Having studied in a fashion school, I have spent the better part of a year learning about the history of fashion. Needless to say, the wonderful past eras and their fashion trends have always awed & intrigued me.
From the 1920s flapper dresses to the 1990s grunge looks, every decade offered some fashion styles that has inspired me in my life as a fashion professional.
So, from time to time, I take inspiration from retro fashion and present those trends in my own style.
Recently, I thought of doing a fun series on the blog where I would showcase my contemporary take on the coolest fashion trends of some of the past decades.
Starting the series with my newest obsession - Shift Dresses - that was all the rage back in the 1960s!
The 60s Mod culture saw women flaunting cute shift dresses with Mary Janes or pumps. The 60s shift dresses were made more popular by designers like Balenciaga, Givenchy & Lily Pulitzer who made stylish shifts for celebrities like Audrey Hepburn, Twiggy & Jackie Kennedy. The shift dress is chic, classic and easy-to-wear, thus making it much-loved by fashion-enthusiasts all over the world.
Over the years, the shift has undergone many new looks and designers have played around with the prints, fabrics & styles - but the silhouette has remained an eternal favorite for most women who like easy-breezy effortless clothes!
The shift has made a major comeback this summer, and my outfit is a fun combination of this timeless silhouette and fusion indie fashion. My love for the elegant traditional weave of Ikat, the trendy bell sleeves and the ubiquitous shift resulted in this dress which is a piece from the SS '17 collection of my clothing brand Howrah Bridge. (For all those who don't know, I'm a fashion designer by profession)
I thought of giving an athleisure (yet another huge trend) twist to my retro look by pairing the 60s-inspired shift dress with hand-doodled sneakers! I have been wanting to doodle myself a pair of white canvas sneakers since a long time now...and finally did it! And thanks to the great response that my sneakers got from friends & family, I'm taking orders for these now!!! You can contact me via social media or e-mail for further details. :)
[Ikat shift dress: Howrah Bridge | Cat-eye sunglasses: Pieces via Vero Moda | Tribal choker: Street-shop in Hampi | Doodle sneakers: DIY | Watch: Kenneth Cole]
Using Indian traditional fabrics for smart, contemporary silhouettes is what's running the design world right now and this dress is a chic example of that. I added some boho-chic fun to the look with the tribal-ish handmade choker that I picked up from a street shop in Hampi last month, and of course, what's a retro look without some cat-eye sunnies?
As you can see from the lat image, the shift dress is as timeless and chic today as it was way back in the 1960s....only the pattern, design, detailing and styling have changed.
I have made the biggest 60s trend my own in my eclectic & boho-fusion way.....how do you like to wear your shift dresses?
Let me know if you had fun reading this post and whether you'd really like me to do more of these retro-inspired looks for you all!
Till then, stay stylish!!!
Love,
Anupriya