Return of the '50s Swing Dresses: How to Wear Vintage Full-Circle Skirts Today

Nothing beats the timeless elegance of 1950s dress styles. However, one dress design stood out. It was a stylishly casual wear, the swing dress, popularly known as full-circle skirts.

It was a favourite for daytime wear to parties, cinemas, resorts, soda fountains, and dates. This beautiful vintage dress features:

• Short, elbow, long, halter, and sleeveless upper.
• Cinched, sometimes belted waist.
• Voluminous full-circle skirt.
• Swinging, feminine, flair.

How the Vintage Swing Dress Has Evolved

Now freshly revived in 2025, it has become a fashion favourite for both day and night wear, and is made with fabrics like sustainable cotton blends, sateen and satin, bamboo silk, wool crepe, chiffon, taffeta, and high-tech mesh as linings.

Fashion designers and stylists now incorporate modern layering, paired with unique, big, and bold accessories.

Why the Full Circle Skirt Dress Is Trending

As fashion is now leaning back into stylishly structured, feminine, vintage-inspired styles, the full-circle skirt with its dramatic silhouette has become a favourite of today’s fashion-forward crowd.

And while the classic features remain, designers are updating the swing dress with:

• Modern wrinkle-resistant fabrics.
• Bolder prints: digital florals, huge polka dots, and botanicals.
• Striking digital colours, like rich saffron, mint chrome, lilac dusk, and deep emerald, including brass, gold, and silver.
• Halter necklines, off-the-shoulder and shirt collars with peek-a-boo backs.
• Dramatic sleeves, including versions with bishop sleeves.

How to Style Swing Dresses Today

If you are a vintage fashion fan, consider the following style tips for the outfit:

Petticoat

This undergarment is required to accentuate the skirt's flare, especially if you desire a glamorous retro look for evening wear. Use a light crinoline fabric, tulle, or organza.

Footwear

The fifties footwear for full-circle dresses was the kitten heel. Today, wear sleek ankle boots, Mary Janes, or chunky-sole loafers. And if you wish to dress down for a casual flair, pair them with stylish, white sneakers.

Belt

To emphasise the waistline, use a contrasting belt or a belt bag. For a futuristic twist, opt for wide, elasticated neon or metallic belts.

Layering

For layering, wear with a cropped denim jacket, leather blazer, or tailored knit cardigan.

Jewellry

Go beyond pearls and think statement earrings in geometric or asymmetrical shapes, transparent handbags, or upcycled clutches. Throw in a pair of oversized sunglasses for a stylishly dramatic effect.

Today's swing dress is a celebration of vintage grace and elegance. If styled properly, this iconic 1950s look can work seamlessly for any occasion, from brunch to art gallery visits, rooftop cocktails, and weddings. So, whether you’re reviving the elegance of Grace Kelly or mixing streetwear elements for a downtown vibe, the full-circle skirt dress offers a blank canvas of endless style potential.

And don’t be afraid to experiment. The swing dress of today is all about personality and fashion re-invention.

Further Reading:
7 Famous Fashion Designers of the Sixties

Vintage Handbags: 20th Century Classic Women's Bags (With Pictures)
Ugly Vintage Clothing Styles We Will Hate to See Come Back

How to Walk in High-Heeled Shoes Without Waddling and Grimacing

This post is a quick step-by-step guide on how to walk gracefully in high-heeled shoes without waddling like a duck. Moreover, spiked heels won't make you look glamorous if you wear ‘pain’ on your face.

Walking straight in Stilettos (Image used under license from 123rf.com)

1st Step

As a beginner, start practising with kitten heels because if you want to strut in four-inch heels you’d have to start off practising with these. You should start low and work your way up to the higher heels.

2nd Step

When you walk easier and feel more comfortable in kitten heels, you can move up to high wedge heels. Their heels fully attached to the sole will give you good balance and increased confidence. Wedge heels are comfortable to walk in because your heels are placed higher above the level of your toes.

3rd Step

When you feel more relaxed with high-heeled wedge shoes and can walk comfortably in them without feeling awkward, you can go shopping for spiked shoes. But before then, have an imaginary walk in high shoes. Do this by standing with your knees straight, your body raised and supported on your toes, and your heels raised at least an inch (or so) off the floor. While trying this, see if you are tottering or bending at the knees. If you do bend your knees, even remotely, you are not yet ready for spiked shoes.

