Category: Women’s Fashion

While the fashion houses have already moved onto their Autumn/Winter collections for 2009, the good old British high street is keeping things decidedly sunnier. Accessorize's beachwear range is still coming up with the goods, especially in the form of this 50s Polka Dot Bikini.

With a cutesy halterneck, this top's molded shape provides a great retro look. Combined with these tie side briefs, the look is a great mish mash of surfer girl shape and classic polka dot print. With both pieces being smaller, this look is easier to wear than a lot of the pin-up inspired swimwear looks from the 50s, and it's affordable too.

Sold as separates for better fit, this costs £30 for the set.

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If you're an eighties fashion lover, you'll no doubt owe some reference points to the every eclectic Cindy Lauper. A young popstrel at the time, she wasn't one who blended into the background, and has become equally known for her sartorial statements as she has for her music.

Tapping into the eighties revival, Miss Selfridge have given us a vest with a print of the lady herself. The image isn't the only thing that's of the era, though, with the vest taking style points in construction. With a slouch fit, muscle vest and even the choice of grey marl jersey fabric, this is ideal for recreating an 80s layerfest.

This vest is new to Miss Selfridge for £18.

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Mary Quant's biggest influence on her peers in the mid 1960s was her use of youthful styling and colours. While monochrome may be an instant mod signifier, the right shade of brights can be just as instant in their retro appeal.

This Anne Coat by Farhi has the perfect shade of mustard yellow, combined with some sleek sixties styling. Flared three quarter length sleeves and an unstructured bodice shape give a relaxed, cape-style feel to the coat. A chic, simple collar and oversized, childrenswear style pockets draw the coat together for a relaxed yet sharp take on some retro style points.

Get yours online from My Wardrobe for £285.

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Marks and Spencers are never going to be the first port of call for youthful fashion, but it's a great stop for the young looks of eras gone by. This Colour Block Sleeveless Dress is another example of how their backwards looking designs can look fresh and fun today.

With an obvious mod aesthetic, this simple A-line shape with a mid-thigh hem provides an easy to wear option. The thick straps and high neckline add that girlish mid sixties feel, while sleek straight lines in the block monochrome print add a mainstream mod edge.

Get yours from Marks and Spencer now for £45.

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Denim has been a ubiquitous everyday material ever since the 1950s, and it's been a quintessential American wardrobe staple throughout fashion history. Branching out from jeans and overalls, it arguably found most wear in the 1970s with shirts, shorts and accessories.

This Dorothy Perkins Western Shirt isn't just a shoo-in for seventies looks thanks to its material, though. This shirt's Western styling lends the feel of Americana that was so popular with folkies of the era. An ideal shade of blue denim finishes this off to a tee.

Get yours now for £25.

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Simple and chic, a sixties Parisian look is hard to surpass in terms of easy retro style. While nautical stripes may be sometimes overdone in fifties looks, this sixties take is still ripe for exploration in modern wardrobes.

This French Connection Striped Dress manages to look effortless and easy going thanks to the looser fit of the bodice. The simplistic silhouette is given a subtle retro flair thanks to a wide boat neck, three quarter length sleeves and that ever present mini length hemline.

Get yours online from French Connection for £45.

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