Author: Orla Doherty

When looking at fashion retrospectively we have the luxury of seeing the style and appeal of even the most functional clothing items. This Wool School Dress by You Must Create (YMC) is a perfect example, taking a classic vintage-look pinafore and reproducing it for everyday wear.

Made from 100% dark grey wool, it's faithful to classroom-worn originals. The A-line skirt shape, coupled with a v neck and thick straps creates a sixties silhouette which retains all the demureness and girlish appeal of a mid-sixties look.

Get it online in the YMC sale for £62.50.

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One of the most common retro crossovers is fifties and eighties fashion, with the 1980s plumbing much of the earlier decade's style and making pieces it's own. This Wendy Bustier from French Connection is the perfect staple piece for capturing styles from both decades.

In a cotton blend fabric, the bustier has a light sheen that lends a glamour to the look. In plain black, the sweetheart shape and boned corset style are ideal for a burlesque-inspired style. The fuschia version, meanwhile, captures the bold brights of an eighties look with equal ease.

Get it now from French Connection UK for £45 each.

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Looking beyond the high street can often mean going beyond the constraints of the most common retro influences, as seen in this forties influenced number by YMC. The Tulip Pocket Dress is a timeless style that leans heavily on a vintage look.

The wrapped coat-style dress combines a demure silhouette with some quirky retro detailing to create a late forties style that's truly tempting. The white accents on navy fabric, especially at the tulip pocket, provide an instant vintage look, with a high, wide collar and low hemline in keeping with the era of inspiration.

Get it online from My Wardrobe for £169.

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Pre-emptory it may be, but the shops are now starting to bring us summer wares thick and fast, including brand new swimwear ranges. This Carmen Swimsuit by Diane von Furstenberg is part of the designer's new range and takes obvious inspiration from vintage looks.

The one-piece combines practicality with an unmistakeable fifties-inspired chic. Details like the sweetheart neckline, halter neck fastening and low-cut leg line cut a sharply retro silhouette that flatters the figure. The ruffling throughout the bodice helps to both slim the figure and create curves in all the best places for that killer 50s hourglass.

Get it now from Matches Fashion for £278.

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With the first signs of Spring finally here, we can start shopping in earnest for warm weather clothes and accessories. Open toed shoes are a great addition to the retro wardrobe, especially for 70s looks. These Rose Patent Wedges by Steve Madden are an ideal choice for a seventies inspired look this Spring and Summer.

Taking inspiration from the equal parts fun and glamour of the seventies disco scene, these extreme wedges combine a cartoonish sole with some classic upper styling. The corsage rose, vented vamp and ankle strap provide retro style and enough practicality to make these most adventurous of shoes wearable.

Get them online from Oli in the UK for £110.

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Playsuits and jumpsuits are one of the most unlikely fashion comebacks of the past couple of years, but their impracticality doesn't seem to be deterring many buyers. It's no bad thing for retro lovers, of course, lending inspiration from many fifties and eighties styles to create modern looks.

This Sweetheart Onesie from Grey Antics has a sprinkling of both decades' style, channeling the 1980s love of fifties reinterpretation with ease. The sweetheart neckline, casual boat-shorts style and high waistline combine to give a retro chic that's classic and easy to wear.

Get it online from Urban Outfitters for £80.

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