4th Step

If all goes well with step three, start with baby steps (small, slow steps), ensuring you do not bend your knees any more than you normally would. For balance, put one foot about 12 inches directly ahead of the other, placing your heels down first before your toes. HEELS THEN TOES! HEELS THEN TOES! HEELS THEN TOES!

Conclusion

Now that you have practised walking in stiletto heels without the occasional grimace, only then are you set to wear and strut your 9-inch spikes.

How to Dress in 1920s Flapper Style

One of the most popular vintage-inspired dress designs of the 20th century is the 1920s flapper style clothing. At the time, women wanted their bodies free from the shackles of tight corsets, long and cumbersome skirts and hats large enough to house a colony of birds.

In the 1920s, the word fashionable meant women daring to raise their hemlines, short hairstyles, bejewelled headpieces, fans, feathers, and freer waistlines and with post-war spending inspiring women to shop once again, a new kind of fashion therapy evolved.

So, if you are like many women that love vintage fashion, clothing styles of the 1920s are feminine, chic, and body-flattering. Wearing a flapper style outfit with the right accessories, you'll look like you sashayed out of the Great Gatsby movie.

Flapper Hair Styles
A noticeable highpoint of the 1920s woman was demonstrated by the stark change in her hairstyle. Women were saying cheerio to long Victorian locks and welcomed much shorter and boyish hairdos. Popular styles that may interest you include the bob cut, shingle cut (a bob haircut with a tapered back) and the Eton crop.

The Flapper style is not complete without the right hairdo – short. But if you don’t want to cut your hair short (understandably), you can always opt for a short wig – the bob style or finger-curls are very 1920s.

Hats and Headpieces
Of all the classic women's hats of the roaring twenties, the cloche hat was the trendiest and was a very popular headpiece with its bell shape and side adornments which was anything from flowers to small feathers and geometric designs. Other hat styles include wrapped turbans, straw summer hats, and bucket hats.

To add a feminine touch to their ensemble, the wealthy 1920s woman had elaborate and expensive jewels worn as headpieces in their collections. However, you don’t have to buy bejewelled headpieces because you’ll find that many with faux stones will look equally glamorous on you plus you can even make your own.

Clothing
By the twenties, fashion began to deviate from the more restricting clothing of the earlier years and gravitated towards simpler and more comfortable clothing like slip dresses, short skirts and trousers. Floral prints in soft pastel colours were adored and other popular colours were "Nile Green" "Sunset Orange" "French Blue" and "Maze".

Beaded dresses with fringed hems were for both semi-formal and evening wear. Other formal clothes styles of the 1920s were tea-length dresses and sleeveless chemise gowns, some with elaborate beading and sequined works.


Shoes
If you are looking for authentic vintage shoes, that’s probably a tall order but you will find 1920s shoe reproductions; you just need to know what to look out for. 1920s shoe styles include the Roxy 1920s flapper shoes, T-Strap heeled shoes (or T-bar), Mary Janes' and the twenties Oxford shoes including tap and dance shoes.


Sunglasses
The 1920s ushered in the use of tinted sunglasses in the fashion scene. Their styles were simple circle frames made of metal or tortoiseshell with colours ranging from dark grey to deep green. When the silver screen goddesses sunbathed in their movies with a pair on, it soon became a trend. And asides it being a fashion accessory, it became a necessity for shading the eyes from the sun.

If you wear a flapper style dress or a slip dress, please note that your ensemble will look unfinished without a pair of vintage style sunglasses.

Jewellery
The first sets of stylish costume jewellery became popular in the early twenties. Many came in strong bold colours with sleek and streamlined geometric shapes that expressed the modern Art Deco movement. Pieces include large bracelets, brooches, pendants, and chandelier earrings.

The 1920s woman often wore strings of beads and you can get that same look too. For that same elegance, you can drape your neck with a few layers of smooth round beads of different sizes. Glass beads or faux pearls look great if you wish to create the Flapper signature.

Handbags
Probably the most stunning handbags of the 20s are the beaded bags in colourful designs and the glitzy mesh bags with beading and Asian and Egyptian motifs – popular Art Deco designs.

