Summer is the perfect time for sweet vintage pieces and retro style to make a comeback. There's something about the warm weather and clear skies that activate fond past memories, and there's no better way to play on that feeling of nostalgia than to dress boldly. This week's Fashionista demonstrates this idea wonderfully in her retro outfit. Her halter top is actually a vintage swimsuit, with half of the swimsuit hidden under her skinny jeans. But the suit is made from thick fabric (unheard of in today's lycra swimsuit world), with detailed eyelet scalloping and a fitted waist. Her combination of the retro piece and skinny jeans is reminiscent of the classic 1950s style, which she completes with a whimsical pair of wedge heels from Poetic Licence, one of my favorite shoe brands. This week's Fashionista proves that the only thing more sugary sweet than summer is going back in time to revisit a timeless style.
Name: Mary Baker
Major: Environmental Science
Year: Junior
CollegeFashionista: What are some of your favorite color combinations?
Mary Baker: I know that bright colors are popular now, and I like a lot of those combinations. I like bright oranges and reds together and lots of bright blues.
CF: How would you describe your style?
MB: Definitely simple and clean with a touch of quirky. I love retro and vintage pieces, as you can see, and I like to sprinkle them into my wardrobe.
CF: What is your favorite era of fashion?
MB: I like the any unique styles from the 1950s all the way up to the 1980s. I don't really get too wild with any of my clothing, but I like the classic styles of each decade, like the shift dress of the 1960s. But if I had to choose one era, I would choose the 1950s.
CF: What are some staple pieces in your closet?
MB: I love rompers, so I have several rompers. I have also gotten into collecting blazers, and I have several blazer colors, including mustard yellow and purple. Of course, I also have the classic black blazer, which should be in most closets because it goes so well with so many outfits.
CF: How often do you change your wardrobe?
MB: I would say that I undergo a complete wardrobe change each time I buy enough new clothing to justify donating some of my old clothing, which is probably way too often. But I have had the same style since high school, for the most part.
How To: To get this Fashionista's retro look, try thrift shopping or consignment shopping at unique shops. But you can come close to this style outside of the thrift shop with this top from Free People, which is similar to this Fashionista's secret swimsuit top. You can bring your retro outfit together with a pair of focal point shoes, like this pair from ModCloth.