HOLIDAY | Lindsey Romain
Retro style is in, and kids can’t get enough of it, from cutting-edge clothing and accessories that recall the classics to thrift-shop home goods straight from grandma’s attic.
A quest for individuality in a homogenized world is behind the vintage juggernaut, say trend watchers. So is a treacherous economy.
“I think the resurgence started with kids rummaging through thrift stores,” says Bonnie VanKeersblick of Blue Flower Vintage, an online shop that specializes in vintage items. “Old movies help fuel the trend, and then the economic downturn and people wanting to be green justified it.”
“I believe there is a desire to escape from mass manufacturing to things that are unique,” she says. “The fashion industry has caught on to this and are making efforts to include vintage in their styling and editorials.”
Whether you’re shopping for a curious teen or a nostalgic grown-up, having an eye for the old this season will come in handy. Retro-themed products make for great gifts and fun shopping.
For him
Thank Don Draper from AMC’s popular series “Mad Men” for the resurgence in dapper formal wear for men. Draper’s crisp suits and affinity for good whiskey ignited craving for both. Men looking for fashion inspiration will enjoy “Icons of Men’s Style” by Josh Sims (Laurence King Publishers, 2011), a guide to iconic menswear. The British fashion writer chronicles prominent garments of the past and the men who made them notable, including stars like Gregory Peck and classic characters like James Bond.
Another way to bring a retro edge to men’s formalwear is with pocket squares. “[Pocket squares] are understated but stylish and not too far out of a guy’s comfort zone,” says Press. “You can go utilitarian with cotton or bold and bright in silk.” Club Room, a Macy’s clothing brand, sells pocket squares in everything from paisley to polka dot, and in colors like red, blue and black ($15, Macy’s).
No man who carries a smart phone needs a watch – but many of them want one anyway. The Timex Digital watch ($40, department and specialty stores), boasts an INDIGLO night-light feature and digital number display, but a shiny stainless steel expansion band and water-resistance gives it contemporary utility.