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Many retro fashion garments sold nowadays are new ones resembling historic pieces. Yet, there are also retro garments that our grandmas actually wore. The latter are part of the slow fashion movement.
Purchasing vintage clothing is one way to ensure our consumer choices have a minimal environmental impact. Sustainability in fashion has been the name of the game for a few years. Wasteful practices that damage the planet, such as excessive textile waste and out-of-proportion usage of harmful chemicals during production, characterize fast fashion, which is the opposite approach. Getting into retro fashion is a sleek way to reduce these harmful procedures and buy clothing at a low cost.
Let’s say you found fancy-looking retro apparel at the flea market. It’s crucial to understand if it’s in style now. Some fashion online platforms claim «vintage» was one of the top ten 2022 search words, so there is a good chance the one you sniffed out is in.
There are two possible reasons for retro fashion to resurface in 2024. The first is that the world order has become overly chaotic. We need something familiar to lean on, such as a well-known fashion item we’ve seen for decades. The second possible explanation is the good old cyclical order in which fashion reappears. What we wore before, we will wear again, updated to the current times.
Right now, the most fiery mixing of styles is going on between retro and Gen Z fashion. Cargo pants are one example of a Y2K item seen everywhere. The term «Y2K» refers to the trends from the late 1990s and early 2000s, the days characterized by the angst around the then-upcoming digital revolution, with its chunky heels, asymmetrical designs, animal prints, pastel shades, denim jackets, ripped jeans, velvet track pants, and an overdose of glittery.
Remember Paris Hilton or Christina Aguilera in the nineties? Y2K stylizations are going strong in 2024, and whether we like it or not, cargo pants come back in the collections of Stella McCartney, Coperni, and Miu Miu. We can now style these pants in a Gen Z edition with tiny or super tiny tees that barely cover nipples or, more office-like, with a blazer. Look for cargo pants with minimal pockets and an uncuffed leg for a chic appearance.
Another go-to fashion apparel dates back to the ’70s. Flared, bell-bottom jeans can add a retro feel to your outfit without making you look misplaced in time and space. To make this outfit feel modern, pair it up with a modern topper jacket, fitted, tucked blouse, or, again, a cropped top. If it has long sleeves, roll up your cuffs asymmetrically. The good news is this type of trousers is flattering for every silhouette and skillfully counterbalances wide hips. Remember not to overdo the boho look in the upper part of your outfit if you don’t want to look like an actual hippie. The aesthetic we are looking for is relaxed minimalism, making the style look chic but effortless. Think about Hailey Bieber and her simple stylizations that scream luxury.
Vivienne Westwood corsets are retro apparel that has been going strong since its appearance and needs no introduction. In this particular 2024 season, however, a traditional corset evolves into a sophisticated bustier that enhances the waistline and chest and hopes not to have any sexual appearance of a laced corset of the time. The chic bustier is part of casual wear; it can be tightened over a shirt or worn with a jacket or trench coat.