Other bags were made from embroidered fabric or hand-tooled leather (with embossed designs), and because a lady didn’t have much to fit into her handbag, they were usually small in size, unlike today’s ladies handbags.

My best types are embellished clutch purses, reticules (pouch-shaped with drawstrings), and mesh bags.

Other Fashion Accessories
If you want that extra-chic twenties look, any one of the following items must be used to accessorize your apparel. These items include hand fans, hand gloves, cigarette holders (if you smoke), pillbox, a feather boa, wristwatch, and a lace-trimmed handkerchief.


Further Reading:
7 Famous Fashion Designers of the 1920s

For an elegant vintage look, you don’t have to dress head-to-toe vintage unless it's for a costume or fancy-dress party. Rather, blend in the past with the present, for instance, wear the Flapper dress with stilettos instead of a Mary Jane reproduction, and use a modern clutch bag instead of a purse.

How to Dress Vintage Chic Style in Everyday Clothes

Will you like to always look stylish in your everyday clothes? Do you desire a change to your dressing style? Are you considering trying to create a sophisticated chic look? If your answers are yes or maybe, this article is for you and the vintage-inspired.

If you are an enthusiast of vintage fashion but don’t like the head-to-toe vintage appeal, you can create your fashion signature using everyday clothes in combination with authentic and vintage-inspired fashion pieces.

Classic Vintage Fashion Accessories

For a vintage-inspired look, you don't have to change your wardrobe. You do not require a huge budget to accomplish this either. The things you need are some choice basics that take care of the finer details – apparel finds, accessories, collectables, and other heirloom items.

One of the most important items to have to achieve a vintage-inspired look is fashion accessories. We know how accessorising can help dictate an era of fashion. These include shoes, costume jewellery, hats, handbags, belts, and purses. These are the finer fashion details that can give that lady-like charm characteristic of antique and vintage fashion.

Creating the Look

So, how can you create the look? How can you make yourself stand out from the crowd’s usual way of dressing? It’s simple. By adding the most unexpected details to your ordinary-looking outfits, you can give yourself that second-glance look every time.

Clothing

If you like to rummage through estate or garage sales findings, you will sometimes find the unusual item of clothing. It may be a 20s blouse, a retro skirt, or a halter top. Apparel made with classic fabrics like embroidered cotton, linen, tweed, silk, wool, and linen are good finds. Clothes made of these traditional fabrics give off timeless elegant flavours.

Don’t underestimate the clothing you already have in your closet. You can integrate and combine your clothes in many ways you didn’t think possible. Clothing with bold patterns, polka dots, and remarkably large prints are very vintage. They work well in combination with plain pieces. And neutral colours like black, white, cream, navy blue, emerald green, and grey are colours you can count on to create a stylish ensemble.

Your tailored and form-fitting dresses that show off your figure are typical of vintage clothing. If necessary, wear body-form shapewear to give you the required curves.

Typical Vintage Styles

The following type of clothing will give you that stylish vintage-chic look you aim for. You don't necessarily require every item listed, but you’ll get a general idea of what can work best for your new look.

Tailored pants:

Ankle length, slight boot cut, straight, skinny (pencil), flared, and wide-leg.

Informal pants:

Pedal pushers, culottes, jumpsuits, and knee-length shorts.

Skirts:

High-waist, pencil, midi, ballerina, full-circle, swing, flared, short-bustle, and wriggle skirts.

Dresses:

Swing, shift, peplum, coat, sheath dresses, ball gown, polo dress, shirt-waist dress, drop-waist dress, and flapper style dresses.

Tops:

Long, short, cap, and sleeveless blouses. These also include shirts with tiny buttons, cardigans, knit tops, puff-sleeve shirts, peasant tops and halter blouses.

Jackets and Coats:

Frock coats, blazers, faux-fur collar coats, short and long wool coats, swing coats, trench coats, hooded capes, and vintage tweed coats.

