Take a trip to the past in fashion

National Retro Day is on Saturday, February 27 this year, how will you celebrate?

Merriam Webster Dictionary defines retro as “relating to, reviving, or being the styles and especially the fashions of the past: fashionably nostalgic or old-fashioned” This term is quite broad and refers to many different eras so let’s go over retro through the years!

The ’50s had a few fashion subcultures including Pin-up, Greaser, and Rockabilly. Traditionally only women did pin-up, The Trend Spotter  says they wore “tight-fitting pencil skirts, hot pants, halter neck dresses, bustier tops, and swimwear, including bikinis.”

Rockabilly’s style was based around rock and roll; women wore swing dresses, fitted pencil and poodle skirts. Rockabilly men wore button-up shirts, cuffed jeans, and suspenders.

Lastly, Greaser style was worn by men and women. They wore lots of leather jackets, tight pants, and dresses; it can be defined as a mix of rockabilly and pin-up.

Some styles that can define the ‘60s are Mod, Beatnik, and the tart of the Hippie fashion. Mod fashion started in London and included wild prints, Peter Pan collars, and miniskirts.

The Trend Spotter says the Beatnik style’s “unofficial uniform consisted of black turtlenecks and trousers, berets, and striped tops amongst other items.”

The 70s had a strong hippie culture and it influenced their fashion style greatly but also the style of the furniture they decorated their houses with. The Spruce says Avocado greens, harvest golds, oranges, and earthy browns dominated the color palettes of furniture and accompanying decor. Some common home decor during the 70s was fringe/shag rugs, macramé decor, hanging chairs.

The ’80s had many subcultures but the most popular were Punk, Hip-pop, and Preppy. 80s Fashion World says “Punk fashion was characterized by ripped skinny jeans, band t-shirts, multi-colored Mohawks, and leather or denim jackets.” although they were known to make their own style.

The Hip-hop style was greatly influenced by hip-hop music. Artists like LL Cool J wore gold chains, bucket hats, and other accessories, or clothing items like tracksuits.

Today you can find retro clothing at thrift stores, vintage shops, or second-hand stores. You can celebrate National Retro Day this year by going shopping for some retro clothes or simply discuss with your family members what it was like during their time.