As the days get lighter and hopefully warmer it’s time to pack those Christmas jumpers away in the attic and look forward to Spring.
Get planning that 2014 wardrobe!
If you’re a vintage lover you can still be ahead of today’s trends by carefully choosing retro pieces that work with today’s trends. Here’s what to look out for in thrift stores this season:
Bermuda shorts/ Culottes
Whether Bermuda or culottes, the shorts in 2014 are getting longer and more tailored. We can see how this look worked perfectly for Christina Hendricks in the last series of Mad Men; her character Joan doesn’t sacrifice her smart tailored style even when enjoying a beach break.
As well as looking great for holidays, a smart pair of Bermuda shorts can be worn with a crisp white shirt for warm days at the office. Find yourself a vintage pair of high rise culottes from the 1980s, or an original pair of Bermuda shorts from those pre-hot pants days of the 1950s.
Shirt dress
Flattering and perfect for casual as well as office wear, the shirt dress has been in and out of fashion for decades. The catwalks have seen dramatic floor sweeping numbers from Holly Fulton as well as relaxed styles perfect for beach holidays from Topshop.
If you want a more formal vintage shirt dress look to the 1950s, when housewives wore them with fitted bodies and flared skirts. The 1950 style was launched by Christian Dior. By the 1970s shirt dress styles were mainly long sleeved and a more relaxed fit. Take a look at Lanvin for shirt dresses in striking prints.
Pleated skirts
Pleated skirts have been around for a while now, and this is a trend that is only getting bigger in 2014; seen on the catwalk for Antipodium, J.W.Anderson and Roksanda Ilincic.
Choose a skirt in an iridescent fabric for a particularly up to date look; such styles were very popular in the 1980s. Look out for designer pieces in vintage stores by the brands who got the look right the first time round, such as Kenzo.
Pastels
Pastels were seen all over the catwalk and will be a lovely breath of fresh air after the cold winter. Burberry’s September show in particular championed this look, with pretty lace pastel separates and embellished trench coats.
This lady-like look was particularly popular in the 1950s. For vintage inspiration look to Betty Draper’s ‘glamorous housewife’ wardrobe in the first series of Mad Men. A pretty, full 1950s skirt can be a versatile investment; pair with a short sleeved jumper until the weather gets warmer, when it can be worn with pretty tops for weddings and garden parties.
Hair trends Accessories :
Slicked back pony tails are big on the catwalk for 2014, and the designers showed them complemented perfectly with hair accessories. There were leather wraps and clips, but the bold yet simple bows from Roksanda Ilincic were the stars of the show and are sure to catch on.
The 1980s are perfect for inspiration when accessorising your hair – Madonna’s style during the period is a good place to start.
Up-dos
The up-do is big news in 2014 and has been popular in various styles for centuries. Messy, bohemian looks are on trend; try pulling your hair into a messy bun and add a headscarf for a ‘Rosie the Riveter’ inspired style.
For a 1940s inspired look, try ‘victory rolls’ (where the side of your hair is rolled back and pinned into an up-do), a romantic ‘Gibson Tuck’ as seen in Victorian times, or a more dramatic, structured backcombed look as seen in the 1960s.
Emily Bradbury is writing on behalf of Antiques to Vintage; a website offering a huge range of antique art and furniture as well as vintage clothing and accessories.
