Retro Clothing, 50s 1950s Clothings, Retro Dresses
Retro Clothing. So what does that actually mean? Let me say it again… but louder this time – RETRO CLOTHING! Old clothes rediscovered? New clothes lost, but found again later? Where do you get them? Who wears them… and why do they wear them? For starters, Retro is actually a slang form of the word Retrospective. It refers producing or making something… or for our purposes refers to us wearing something – that is reminiscent of fashion trends from the past. The recent past. But what is this recent past? Good question.
When you say Retro clothing… you are generally referring to anything that imitates the 1940s, 50s, 60s, 70s, or 80s. Personally, I’m glad the 90s don’t get a look in – I recall it as an awkward time and nobody really knew what to wear in the 1990s. Such an eclectic mix of styles, it would be impossible to ever try and recreate such a mish-mash! That will eventually change with time no doubt; someone will decide that having your g-string sticking out over the top of your jeans teamed with a midriff-revealing crop-top, is cool again. Oh joy.
Retro clothing, however, doesn’t seem to be bound by rules of actual historical accuracy. Sometimes Retro clothing appears to be more of an exaggerated form of the fashion of a particular time period. People wear Retro garments or accessories that may be characteristic of an era and then combine them with something from modern day fashion. In that way they come across as obvious or quirky pieces such as 60s flared jeans or a giant pair of Jackie O sunglasses from the 50s. Designed to make a statement and get you noticed – these are typical contemporary examples of Retro clothing.
Retro clothing, to summarise, is a modern style of clothing that is dedicated to the fanciful reproduction (do we say mimicking?) of clothing of a past era. Of course the term Retro can also apply to things other than clothing – Retro music, Retro cars for example. Things that are made in our modern culture today, that have their origin in a bygone era. Yes, in essence – copycatting!
Retro clothing may not be everyone’s thing. Perhaps you’re more the type who prefers to admire brave statement-making Retro clothing wearers from afar? Or maybe you’re just waiting for the right time and place to pop your cute 50s floral frock on? I bet you are. And then it will be your turn to receive all the compliments – “Oh wow, that look is just so Retro”