Fashion trends are cyclical, a fact we are all well aware of. With vintage fashion becoming a regular sight on the red carpets and everyday street style, 2024 might just be the year of retro fashion at its peak. However, most of us limit vintage fashion to Y2K trends. But with the help of the resurgence of the ’50s and ’80s trends, it’s time we shift towards the other styles that retro fashion has to offer.
If you have seen your mother’s pictures from her teen years and there are outfits you desperately want to cop, you are not alone. I too am always fangirling over retro fashion because of the range it has to offer. From boot-cut jeans, corsets, and cat-eye shades to baguette bags, funky prints, shoulder pad dresses, and chunky jewellery, retro fashion is an endless magic pot that keeps on giving. Let’s dive right into how you too can channel this retro-core aesthetic along with the holy grail product recommendations you need to add to your cart for the perfect retro closet!
Looking for a dress for your next soiree and you want to keep things simple but classy? Audrey Hepburn should be your go-to style inspo. Of course, there will be a black dress recommendation when talking about Miss “Funny Face” because her iconic black dress has proven to be a Roman empire for many. You too can recreate the black dress look with this bodycon midi dress by Ritu Kumar. To add a little oomph to your outfit, style it with black heeled sandals by Sheriff Shoes and a statement pearl choker by White Lies. Get The Look If there’s one thing that needs to make a comeback ASAP, it would be the 70’s maximalism. With extensive layering, exaggerated boot-cut jeans, printed blouses, floral maxi dresses, cute berets, super-knee-high boots, and tall wedged-heel sandals, the 70s were no short of dramatic sassy dressing. Like me, if you too are looking for the ideal 70s wardrobe, here’s an inspiration. Pair this blue floral shirt by How When Wear with these lilac shorts by RSVP by Nykaa Fashion. Style with knee-high boots from Forever 21 and voila! Your peak 70’s outfit is ready.
Although Zeenat Aman is a celebrated fashion icon of the past, a scroll through her Instagram will reveal that her style remains impeccable even in the present. Today, her closet is something that I – someone in her early 20s – want to steal. With the shiny sequins, vibrant colours and vivid patterns, Aman created her own boho-chic aesthetic. Sequins are a necessity to channel your inner Zeenat Aman. We recommend this silver mock wrap dress by Little Mistress
Some of the most popular celebrities of the ’90s set the stage for today’s denim-on-denim trend, often seen wearing denim jackets paired with denim jeans across the seas. Closer to home, we had the OG Bollywood fashion girl, Karisma Kapoor absolutely slaying the trend multiple times, be it with cargo pants or vest tops. The one look I can talk about for hours is when she donned a mini denim skirt paired with a patchwork jean crop top. You too can easily recreate this peak 90s monochromatic trend by pairing this Denim mini skirt by Qua with the patchwork bralette top by MIXT – accessorise with blue cat-eye sunglasses by Sohi and a panelled denim jacket by Qua.
In addition to being a comedic genius and giving us the iconic hairstyle, “the Rachel,” Rachel Green remains an unmatched fashion icon. As the fashion expert in her group of Friends (1994), her wardrobe showcased all the trendiest ’90s styles – turtlenecks, cropped sweaters, boots, and slip dresses. Recreate her iconic look plaid skirt look with this mini skirt by Virgio, accompanied by a Fischer white sweater from Rareism. It wouldn’t be a Rachel outfit without including knee-high socks, and for that, you can go for Bharatasya’s knitted socks and Harrison dark horse heels by Theater.
Polka dots, a classic retro design that no other print could ever top and the one look almost all of us immediately think of is Dimple Kapadia’s top paired with a mini buttoned-up skirt from the movie Bobby. You can easily recreate this look by putting together this balloon-sleeved white polka-dot shirt by Trend Arrest with the mid-rise skirt by Vero Moda.
Micro-fashion trends come and go but retro fashion is forever. Whether you want to channel the 70s aesthetic or personify every fashion girl’s favourite Friends character, Rachel, trust us you’ll never look outdated in a retro fashion piece.
The Hepburn Aesthetic
That 70’s Vibe
Channel Zeenat Ji’s Rizz
The Denim-On-Denim Look
The Rachel
The Bobby
Here Are 6 Looks To Confidently Slay The Retro Aesthetic
Label Ritu Kumar
Black Bodycon Midi Dress
White Lies
Statement Pearl Choker
Sherrif Shoes
Women’s Black Color Heels
How When Wear
Blue Floral Stripe Printed Shirt
RSVP by Nykaa Fashion
Lilac Solid High Waist Shorts Set
Forever 21
Solid Black Boot
Little Mistress
Silver Sequin Mock Wrap Maxi Dress
MIXT By Nykaa Fashion
Dark Blue V Neck Washed Fitted Denim Bralette Top
Qua
Denim Mini Skirt
Sohi
Eye Spy Blue Cateye Sunglasses
Qua
Panelled Denim Jacket
Rareism
Fischer White Sweater
Virgio
Rory Skirt Chic Cotton Pleated Skirt
Bharatasya
Cream Fine Knitted Knee Length Long Winter Socks
Theater
Harrison dark horse heels
Trend Arrest
White Polka Dot Balloon Sleeve Shirt
Vero Moda
Blue Mid-Rise Denim Skirt