Vintage Clothing Features and Details

Vintage styles have certain identifying features which make them stand out. If (for instance) you are a sewing enthusiast or dressmaker, you can revive some of your old forgotten-in-the-closet clothes and turn them into something new. These features include:

Necklines:

Square cut

Sweetheart

Cowl

Scoop neckline

V-shape

Boat

Crew necklines

Collars:

Peter Pan

Embellished detachable

Classic

Portrait

Boat-neck collars

Traditional Cuffs:

White cuffs

French

Square

Mandarin

Double cuffs

High 3-button

Long and pointed

Classic Accessories

Nothing can throw off your new style than if you use the wrong fashion accessories. The shoes you wear, your cameo costume jewellery, or the headpiece you put on must serve as elegant round-ups to your entire ensemble.

The good-to-have accessories include scarves, retro sunglasses, hats, purses, perhaps a parasol (for some drama), and clutch bags. Have at least one of each in your wardrobe and consider them the finishing touches you need.

Jewellery

Simple traditional jewellery is good to wear with modern outfits if you want an understated but stylish appearance. But you can wear the more elaborate costume jewelry for an air of class and sophistication.

You can invest in affordable classic-style costume jewellery when you need to glam up your attires for that va-va-voom look. Traditional design costume pieces of jewellery are the easiest and most affordable items you need to create a vintage-inspired tasteful look. The following fashion accessories are great to have and wear with your everyday clothes.

Earrings

Small hoops, cameos, studs (faux pearl or Swarovski), and chandelier earrings.

Bracelets

Cuff bangles, cha-cha bracelets, tennis bracelets, and wristwatches with metal or leather straps. Name bracelets, charm bracelets, wrap, and clamper bracelets.

Necklaces

Long gold and silver chains. Elaborate faux gems pendants, pearls, birthstones, and cameo pendants, including diamond solitaire, lockets, and gold cross pendants. Choker necklaces and bib necklaces are also inspired pieces from a past fashion era.

Rings

Statement rings, rings with wide or thin bands, heirloom rings, Art deco rings, and cocktail rings.

Brooch and Pin

Whimsical and flirty pins, cameo brooches, personalised brooches, and gem-set pins.

Shoes

If you like classic styles, you will love shopping for affordable vintage-replicated shoes because good shoes make the best impression. Wear a nice suit with the wrong pair of shoes and you’ve made a fashion blunder.

Finding one or two fabulous pairs of vintage-inspired shoes is essential if you want to incorporate styles from another era with today’s trends. Vintage-reproduction shoes, also referred to as modern vintage shoes are quite affordable. Women's vintage shoe style reproductions to look out for are:

Espadrille wedges
Sling-backs
Lace-up Oxfords
T-straps
Mary Jane shoes
Saddle shoes
Peep toe shoes
Patent pumps
Lace-up boots
Ballet flats
Kitten heels (pumps or boots)
A pair of red shoes
Animal print flats
Stilettos

Moccasins

Handbags and purses

Traditional handbags and modern ones fashioned after vintage bags are popular and never go out of style and many die-hard vintage fashion enthusiasts have one in their closets. Reproductions now have special pockets for makeup, writing material, cell phones, and other modern devices. Owning one (or two) is a unique way to establish your fashion signature. Examples of vintage style bags that have been replicated to suit modern fashionistas are:

Retro bags
Lucite handbags
Beaded flapper purse
Floral bags
Coin purses
Sister Jane handbags

 

Sunglasses and frames for reading glasses

You can find inexpensive old-style eyewear like sunglasses and frames for reading glasses at street markets, on Amazon, and Etsy.

1950s cat-eye sunglasses
Brow-line sunglasses
1960s over-sized glasses
Retro square
1970s tinted lens
1980s aviator sunglasses
1990s round wire-framed

 

Scarves

When you think about vintage hair scarves, your mind brings up images of glamorous silver screen stars of Old Hollywood. Scarves are versatile and functional and you can wear them around the neck or over your head and tied under the chin, classic French style. Add some drama and playfulness with vintage-inspired scarves with floral, green foliage, polka dots, bold stripes, and paisley patterns, or in vibrant block colours.

Hats

Stylish hats are back in a big way and the best of the pick are the styles inspired by 20th-century hat designers. Designs range from the 1920s cloche and 1940s berets to the fifties pillbox hat, fascinators, and retro pagoda hats. Wear them for some oomph and charm and make them an essential part of your informal clothing. 

