Wednesday 4 April 2007

Why is retro so now?

What is retro?

Is it the longing for what’s passed; a nostalgia for days gone by? What makes us revive the fashions of previous decades?

Retro is defined as being part longing for the recent past and part ironic looking back. So it’s taking inspiration from past fashions and selecting the best bits; perhaps adding a modern twist to make them just a bit different to the original. At the moment, it seems wherever you look, we’re reliving the fashions of yesterday. So why is retro so now?
Eventually everything seems to come round again. Just look at the skinny jeans, leggings and baggy tops that are fashionable right now. For anyone who remembers wearing them first time round in the 80s, you’re probably stunned to find them fashionable again! Yet they look great! And if you’re too young to remember, you get to discover them! Lucky you! The Big Fashion Bible is loving the Roxy 'Vibe Pant' skinny jeans in white denim at
www.boardsportwarehouse.com. They’re very retro and very cool!
Sometimes fashion comes back just because it’s flattering and a great classic style. Take the empire line - a high waist gathered just under the bust combined with a long flowing skirt. You can see this style on some of the great tunics and dresses around at the moment. But this style has been coming and going in fashion for centuries. If you know your history, you’ll know it was fashionable with the ancient Greeks and during the Napoleonic era too! But it’s an easy flattering look and it works; it hides the tummy and accentuates the bust. You can check out how great this style looks at sites like
cxlondon and noflysonus So sometimes fashion comes back just because it’s flattering and a great classic style!
Some fashions are so enduring they regularly make a come back. Take the mini skirt. It’s now the hottest new fashion around, and we’re talking micro mini here! Since it’s emergence in the 60s, the mini seems to come around again with nearly every decade but often with a slight twist; maybe a hike or a drop in the length. Or a change in the style; from a-line, to straight or pleated. If you’re a fan, you can find minis with a nice take on an original style at sites like Discoo


Of course retro fashions are not always great; it depends on how classic the style was to begin with. Let’s face it, who wants to revisit the nylon shirts and suits of the 70s!! Some fashions should never be relived! But some fashions never die out. Anything imbued with real attitude seems to survive well. Take the great punk and goth fashions of the 70s and 80s. The emergence of punk and gothic clothing was in total contrast to the disco and new romantic clothes of those eras which were colourful and completely OTT. These clothes were the opposite, they were often black and they were all about attitude. Wearing them was a form of rebellion and that still stands today. Wearing them strikes an attitude, says something about who you are and what you want to be that is just as current now as it was then. Which is why they’re still around! If you like your clothes to make a statement then check out the fab punk and gothic clothing at
attitude Of course it helps if they look good too – and these really do!

But retro is not just about bringing back a distinctive style from the past; it can also be fashion that’s just reminiscent of the past. Take iconic t-shirts for instance. If you take a look at
truffleshuffle you’ll find a huge selection of t-shirts with designs from the 80s. But not all of these were t-shirts that were actually worn in the 80s; some of these just remind you of the decade. And do it beautifully too! They’re nostalgic and ironic too. The best combination in fashion!

One thing’s for sure about fashion, if it works you can be sure it’ll be back! Retro is here to stay.