and early 2000s might also be considered retro.
It’s important to note that there is a difference between retro and vintage. While vintage items are authentic from an era that is at least 20 years ago, retro items are items that have been styled or designed to look like clothing from past eras. An item of clothing can be both retro and vintage in some cases, appealing to every age.
Basics of Retro Style
Retro styles pay homage to the past, and there are a few basic concepts you should keep in mind when deciding on a retro style or trying to figure out what kind of style you wish to incorporate. Below, we give you some considerations for figuring out the basics of retro style:
- Silhouettes: One of the most important basics of retro style is paying attention to the silhouettes of different eras.
- Colors: Different eras have different color schemes, something that is evident in the bright pinks and greens of the 1980s and the oranges, browns, and yellows of the 1960s.
- Prints and Patterns: Prints and patterns often make an era, and you may enjoy the casual t-shirts with prints from the 1990s or the bold and geometric patterns of the 1960s.
- Iconic Era Style: Looking at era icons can help you get a better sense of certain retro styling elements. For example, the 1970s were notable for bell bottom pants, while the 1990s gave us crop tops, bucket hats, and cargo pants.
As you consider all of these basics, you can start to think about which retro elements blend best with your personal preferences and your style. You can then start to incorporate your favorite retro elements into your outfits.
Retro Outfit Ideas: Dressing Your Retro Best
The following outfit ideas give you some inspiration when it comes to dressing your retro best. You can use these ideas to incorporate retro flair into your modern wardrobe or as a way to create an outfit for a retro-themed party. Also, some designers, like Sherri Hill, love incorporating retro elements into their modern looks, making it easy to add a retro vibe to your wardrobe.
- Bell bottoms and a crop top – This outfit combines the modern popularity of the crop top with the flare of 1970s bell bottoms. Pair with platform shoes for true retro vibes.
- A polka-dot dress – Polka-dot dresses are inspired by the 1950s, and a dress with an hourglass shape to it will capture this look even more, like an A-line evening dress.
- Oversized sweater and a mini skirt – This retro look is a throwback to the 1980s, and you can pair it with a large hair scrunchie holding your hair back in a ponytail.
- A sports coat with a t-shirt underneath – This style can be gender-neutral, and it is a popular look from the 1980s.
- Low-rise jeans with a peasant top and a cropped jacket – This look is retro for the early 2000s, and you can accessorize it with a fun baker boy cap.
Of course, this is not a complete list – look through popular movies and shows from these eras to gain more of an idea about retro styles you may want to add to your closet.
What Retro Accessories Do I Need?
Retro accessories can follow the same concept as retro clothing – you can select items from past eras and incorporate them into your outfits. For example, bold and bright hair scrunchies were wildly popular in the 1980s; pick up a few of these on your next trip to the store to incorporate them into your hair looks.
You can also style your makeup looks in more retro ways by using color palettes and trending looks from previous eras. Bold red lips and cats’ eye glasses are two great examples of retro makeup and accessory styling that fits most modern-day looks.
Adding Retro Style to Your Life
Adding retro style to your life doesn’t need to be a confusing process. You will simply need to look at the styles of past eras and think about what you enjoy about the fashion. You could be interested in the silhouettes of certain outfits, the patterns, or the colors. Feel free to experiment!