I remember once a cashier in M&S asked me where I bought my clothes from.
She’d gushed about my hair as I had a little fringe roll and we had a little chat about pin curls. But at the time I was wearing a top from Matalan, a Laura Ashley Skirt and New Look Shoes.
I like a certain vintage inspired, lady like I suppose, look. But I actually don’t have a wardrobe full of vintage clothes. A lot of vintage these days can be expensive, it can be fragile and find it difficult to stand up to modern lifestyles, and if you have a waist measurement over 26″ it can even be really difficult to find to fit!
The key is being creative with what the High Street has to offer. Just because they team it with a mini skirt and knee high boots doesn’t mean you have to.
With Spring nearly sprung I have had a bit of a trawl around the “new in” sections and I bring you some fabulous vintage inspired buys from the High Street.
White Lace Collar Blouse £29.99 River Island
I think this would look gorgeous with a black pencil skirt and a little black hat. Very chic.
Limited Edition Pastel Maxi Dress £150 TopShop
Top Shop’s prices drive me completely crazy, but this 30s style “maxi” dress is absolutely gorgeous. Florals aren’t always for day wear and I think this would make a gorgeous evening gown for a spring event.
Red Crossover Wedges £38 Dorothy Perkins
Eeek! I think I love these! Lovely 40s style wedges that would look fab with a playsuit or a nautical style summer ensemble.
Black Cotton Shirt Dress £45 Next
I don’t often look in Next, but this 50s style cotton dress looks like a great basic for Spring and Summer AND from the model pictures it doesn’t look too short.
I love this- this is exactly what I keep trying to tell you all and if you buy a preloved vintage inspired dress from redressing it doesn’t have to cost much either!
Nice one Retro Chick- my next years collection-methinks!!!
Great post! Indeed, trying to find vintage day dresses for summer has been a nightmare as nothing fits – it’s so frustrating I’d easily pay higher prices for pretty pieces that fit! These tips are great xx
I buy ‘vintage look’ (ie not even vintage inspired- just could-pass-for-that-look) most of the time for day-to-day. I work with kids so it has to be easy to move in and wash! EVEN cheaper is buying modern vintage-look from a jumble or charity shop.
Mind you, as I adore the 60s and 70s, I DO pair my buys with knee highs and minis, just vintage look ones!
I’ve given up shopping for lent, so I hope these items are still in stock come Easter bank hol!!
River Island have some great items this year. I agree it doesn’t have to be vintage to be wearable in a vintage style.
Yes I agree if you have a vintage look quite often you make modern vintage inspired pieces look vintage anyway.
I do like those shoes and the Next dress.
I am a vintage-style-aholic. If I think I can style it to how I like then I am happy. I own no clothing from the 40’s and only 1 dress from the 50’s. Anything else is 70’s + or modern via charity shops.
What bugs me is the length of things (just typing that I think that I have said that before on a comment – so I apologise if I am repeating myself!) There are some lovely, spot on vintage looking dresses out there at the moment – from ASOS to Primark. But they ALL seem to be at least 4 inches too short. *sigh*
Sorry – I seem to have defaulted to rant mode.
I’m a little oompa loompa so don’t have to worry about ‘too short’. I have the opposite problems – when i want 60s or 70s minis they aren’t always mini!
I agree, my wardrobe is also full of vintage inspired stuff. The high street is bursting with 40s and 50s inspired items. I had a browse through H&M today – all those cardigans, high waisted shorts and everywhere swallows! Generally I can see everywhere cardigans with lace trims – so beautiful!
Why did you show me that Top Shop dress? WHY? I also love the wedges. Sigh.
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Sometimes the best I can do is vintage inspired modern wear; but I think that if you know what era style you want to recreate you can do it. Particularly at the moment where trends in the shops seem to be lacy, romantic, vintage style. I love it!
xox,
bonita of Depict This!
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Totally agree, most of my wardrobe is retro in style, not actual 30s/40s pieces, for practical and financial reasons! I am trying to make the most of the lovely things in the shops at the moment! x
Oooh, they’re lovely. Still far more than I’d pay for clothing from the high-street, but in a year they’ll probably be in my local charity shops..
Thankfully I work in a smartly-dressed office, so I don’t need to have a “work wardrobe” anymore, as all my pencil skirts, heels and cute blouses fit in nicely. And it means I can justify purchases by saying, “But I need more clothes for work!” 😀