Many of the most popular prom dresses today are based on styles of the 1950s. Again, Christian Dior created one of the fashions that every girl had to have when he included the bubble dress in his 1954 and 1956 collections. French designer Pierre Cardin also included it in his collection. These dresses are made with hems that fold back on themselves to form a bubble. Women could find various style tops, but bustier ones are most common. Making them even more radical for their time, most had hemlines ending mid-thigh to just above the knee. Look spectacular at your next party by checking out this offering from Lyst (@lyst).
Rockabilly is a modern-day recreation of the pin-up look that is a music style and often associated with the burlesque. In addition to having things in common with pin-up style, rockabilly also favors cherries, animal print, roses, and sugar skull patterns for clothes and purses. Sparrows, bows, roses, stars, sugar skulls, casino- and nautical-themed accessories are also popular.
Bettie Page was a stunning woman. She looked fabulous wearing an easy pinned up hairstyle – well, then there wasn’t such a definition, women only did their best to move with the times. Bettie did her best to become an example of how sexy a girl can look. She was pretty bold, wearing a perfect hairstyle and nothing more – we mean, she was often spotted almost naked. However, the modern ladies can inherit only the hairstyle from her, adding it to their regular outfits. Here we have some examples of hairstyles that remind us miss Page and her ability to combine a feminine hairstyle with an aggressive hotness.
For running errands around town, most women had a pair of baby dolls. These shoes had very round toes resembling shoes that were popular for baby dolls of that decade. Most had an ornament or cute decoration on the top of them. They were much more comfortable to wear than a pair of tall heals when a woman planned to spend many hours on her feet. Yet, they were definitely not the military style boots that were popular in the 1940s. Add a pair of comfortable baby doll shoes to your collection by getting this one from Blue Velvet Vintage (@vintagebluevelvet).
Next up is your makeup. Start with your standard foundation. One of the most notable things about pin up models is their smooth complexions. Use a full coverage foundation that matches your skin tone well. You can use a concealer to disguise any blemishes or dark spots on your skin in this step. On to the eyebrows, make sure they’re well shaped and filled in. Your eyes will follow, a smoky eye or bare eye paired with cat-eye or pin up style liner is a great way to bring some added pop to your pin up style outfit. Your lips should also make a big statement, pin ups often times wear oxblood colors, reds, or berry shades.
Rockabilly is a modern-day recreation of the pin-up look that is a music style and often associated with the burlesque. In addition to having things in common with pin-up style, rockabilly also favors cherries, animal print, roses, and sugar skull patterns for clothes and purses. Sparrows, bows, roses, stars, sugar skulls, casino- and nautical-themed accessories are also popular.
While some may say that fashion is cyclical, the advanced outfitter knows that the best looks are the ones that never went out of style in the first place! By bolstering your closet with an impressive collection of retro dresses from ModCloth, you give yourself the gift of looks that bypass all current trends and hype thanks to their unwavering timelessness. Vintage dresses have always been a favorite of ours, and we believe that if they haven't already, our assortment of throwback styles will find a place in your heart soon enough!
No longer were women stuck wearing men’s jeans around the house. They could now wear them out in public. Levi, GWG and Wrangler were all household names. Women’s jeans were often lined with plaid fabric and had wide bottoms that teens usually rolled up to show off their bobby socks. Often times, these jeans had large pockets that were outlined with a coordinating color stitching. Look fashionable at your next rockabilly party in a pair of 1950s jeans from Urban Outfitters (@urbanoutfitters).
Victory rolls may be a hallmark pin-up style, but they still give updos and longer lengths a quirky rockabilly vibe. To create this look, start by brushing your hair with a paddle brush. If you have detangling spray on hand, you’ll want to apply your product before styling to make sure your hair is free of any knots. Once your product has been applied, start by parting your hair off to the side. Next, grab the piece of hair you plan to roll, and gently backcomb the section to get some extra volume.
Welcome to the home of Retro Glam, the sister company to our brick and mortar store Rowena! After serving the local Edmonton community on Whyte Ave since 1998, in 2012 we took to serving the world with the start of our website! We pride ourselves on being inclusive and having outfitted guys, gals, and visitors to our fair city (and around the world!) with our eclectic mix of rock’ clothing, footwear, and accessories. Embracing the many sides of the modern pinup we carry clothes that show case the old school glamour of bygone eras specializing in pinup clothing, 40s, 50s, vintage reproduction dresses, etc all the way to punk and goth inspired goods! Whether you are looking for the perfect dress to have all eyes on you, skirts and pants, tops, or fabulous swimwear to soak up the sun in - we have something for everyone! You are sure to find us there there supporting the local scene, Be it car shows, concerts, or tattoo conventions (either working, or just having fun!).
Another very popular style was the shirtwaist dress. Originally, introduced by Christian Dior in 1947, this style of dress was particularly popular with teenagers. It is set apart by its sloped shoulders which were a drastic change from the boxy shoulders just a few years before. This dress also has a raised bust line. The real change, however, came with a very narrow waist starting with a padded hipline and flowing away to a skirt with lots of fabric that was often pleated ending just below mid-calf. Wear this casual dress on your next shopping trip by getting this one from EricDress (@ericdress.com).
Do you or did you used to work in an office environment? Then you're bound to own a pencil skirt. The classic pencil skirt is a key piece to bring to a pinup shoot as it's very usable and can be worn with shirts and cardigans or even just with your favorite bra. It is reminiscent of 1950s wiggle dresses that made the wearer walk with a little wiggle in their step.
A polka dot dress is always a must have for vintage inspired outfits, regardless of the season. After all, it’s a classic! However, the modern-day fashion trends for spring and summer have also fallen in love with the polka dot look which is great news for ladies with a retro wardrobe. After all, you’ve been perfecting the polka dot look all this time. So, now is the perfect time to show the world how to wear polka dot dresses like a fashion icon from the 50’s in this vintage red hot pencil dress.
The classic style of the pin-up originates back from the 1940s. Due to the shortages of materials during WWII, this period of makeup is considered the "natural beauty" look.[20] The US was immersed in war-time economy, which put distribution restrictions on consumer goods.[21] General rationing was supported; women applied mild amounts of products. Despite the rations, "Women were encouraged to keep buying lipstick and to send letters to the front covered in 'lipstick kisses' to boost the morale of the soldiers."
