Zendaya i Taylor Swift - styl vintage i retro

Fashion vintage and retro style – lately a very catchy and frequent topic in relation to fashion and current trends. In many publications on the Internet, we can find an equals sign between these two names. We think that when an item of clothing is retro it is also vintage. Unfortunately, this is not true. So let’s start by explaining how the two styles differ and why we shouldn’t always use them interchangeably.

Vintage vs. retro – are they the same thing?

We talk about vintage fashion when a particular item of clothing, is actually… vintage and comes from earlier decades. Contractually, we can say about an item that it is vintage when the item is at least 20 years old, and we can continue to use it confidently. On the other hand, if you buy something from current collections and the clothing is consciously styled to look like that of earlier years, e.g. 90s, 80s, etc., then it’s retro clothing. Simply put, when a new thing, it is meant to mimic that of earlier years.

Currently, there is a definite overuse of the statement “vintage”, often a deliberate marketing ploy by many brands. Because when we think of vintage clothing, we think equivalently of eco, second-hand, and that we are doing something good for the planet and the environment. And as we know, the topic of being eco, or the topic of overproduction of clothes by chain stores, is a heavily publicized issue in recent years. Hence the “manipulation” of these two issues by brands and mass media so often. Now that we know the significant difference between vintage and retro, we can discuss how to most easily incorporate these motifs into our everyday styling. Especially since the general term “vintage”, will be a definite trend of 2023, but only in an individual way, so you style the pieces exactly as you feel.

Vintage gems

Of course, the biggest base of vintage clothes are secondhand or vintage shops, there we can find real gems from past years. I think that not one of us managed to get a cashmere sweater or something from a premium brand or fashion house there “for a penny”.

What vintage items, will never go out of style? and when you find them in the closet or in the attic at your mother’s or grandmother’s house, you better smuggle them into your closet as soon as possible?

Definitely outerwear – leather jackets, trench coats, wool coats, blazers are something you should hang your eye on, these are pieces that you can easily style and combine with your current clothes. Next, stylish vintage accessories are sure to add a touch of character to your look – leather handbags and shoes, jewelry, hats, or maybe a “grandma” beret with a modern twist?

Retro style

If you are not a fan of “rummaging” in secondhand stores or attics, and you want to refer to earlier years with your styling, then the best option for you will be retro style. The last two years in street fashion and runway fashion have been mainly references and revisits to various styles of the 20th century. Which retro styles have returned to us and will still be in effect in 2023?

The 90s are back!

The return to the fashion of the 1990s and 2000s has been the strongest in recent fashion, and it is definitely worth familiarizing yourself with their aesthetics, as it will be strongly visible this year. Leather jackets, denim in every form, oversized sweatshirts, crop tops that uncover the belly and pants with a dropped waist, and most of all combat/cargo pants. Another reference to the 2000s will be shoes with a square toe, so if you have one in your closet it’s worth adding it to your styling now.

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Individualism in fashion

So how do you find the space and style for yourself in this flurry of rotating trends and novelties? First of all, think about what we really like and what we feel good in. The year 2023 will be a breakthrough year in fashion, as trends will “blur” like never before and stop dominating, and our personal style will reign supreme. It can be said that we have “outdone” everything in fashion and it is time for individualism and drawing on those periods and styles in fashion that really reflect our personality. Also, we rely on creativity!

Zendaya – queen of the red carpets

Zendaya is the queen of red carpets in recent years, very often being hailed as the best-dressed star. Her daytime style, on the other hand, is much more relaxed, minimalist, casual. It can certainly be said of her that she likes to go back and be inspired by the fashions of past summers. Currently, as I mentioned earlier, the strongest trend in streetstyle is a return to the 2000s. This is also the styling we see above, classic tube tops, sturdy stiletto boots and a short moro jacket, a mix of the styles of the 2000s and the 1990s. Zendaya also added a sporty baseball cap, which may seem, incongruous with the rest of the styling, but that’s what current fashion is all about, to surprise with unobvious combinations.

I would call the next styling a retro classic. Starting with the hairstyle – the gentle 90s-style waves, as well as the high-waisted and flared pants, are also a nod to that decade. Next is a shiny striped shirt. Such fabrics and strong colors, we also associate with retro style, more specifically, with the 1980s and the return of the disco style. As you can see, we can create a styling based on current elements, yet firmly rooted in earlier decades. Only I have to write that the whole of this styling, very, aesthetically spoiled black pumps, they strongly contrast with the pink pants and “weigh down” visually the whole. Definitely shoes that match the color of the pants or delicate sandals would work better here.

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Taylor’s style has certainly changed a lot over the years, but it has to be said that the styling you see in the photo is definitely one of the better ones 😉

Vests in women’s fashion are currently making a huge comeback, we can wear them like a vocalist on the bare body, paired with a shirt, thin sweater or turtleneck underneath, or in the most fashionable version as a three-piece set with a blazer and pants. Taylor chose the option of a set with suit straight pants with pleats, aiming to relate to men’s style as much as possible. Such combinations are a nod to the fashion of the 1980s, where the suit, in women’s fashion, became increasingly popular. The whole thing is finished off with the beautiful square-toe shoes I wrote about above, which perfectly complement the whole styling.

This styling of Taylor is definitely the quintessential “American” fashion – a lot and rich ;). At the same time very reminiscent in its femininity and glamour to the style of the stars of the big screen in the 20s – dresses with ornaments, feathers, tassels, to which nonchalantly imposed feathers or furs. In my opinion, this is exactly the effect the singer wanted to achieve. Let’s remember that when we feel like creating a retro look and styling ourselves, inspired by a particular period in fashion, it’s worth remembering that we either go “all the way” or not at all, in order to maintain stylistic consistency. Here Taylor has consistently added strong luminous platform shoes to her styling, and this makes the whole look very cohesive.

Taylor Swift style

Fashion is constantly coming full circle. When buying more gems, remember to take care of them and store them so that nothing wears out! Who knows, maybe some time from now it will be our children who will be looking for an old jacket, hidden in the attic? 😉