Trend - Retro Fashion - Essay Example

Retro fashion Retro fashion is a current trend that is embraced by both young and no so young. There may be plenty of opinions about why the trend exists. However, there is no mistaking the fact that clothing manufacturers and designers are offering fashions that resemble those from the past, more specifically, the 1950’s through 1980’s. While designers are producing clothes, bags, shoes and jewelry from this period, stores and fashion outlets are labelling them as ‘retro’. The trend is more than just a name. There are many of pencil skirts from the 1950’s for women and disco shirts for men from the 1970’s. Even famous makers of athletic footwear have begun to produce new lines of ‘retro’ shoes. Anyone who doubts the existing of a retro trend needs to simply visit the internet or pick up a fashion magazine. There are plenty of YouTube videos on how to get the look of a particular decade. The term is used in many articles on how to mix new with old garments from the past. It’s not just the styles that are desirable; but the colors as well. Hot pink has definitely made a comeback. Polka dots from the 60’s have found their way back into fashion today. Not only are they found in garments, but also in home decor, such as on pillows and bedding. Retro is a distinctive style that is sometimes classified along with the ‘vintage’ styles. However, it is unique, in that it does not necessarily imply age or an aged look. Vintage, on the other hand, does imply something that is aged. Most people think of vintage as a look coming from the 1920’s through the depression era. Retro is what comes after that period. Though some people tend to mix the terms, Retro has a distinct place in time that it resembles. It represents an era in fashion that influenced garment design, furniture and an overall style. A retro look is not limited to fashion. Brown, et al talk about the term applied to the marketing of products, suggesting it is a trend that reinvents something from a past decade, with a new twist. They give the example of the Volkswagen Beetle as an example of retro styling, in the automobile industry. While many of today’s new cars look somewhat more futuristic, some recent models do resemble the look of those from past decades. The Ford Mustang is one example. It became more box-like in the 80’s and 90’s, but now appears to be more similar to the styles of the 60s. Those who argue against a retro trend suggest it is merely a marketing term for manufacturers to get the attention of young fashion conscious buyers. The fact that eBay has a buyer’s guide dedicated to the explanation of retro style adds weight the notion of retro as a sales and marketing tool. Because fashion trends cycle and “fashion cycles have quickened at an alarming rate” (Pena 4), the notion that a trend in style that covers such a broad era in time is one designed simply to sell. Pena suggests, in her study of postmodernism in fashion, that the rejection of style standards and the blending of categories in the 1980s makes it impossible to label any style trend. However, while women began dressing in garments that looked more like men’s clothing, some of the characteristics of the 1980’s are embraced in retro fashion. The hounds tooth fabrics in women’s suits are new in coats, jackets, hand bags and even in dresses. They are made new again by adding solid fabrics and by giving them a more tailored fit. They are considered retro, not so much because they completely copy a style of the decade, but because they contain some style elements of the decade. The Capri pants are nearly identical to the pedal pushers of the 60’s. When Capri pants were first offered, they were mostly available in solid colors or in denim fabrics. Many designers now offer them in prints, such as large floral, which are similar to those of the 60’s more closely. The gauzy, loose fitting blouses of cotton and other light materials of the 60’s are also very popular in stores that supply fashion for young women and teens. Retro dress may include one of those gauzy blouses combined with a pair of Capri pants, or simply worn with a pair of skinny jeans. The Retro trend possibly began in thrift stores or second hand stores, due to the need for some ladies to find unique styles at a cheap price. Many still shop in such places, to purchase their retro styles. It is likely that, in an attempt to draw more customers, designers began producing fashions to meet the increasing demand. It is a trend created by young people, rather than by designers. There are many indicators beyond clothing design that indicate a growing retro trend. Furniture in the Danish modern style often represents a style from the recent past. Other trends in furniture include an increasingly popular use of brightly colored pieces in a living room or dining area. Even some of the dishware from the 50’s and 60’s has made a resurgence. Dishes, bowls, coffee cups and others made of melamine, or an improved version of the material, are being found in many kitchens. They are popular not just because of their style, but because they are functional, can be put in the dishwasher or microwave and are durable. Though the plastic material may not be exactly the same, it looks and feels like the old melamine. A style trend generally affects many aspects of everyday life, beyond clothing. It is more than just a mode or fad. It is a change that has the potential to have a long term influence on society (Worldnet). What began as a change in shopping habits and preferences, has come to affect style in many aspects of daily living, such as home decorating and clothing. Retro is a style that either relies on elements of previous decades or a mixture of their characteristics. There are many aspects of the retro style found in today’s society. Stores advertise using signs with retro elements. The Wal-Mart blue flower or the Target bulls eye can both be considered retro design, as they include elements of past fashion or design. Retro is not just a fashion trend. It can also become a way of life. While teens and young adults today may not want to copy many of the actions of young people in the 60s, they do value some aspects, such as independent thinking and the ability to create or achieve their own unique, individual look. Shopping in thrift stores is not a trend brought about by economic needs. It is an action taken to consider the environment and for young people to do their part in reducing waste. “The number of thrift stores has proliferated and so has the quality of the merchandise offered in them” (Urban). Thrift stores, where young people often buy retro fashions, are meeting an increasing need and indicate a trend. Retro fashion is a trend. The evidence is the growing number of stores or businesses designed to meet the needs of those who seek retro designs, as well as the number of products with a retro look or composition. Home decorating and car purchases are generally not considered for their short term satisfaction, such as satisfying a need in fashion. They are purchases that people will keep for several years. The fact that the retro style began in the early 2000’s and continues today, suggests a trend more than a temporary fashion. Works Cited Brown, S. Et al. “Teaching old brands new tricks: Retro branding and the revival of brand meaning.” Journal of Marketing, 67.3. (2003). 02 Apr. 2011. http://www.mendeley.com/research/teaching-old-brands-new-tricks-retro-branding- and-the-revival-of-brand-meaning/ Pena, M. “The impact of postmodernism on fashion since 1980. “ (2003). http://www.fcs.uga.edu/ss/docs/pena_melody_a_200508_ms.pdf Princeton University. Wordnet search 3.0. http://wordnetweb.princeton.edu/perl/webwn?s=trend. Urban, D. “ Thrift stores thriving but donations are down.” VCU Business News 2010. 03 Apr. 2011. http://blog.vcu.edu/businessnews/2010/07/david-urban-on-thrift-store- trends.html. http://wordnetweb.princeton.edu/perl/webwn?s=trend. Read More