Category: Women’s Fashion

England has been known for its boating traditions for centuries, and as with any activity it comes with its very own aesthetic. Boating jackets have come in and out of mainstream style, too, most notably worked into youth fashion in the 1960s.

This Smythe Yachting Wool Blazer is a great piece for the coming summer months thanks to its traditional, simplistic styling. This jacket is versatile enough to fit in with many retro styles from mod to riviera style and even a fifties nautical look. Made from a light wool and with a petite cut, it's ideal for the sunshine.

Get it from Net-a-Porter online for £485.

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High street retailer Oasis is making a bold statement with their “Palm Beach” dresses.

The mini collection features three dresses; two in shift style, another with ruffled sleeves. All feature brightly coloured 60s-inspired patterns. The pink and blue shift dress is made from silk and costs £65. The other dresses are both in the aqua shades pictured above and cost £60 for the shift, £45 for the other style, although details of the materials used are not provided. If the dresses are too bold for your tastes, there is also an oversized silk scarf (£18) in similar design.

Visit the Oasis website to see the range.

Casual retro tops are a rare treat for women, as dresses and eveningwear dominate the vintage inspired looks on offer. If you're looking for the perfect top to compliment that well chosen mini, try this L.A.M.B. Sweetheart top.

The graphic frost optics print provides a cool, geometric look. The monochrome colour scheme combines with the cute, angular neckline to give something of an updated nod to a sixties mod look. This might not stop traffic on its own, but with a plain black a-line skirt it could be the top your wardrobe's been waiting for.

Get it online from Bluefly for $39.

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Maybe a little early to be thinking about holiday wear but interesting retro swimwear is often hard to find, so I was pleased to come across this 50s Pin-Up Bikini.

This bikini is white with a fun print of retro pin-up girls and tattoo style birds, arrows and banners. The pants have a cute little frill around the top.

It is available in sizes extra small to large and costs a very reasonable £28 from Urban Outfitters.

Continuing their growing collection of excellent retro reproductions, Bettie Page Clothing has just released some new designs on their website. Their pinup style aesthetic, inspired by Miss Page herself, is done to a tee in each of their dresses.

This Bubble Gum dress is one of the more sweet designs, and is ideal for the coming warmer months. The saccharine pink shade is offset by a decidedly slinky fit and silhouette. The figure-hugging bodice avoids being oversexed, though, by the addition of the prim collar detailing.

Get this dress from Bettie Page Clothing online for $104. Check out more new designs there too.

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Currently on show at the V&A is the exhibition “Hats: An Anthology by Steve Jones” and as you would expect, the museum shop is awash with millinery-inspired gifts, including a collection of retro Cloche Hat Pin Brooches.

The brooches are available in a choice of six colours (dark blue, fuschia, teal, dusky pink, ivory or green) and are great way to add a bit of 1920s glamour to an outfit.

They cost £10 each and are available to buy online from the V&A Shop website.