Fashion

How to Master Retro Glamour

How to Master Retro Glamour
  • PublishedDecember 26, 2024

Reminiscent of old Hollywood elegance, retro glamour has long been associated with the old fashion style of the 50s. The trend has been inspiring fashion enthusiasts, celebrities, and classy people to impress using this distinctive fashion sense. 

But what exactly is retro glamour, and how can it help you dress best?

Let’s discuss the essence of retro glamour style, its roots in history, and how you can incorporate this fashion movement into your current wardrobe today. 

What is Retro Glamour?

Emerged back in the mid of the 20th century, retro glam is inspired by Hollywood’s glitz and glamour of the golden age of cinema.

This particular fashion celebrates sophistication, vintage fashion, and an enduring sense of femininity—think Marilyn Monroe’s curvier dresses, Audrey Hepburn’s minimalist elegance, or Grace Kelly’s royal charm.

The Fashion Institute of Technology New York has iconically defined retrospective fashion for many contemporary interpretations of vintage-inspired looks today.

A Timeless Appeal!

One reason retro fashion remains influential today is due to its flexibility. Retro-inspired styles can easily transition between formal events and casual outings, making this fashion suitable for almost every situation. Some core components of retro glamour fashion are luxurious glossy cloth like satin, structured silhouettes, tweed, and statement accessories. 

The goal is not just to don vintage gowns but to embody confidence with an elegance that shines no matter the era!

The Soul of Retro Glamour Style

1. A Retro Glamour Dress That Turns Heads

An essential component of its aesthetic is, of course, vintage-inspired dresses, which accentuate and naturally curves while maintaining elegance and grace. 

Popular options for such attire can include these models:

A-Line Dress: This silhouette creates an eye-catching appearance with a fitted top and flared skirt that hits either above or below the knees.

Retro A-Line Dress

Pencil Dress: A form-fitting, shapely dress that is flattering and sophisticated enough for cocktail parties or evening events. They remain popular today and make ideal attire for cocktail events or formal social functions.

Retro Glamour Pencil Dress

Tea-length dresses: Reaching just below the knee yet above ankle level, these dresses often featured cinched waists to emphasize an hourglass figure and further emphasize femininity.

Retro Length Dress

Giants like Dior, Chanel, and Vera Wang have drawn on vintage inspirations to craft modern versions of these iconic pieces.

Take Dior’s New Look in the 1940s, embraced wide skirts and cinched waists, a silhouette that continues to define retro fashion today.

2. Retro Glamour Hairstyle

Mastering vintage hairstyles is key to pulling off retro glam looks like soft waves, victory rolls, and voluminous curls that exude sophistication. Here’s how you can achieve several retro hairstyles:

Soft Curls or Waves: Influenced by screen sirens like Veronica Lake and Doris Day, this style can be achieved using only a curling iron and some hairspray for shape retention.

Retro Soft Curl Hair Style

Victory Rolls: Victory rolls are an elegant 1940s hairstyle. Pinning up hair sections created a dramatic style that was popular during that era. 

Retro Victoria Rolls

Chignon or French Twist: Reigning in style throughout the 50s, this formal updo can add class and poise for formal occasions or nights out on the town.

Retro French Twist

Today, brands such as Bumble and Bumble, and Oribe offer products designed to create the texture and hold required for vintage-inspired styles.

3. Retro Glamour Makeup

No retro look would be complete without vintage makeup, the hallmarks of which include bold lips, winged eyeliner, and dramatic lashes. Here’s how you can achieve an impressive retro makeup look:

Bold Red Lips: Bold red lips have become the classic retro glamour look, making Jayne Mansfield and Elizabeth Taylor famous with their Iconic red lips. Modern makeup brands like MAC Cosmetics and Charlotte Tilbury provide classic red shades that are perfect for creating this retro lip trend.

Winged Eyeliner: An iconic cat-eye look made popular by stars such as Audrey Hepburn and Sophia Loren. Liquid eyeliner allows precise lines, while mascara gives volume to your lashes for this cat-eye style.

Flawless Skin: Matte porcelain complexion was an integral component of retro glamour. Foundations offering full coverage and setting powder from Fenty Beauty or Estee Lauder can help achieve that classic, flawless look.

4. Retro Glam Accessories

Accessories are key when creating an authentic retro glamour aesthetic. From pearl necklaces and chandelier earrings to vintage-style handbags and delicate gloves, retro accessories provide the added bit of magic you need for the complete retro glamour ensemble.

Pearls: Think Grace Kelly—chic, timeless, and always fashionable. Pearls were iconic accessories from the 1950s that continue to symbolize retro glamour today.

Chic Handbags: Back then, structured bags were made of leather or with gold detailing; modern brands like Chanel and Hermes still influence such vintage designs today.

Retro Glamour Bags

Vintage Scarves & Gloves: Accessorizing silk scarves tied around your neck or long gloves can elevate any ensemble and style, adding a classic class.

Retro Vintage Scarfs and Gloves

Merging The Retro Glam Into Your Wardrobe

Retro glamour doesn’t require wearing all vintage fashion to embrace its charms; modern, sustainable fashion designers have integrated elements of this iconic style into everyday clothing so that it can easily fit into your wardrobe without appearing like something out of another period. 

Here are a few ways you can add retro flair to your daily style:

Choose One Statement Piece: For an eye-catching combination of old and new styles, pair a vintage-inspired dress with contemporary accessories or vice versa—for example, a retro pencil skirt with a contemporary blouse. This will allow the best of both worlds to come together seamlessly!

Mix Modern and Retro: To bring retro styles back into modern times, pair classic red lips with casual attire or wear retro hairstyles with modern dresses for an updated look.

Focus on Elegance: Retro glamour is all about dressing with intention – whether wearing an easy-tailored dress or a dramatic evening gown with pride and poise.

Why Retro Glamour Style Will Never Go Out of Fashion?

Retro glamour’s timeless appeal lies in its unwavering style. While fashion trends come and go, its style remains consistent across decades. Celebrate femininity, elegance, and confidence—qualities that transcend any time period—with retro glamour as your choice when dressing to impress or for formal events alike. 

Final Touch

Retro glamour isn’t simply about looking back; it’s also about creating timeless style in the present. By mixing vintage-inspired dresses, hairstyles, makeup, and accessories into your wardrobe and creating your own retro-glamour style, as Mae West did with red lips or Audrey Hepburn did with LBDs, retro glamour remains one of the ultimate fashion statements and will continue to be one of its trademarks in years to come.

No matter the occasion or need, retro glamour can help set an unforgettable impression wherever it occurs. So embrace its vintage elegance today for maximum impact at events or simply to look your best every day—and turn heads wherever you go!

Written By
Kammil Sarbuland

Kammil Sarbuland is a writer and a storytelling artist with a profound love for all things pop. As a writer, Kammil weaves narratives that plunge readers into different realms.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *