Article by Jamie Simpson
From the sleek lines of the 20s and 40s to the full skirts of the 50s, mini dresses of the 60s, and bohemian maxis of the 70s, the dress’ evolution to today is nothing short of inspiring. While modern fashion’s “anything goes” attitude opens the door for trying hot-off-the-runway asymmetric cuts and over the top proportions, designers such as Coco Chanel, Gianni Versace, and Christian Dior are looking to the past. Vintage dresses are more en vogue than ever! Factor in modern technology and behold the creation of the perfect dress: retro chic meets modern flair.
Developments in fashion manufacturing have made it possible to replicate vintage design, but also update it for the modern woman. Though a 1920s drop waist might be perfect, the original drab-toned wool fabric might not be. Now it is possible to get that same dress in a bright knit or cotton with cute modern detailing. Finding that perfect balance between old and new requires consideration of fabric, cut and pattern. Vintage dresses reflect the ideals of their time so updating a dress could be as simple as making it shorter, cinching the waist with a trendy belt, or just adding a few hip accessories to bring it into the twenty-first century.
War played a hugely influential part in what fabrics for dressmaking were accessible throughout the decades. Fortunately today there is a vast array of materials available. Dresses from the 1940s can be made now with anything from leather to specialty “green” fabrics woven from recycled fibres. Stay on trend by mixing metallics, either in fabric or on accessories, with vintage dresses. Ankle boots and strappy heels also add a modern element to compliment vintage styles.
Vintage dress shapes are specific to their eras and come in an array of silhouettes. Most have sleek simple lines that accentuate the figure. The most common shape is the mid-calf A-line skirt with its volume growing from the 30s to a full skirt in the 50s, then completely transforming in the 1960s into a mini. When searching for a vintage or vintage-inspired dress, remember to keep the skirt simple and opt for an A-line.
One blaring difference between vintage dresses and their modern counterparts is choice of pattern. Fabric designs from the 30s through the 70s grew bigger, brighter, and bolder. Prints often reflected culture: domestic items such as teapots, shoes, and martini glasses in the 50s, paisley and peace signs for the 60s, and geometric ethnic prints of the 70s. Today, designers lean towards solid colours and simpler prints. A distinctive cut of vintage dress in a solid colour creates a perfect blend of nostalgia and modernism.
The fashion world is taking steps both forward and back to fabricate a look classic and current. Vintage dresses with modern detailing or trendy accessories are the ideal additions to every woman’s wardrobe.