The vintage-chic style demands that the clothes and fashion accessories you wear are neat, clean, stylish, but simple. Clothing should be wrinkle-free and colour coordinated and it is important not to over-accessorize for a vintage-inspired look.

Dress Like a Silver Screen Goddess: Old Hollywood Style

Most of us know them on screen or have heard about them, the silver screen goddesses of the 20th Century and many will agree that these leading ladies of Old Hollywood helped shape and define fashion and style.

Not surprising because many movies of the early to mid-20th century were quite like fashion shows within a story.

Many of us who cherish classic styles all have some love for vintage-inspired clothing and accessories designs. This is hardly surprising as most of us grew up during the age of cinema visits and silver screen movies that not only gave us great stories to view but also showed us how glamorous men and women looked in their wonderful classic clothing designs.

If you ever watch classic movies, you’ll notice how well-groomed everyone looks. From the newspaper boy to the heiress, everyone looks so well dressed and stylish.

And the stars . . . Most times they look absolutely stunning, whether they wear casuals, day wear, office wear, or formal evening wears.

Screen Goddesses Who Were Fashion Icons

In the 20s and 30s, there were:

Louise Brooks - Of the 20s silent movies is an iconic symbol of the flapper style and for popularising the bobbed hairstyle.

Greta Garbo – A film actress from Sweden. Garbo was an international star and fashion icon in the 1920s and 1930s. She is best known for her acting career in both silent and talking movies

Joan Crawford - One of Hollywood’s greatest stars and a formidable legend who starred in the famous movie “Whatever Happened to Baby Jane?”

Gloria Swanson - Actress and producer. She was a silent screen legend and the epitome of early Hollywood glamour. She was perhaps the most glittering silver screen goddess of Hollywood's golden youth in the twenties.

These old Hollywood screen goddesses acted some of their most memorable roles and films in elegant and gorgeous attire, casual, sporty, and formal wear.

Beautiful outfits of some of the glamorous Old Hollywood stars - 1920s to 1930s fashion.

In the 50s, there were:

Audrey Hepburn – She popularised the LBD (little black dress) and made it an item. Until this day, every woman wants an LBD in her wardrobe.

Marilyn Monroe - One of the greatest, most recognisable fashion and beauty icons of all time. She defined glamour for a generation when she sang “Diamonds Are a Girl's Best Friend”

Grace Kelly – A silver screen actress who became a Princess. Kelly starred in movies such as “To Catch a Thief” and “Dial M for Murder”. Her screen outfits were some of the most talked-about in old Hollywood.

Sofia Loren – This glamorous vintage movie star virtually defined the post-war look of continental sexual appeal.

Lauren Bacall – She had such provocative glamour that it elevated her to fame in Hollywood's golden age. Her fashion style, distinctive voice and sultry looks made her a very popular actress of her time. Bacall was named the “20th greatest female star of Classic Hollywood cinema by the American Film Institute”.

Every woman and girl wanted to look like their screen idol and wear the same hairstyles she wore. They wanted the same make-up and clothes that their favourite star, who seemingly belonged to a very modern advanced world, wore.

From their bikinis and IT bags to their full-circle swing dresses and Dior's ‘new look’, the 20s and 50s were without doubt fashion's favourite decades. Some of the elegant styles of the time still continue to be points of reference by fashion designers and fashionistas till this day.

Further Reading:
How to Dress Like Women of the Fifties
7 Famous Fashion Designers of the 1960s

7 Famous Fashion Designers of the 1920s

How to Dress Like a Greek Goddess

Images created by Viryabo@Polyvore

How to Clean Vintage Lingerie: Wash and Care Tips

Vintage lingerie addicts know that authentic undergarment finds generally come as used or deadstock items. Some even come well-worn. While many of these items are made of linen, silk, satin, and such delicate fabrics, how to clean them is always an issue, especially if you do not know how to go about it.

If you are a collector who simply finds pleasure in amassing vintage underwear, you will need to know how to care for and store it. You will need to know how to avoid damaging them as they are delicate and aged undergarments. Fabrics over half a century old need the ideal cleaning care to preserve them for a bit longer.

