The amazing retro style of the 40s, 50s and 60s has ever since inspired celebritites and designers. This style is also one of my favorites, especially that it's very flattering to more feminine, curvy silhuettes. It seems classic, yet is still very diverse, from Bettie Page's pin-up style, through Dior's New Look to flowery a-line skirts of American housewives.
Before Christian Dior introduced A-line dresses, there was Lauren Bacall, an actress and a fashion icon of the 40s. Her noir-movie style inspired Dior's 2010 spring collection designed by John Galliano. Not only did the models resemble Bacall on the runway, but the very ad for the campaign would pass for a real photo of the actress.
Then in 1947 Christian Dior introduced his New Look and A-line skirts became highly fashionable. The trend soon reached the US and went from Paris chic to pastels and flower patterns beloved by American housewives of the 50s. If you want a greater look on that fashion trend you can find it in such movies as "Grease", "Roman Holiday", "Mona Lisa smile" or "The Hours" (Julianne Moore and Toni Collette sequence).
The return to feminine silhuette might be traced in Louis Vuitton 2010 fall collection with dresses that highlight the waist, while enhancing female curves, creating hourglass figure.
What inspired me to write this post was actually the latest Beyonce video that seems to be inspired by various iconic women, characters, styles:
What I see here is a sexed-up version of American housewife in cat eye glasses and 50s inspired lingerie, mixed with a pin-up style (trademark haircut of Bettie Page), but also heavy inspiration with The Graduate's Mrs. Robinson (see the make-up in the telephone/cigarette scene).
