Category: Retro Women’s Fashion

Knit dresses don't have to be the sole property of eighties influenced fashion on the high street today, thanks to the increasing number of boutique brands found in our chain stores. Small British brand Apricot features in New Look now, with desirable pieces like this Knitted Dress.

Featuring a fairisle pattern, the dress combines a relaxed folk style with a feminine touch thanks to the short hemline. The bell sleeves, pockets and wide collar all combine to create a stylish folk style inspired by the early seventies, easily worn on its own or over trousers for a more relaxed look.

Get it online from New Look for £28.

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While many military influenced styles are making a comeback on the high street, there's little that beats the retro reproduction designers' take on vintage looks. This Forces Secretary Dress by PinUp Couture is a perfect example of the pitch-perfect designs we've come to expect from the brand.

The dress's two-in-one shirt and skirt combination gives an instantly vampy interpretation of the military uniform, capturing the playfully sexy edge of pin up style with ease. Available in both black and navy, the pencil skirt's high waist and brass buttons are instantly forces-themed, while the blouse's sweetheart neckline shows just enough killer cleavage to knock 'em dead.

Get it online in the UK from Hollywood Flame for £86.50.

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Among the current high street's swathes of nautical fare, there are plenty of options for those of us who fancy something more understated. This Navy Bow Dress from Miss Selfridge taps into the retro feeling of the seafaring trend without being too out there.

Details like a peter pan collar, high waist and light pleating on the skirt help to create a chic retro outline. Navy fabric adds a richness that black doesn't always achieve, while staying just as versatile and classic. The bows at the bodice add some of that fifties and sixties girly feeling, without making the dress too young.

Get it online from Miss Selfridge for £35.

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Military influence in mainstream fashion seems to be a hot favourite in recent years, coming back to the high street season upon season. It's back again this Spring with plenty of options for retro devotees to plunder at affordable prices.

This Khaki Military Jacket by Vero Moda takes its cues from the 1960s' introduction of military style into the fashion forum, creating a bold style for men and women. While the jacket's feminine cut is modern, the details like epaulettes and brass buttons retain the spirit of the vintage originals.

Get it online from ASOS for £45.

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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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