vintage men

i know, most of you will be blasting me for how little coverage i am giving when it comes to vintage styles for men. well, don't blame me. i wish that i was a trendsetter back then too but in the past, men's fashion was a tad bland hence the less attention given.

One Direction goes vintage?

however, once you understand that fashion is a never-ending cycle that always takes on a modern-day twist, the possibilities for style become endless. vintage clothing has always been a popular phenomenon, but knowing where to find it, how to wear it and which era is 'in' is the ultimate challenge.

from the '50s to the '80s (and soon the '90s), everything from saddle shoes and spandex to big collars and big hair eventually sees a reemergence on the fashion scene. every era has a comeback, as today's designers simply update the styles from other time periods. so basically, it's the concepts from different decades that return, rather than the actual article of clothing. 

here are some items that one can include in their closet to achieve that retro-look!

1) dirty denim 

Denim by Diesel

otherwise known as 'washed-out' or 'distressed', this denim is treated to give jeans and jean jackets a second-hand look.

2) button-down shirts 

Charlie Sheen

popular vintage-looking collared shirts include 'utility' shirts; a button-down with a small chest pocket on one side and a patch or insignia that reads 'joe's gas station', for instance. you can also find shirts, in either brown, blue or green, with some stripes on the shirt, usually in another shade of the shirt's base color. another popular vintage detail is a shirt collar made from a different fabric, usually a knit.

3) converse and nike

the '80s have returned in full force, especially in the world of sports apparel. you can find old-school white nikes with the original nike 'swoosh' in most sporting goods stores. even '80-style converse all-stars (low or high-top) have made a huge comeback.

4) sunglasses

oversized shades are super popular for men and they're reminiscent of the good old '60s and '70s. even '80s-style aviators are flying high on the fashion scale.

fash'on... BAM!

vintage make-up

yes, you've guessed it! more videos. enjoy the tutorials that i've ripped off the net for you!

fash'on... BAM!

vintage couture

once in a while, i take a breather from the writing and allow images to do the talking. well, today is one of those days. so sit back, relax and enjoy the two videos that i pick out for your viewing pleasure.

fash'on... BAM!

the vintage lady: carat

authentic vintage jewellery could generally be considered to be so if it is older than 20 years, although styles of the 1930's to 1960's are most popular and largely recognized as vintage. much hype surrounds vintage jewellery in the fashion world, so there are a lot of modern pieces widely available attempting to imitate vintage style jewellery. 

Renee Zellweger: vintage Cartier

vintage style jewellery typically features oval shapes, filigree patterning, diamond and princess cut crystals, pearls, cameos and gemstones.

vintage style jewellery has become so popular largely due to certain trend setting celebrities who habitually wear it. among those top trend setting celebrities are keira knightly, kate middleton and dita von teese.

Kate Middleton

kate middleton has quickly become a popular trend setter for vintage jewellery as her style is quite unique, standing out, compared to the likes of most other celebs around her age. kate middleton's style is always lady like, elegant, dignified, timeless and graceful, as most women would like to be perceived, which is why she has become a fashion icon.

Keira Knightly: vintage Bulgari

keira knightly tends to draw on fashions from the 1920's to 1960's, finding much inspiration from her earlier era movies. her style is typically lady like and elegant also but a bit more relaxed than kate middleton, often opting for loose fitting, glowing garments.

Dita von Teese

dita von teese's style is very much defined by classic vintage retro styles and burleque glamour. while dita von teese may be a lesser known celeb, she is originally famous for burlesque dancing and currently more so for her fashion sense which is built on top of that.

fash'on... BAM!

the vintage lady: cut

for the regular reader reader of The Online Edition, you would remember that in week six, i did a quick coverage of fashion history: the eras and periods. hence if that was your fashion lesson 101, consider the content of this week a step up from there. for this post, i want to take a closer look at the various silhouettes in vintage fashion. hopefully, you can find the perfect cut for your body type!

image from elusions

the past hundred years of fashion presented an array of silhouettes, from the dropped waist of the 20s to the broad shoulder of the 40s and the nipped waist of the 50s, it is an extensive list. this variety works perfectly in today's fashion world, women are no longer slaves to fashion dictates as they were in the past. fashion trends of the past were often so strict that they became virtual mandates. hem lengths were were exact, silhouettes limited. Not so today.

1) 1920s flapper

this is one of the few styles that demands the tiniest bust possible, especially if you have small shoulders. during the twenties it was common for women to actually bind their breasts. narrow hips are ideal and a defined waist line is the definitive trend.

2) 1930s bias cut

image from art deco

the bias cut dresses of the 1930s will show off every curve you own. they look gorgeous on a long slim frame but the good news is that they can be stunning on a curvy figure as well. if your curves are unruly the secret here is to wear undergarments that smooth and tame them so the bias glides over. 

3) 1940s shoulders

wide shoulders, narrow waist

during the 40s the shoulders were wide, the waist defined and the skirts modestly narrow. this is a perfect era for those with narrow or sloped shoulders. on the other hand it can be disastrous on a naturally broad shouldered woman. the broad shoulders are also good for creating the illusion of a smaller waist line. so if you have narrow shoulders and a slightly thick waist look for 40s jackets in your size to team up with modern skirts and pants. the 1940s look is also good on petite women. the obvious shoulder line draws the eye up. 

4) 1950s new look

1950s fashion

the 1950s brought in the impossibly small waist and full skirt. also most of these dresses have very full bust lines. if you do have a small waist and pronounced hips this is a great look for you. the full skirts are wonderful at hiding the hip size. hips are hidden under the skirt and usually a crinoline as well so size does not matter. a small bust will probably need to be padded.

Miranda Kerr

Emma Stone

perhaps it is true that the past is a great mentor for the present.

fash'on... BAM!