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Positano News Amalfi and Sorrento Coast Online

In one of my first articles for FASHION BEAUTY NEWSLETTERS I wrote about VINTAGE and RETRO as a mega-trend. In fact – if you stroll through the boutiques and high-street shops it becomes so very obvious that VINTAGE and RETRO are meant to stay not only through the winter but even through Spring/Summer 2012 and Autumn/Winter 2012/13.

The strongest trends

Based on the runway shows last spring which indicated the trends for Autumn/Winter 2011/12 the retailers had to decide which looks would sell best. The strongest trend must clearly be the era of the 1970s, closely followed by a strong revival of the 1950s and ‘60s.

The 1970s – Disco and Clubbing Scene

Bianca Jagger and Jerry Hall are the women, and New York with its club “Studio 54” is the location – put it together and you get the atmosphere which inspired the designers to spark a strong revival of the most iconic shapes and looks of the ‘70s.

Colours like orange, copper, golden brown, mustard, camel, aubergine, lilac and moss green are all the rage. Wide-leg trousers, belts, Fedora hats, plateau pumps, boots with high heels, crazy prints, and fluent silhouettes are key to get the look of this era!

The 1950s and ‘60s – “Mad Men” inspired

Supported by TV shows like “Mad Men” and icons like Jackie Kennedy and Audrey Hepburn the era of the neat looks with pencil skirts, cropped jackets, short capes, generously shaped coats, gloves and lots of fur comes back to live! Elegance is the key – handbags made of reptile skins, huge sunglasses, expensive accessories but no bling is the essence!

How to get the looks right!

If you love these trends, try to get a few items which originate from the 1950s, ‘60s and ‘70s or thereabout. It is quite easy to get vintage furs, handbags, scarves and jewellery from these eras. Scour the internet as well as charity shops, flea markets, and – of course – the wardrobes, jewellery boxes and attics of mothers and grandmothers. You might be lucky and even find dresses, jackets, and coats which survived all these years!

You can be bold and go for a top-to-toe styling which screams 1950s, ‘60s or ‘70s, or you try the pared-down look and team an iconic ‘50s top with a pair of blue jeans and ballerina flats, or a sparkly pair of ‘70s disco trousers with a heavy, long, knitted cardigan.

These eras offer you easy styling for every occasion – it works for business and pleasure. And there is the added bonus that you can vary between an ultra-feminine look and a manly or boyish appeal by adding trousers in heavy wools, bold knits, ties or bowties, loafers or huge wrist watches.

More trends…

Of course, there is more on offer for the Autumn/Winter 2011/12!

Many fashion magazines hyped the Fetish trend which will probably boil down to a lot of black leather and a few skulls which accessorize the “goth” look. But if you really want to splash your cash, you should have a closer look at the vast array of handbags, clutches, scarves, shoes and jewellery of the brand ALEXANDER MCQUEEN. His skulls are probably the ones to become icons of the future.

The Bohemian look is inspired by the 1920s and ‘30s – Art Deco, Ballets Russes, Art Scene and life in Paris. It is playful and romantic – lots of patterns, silks, satins, laces, sequins and velvets. It is a beautiful trend which offers an endless choice of mixing and matching and layering. The colours are either very dark hues of gemstones or very light hues of nude, silvery greys, matte coppers and gold.

And then, there is also the country inspired Alpine look. It has been strongly featured in the runway shows of CHANNEL and BALLY. The retailers offer high-heel ankle boots with the look of ski or hiking boots, jackets in heavy tweeds, trousers in dark heavy wools, strong knits, and massive flat shoes and ankle boots. It is a comforting look which gets you easily through a cold and snowy winter – a strong no-nonsense look!