The Retro 1950's

Then:

Now:

1950's Modern Retro

Outerwear for Women ($95 - modcloth.com), Black lace peplum midi dress ($57 - dorothyperkins.com), Sofft Broadway in Black ($115 - shoeline.com), Flora Dress ($70 - modcloth.com), Sonia Rykiel Retro sunglasses ($130 - monnierfreres.co.uk), Aerosoles Caricature in Brown ($75 - shoeline.com), Miss Selfridge Floral Lace Skater Skirt ($60 - missselfridge.com), Wedgewood Blue Curve Hem 3/4 Sleeve Jumper ($16 - newlook.com), Nixon Floppy Sunhat ($23 - swell.com), Sofft Malabar in Sand Patent ($101 - shoeline.com)

The 1950's is all about hour glass shaped dresses, high waistlines, and crazy patterns, bringing a whole new genre of fashion to life. When I think of the 1950's I picture the all-american housewife in the suburbs with the apron in the kitchen, or malt milkshakes, suburban conformity, and mass production. The 1950's style is oftentimes referred to a retro. It was edgier, more colorful, and boldly stated with dramatic angles and exaggerated waistlines. The common fabric was tweed and other synthetic fabrics because they were easier to maintain. The modern twist to this familiar "retro" look is to continue with the all so famous hourglass dress, but adding more modern fabric, such as lace, cotton, or velvet with deeper, more dramatic tones. Instead of the retro bright reds, polka-dots, and 50's style prints, you will find the modern retro to be more subtle, delicate, and richer in color. The modern retro dress is also much shorter, going from the 50's mid-calf to Now, mid-thigh. 50's bright colors and unique patterns are also seen in modern-day fashion, but are used moreso as accent pieces or in separates rather than in the dress pattern itself.