If, for instance, you find:

• Your great-great-grandmother’s private peignoir sets.
• Some old Vanity Fair nylon slips.
• A bullet bra at an online vintage store.
• Deadstock (unused) knickers from a local thrift shop
• Bridal garters from the 50s,

... you will want to know how to keep them clean without damaging their delicate material.

Common Damages of Vintage Lingerie

Because old lingerie has been stored away for decades, many of them may have become soiled due to dust accumulation or trapped dirt within the garment folds. Also, the prolonged exposure to heat, light, dampness, and dust may have caused almost irrevocable damage. If cleaning is not done carefully and methodically, you’ll find that some of them may tear while being cleaned.

How to Clean Antique and Vintage Undergarments. What You Need

Caution must be applied when you clean vintage lingerie. It is a painstaking task to clean items like silk panties or satin brassieres, but it can be done. Before you begin, ensure you have a wide, flat surface (counter or tabletop). This is important. Lying out on a flat surface makes it easier to clean carefully.

To clean, you will require the following:

1. A couple of soft sponges.
2. 2 large towels.
3. 1 soft hand towel.
4. Mild detergent or soap flakes.
5. Mild softener.
6. White vinegar (distilled).

The cleaning steps are as follows:

1. On the flat table or counter, lay out a large towel.
2. Moisten the soft hand towel and rub it gently over the surface of the lingerie.
3. Mix water, mild detergent and softener in one of the bowls – ratio 1/8 detergent to softener to 3 cups of clean water.
4. Dip a soft sponge in the soapy solution, lightly squeeze out excess solution and gently rub the sponge on areas/spots you aim to clean.
5. Go with the grain of the material while applying the gentle rub. For tiny spot stains, use cotton swabs instead of a sponge.
6. Dip the 2nd sponge in a bowl of clean water, squeeze lightly, and gently blot the soapy residue from the vintage lingerie. Do not rub.
7. Prepare a mix of water and the white vinegar - 4 tablespoons of vinegar to 2 cups of water.
8. Dip the clean towel in this mix and use it to gently dab the lingerie. This will balance the alkalinity of the soap. It will help to preserve the underwear.

The drying steps are as follows:

1. To dry the lingerie, lay a large dry towel on the table and place the undergarment on it. Fold the towel over it and press on it very gently, and then leave to air dry. Do not wring wet vintage materials!
2. Iron them gently on a low iron setting to remove all wrinkles. Do not use steam.

Professional Cleaning and Restoration

If your vintage underwear is a cherished family heirloom, you may not want to clean it yourself. If you fear that you may cause some damage, you can always have them cleaned professionally. And, if there are minor damages, for a small fee, a vintage restoration expert can repair and restore.

Further reading:

Interesting History of Women's Underwear: When Undergarments Became an Item
Curvy Girls' Guide to Best Lingerie Picks (Infographics)

Intimate Wear Of the 19th Century Woman

How to Dress Like a Greek Goddess - Vintage Style

The still-elegant and fashionable classic Greek goddess dress style can be described as fluid, swathed, and elegant. Its fluidity makes it respond to every movement of the female body. It is a swathe because it gently and loosely wraps around the body. And suave as in stylish, feminine, smooth, gracious in a casually sophisticated, ethereal look.

Traditionally, the Grecian dresses of ancient Greece were primarily made of two long swathes of soft cotton fabrics draped around the body. Each piece served different functions, one was an undergarment, a chiton or peplos, and the other served as a cloak called a himation or chlamys.

Although its form and silhouette today differ from the ancient styles, dresses fashioned after the Greek Goddess attire remain timeless and body-flattering. They come in styles ranging from casual to formal and simply elegant.

Greek Goddess dress designs. Notice the apparel style of the Greek statue.

8 Ways to Dress Greek-Goddess Style

A mythical goddess-inspired dress is a sleeveless dress that cascades gently to the floor. What differs is the way the neck cuts shape out. There are a few shape variations – the V-neck, small round, and wide-off-shoulder cuts. Dresses are mainly worn at ankle length but can also come in mini and mid-calf lengths.

Because every woman’s sense of style differs, today’s version of the Grecian clothing design comes in different variations. However, the basic silhouette of a simple draping effect remains the same. It all boils down to how creative you are. Bold and daring or modest and understated.

Basically, the traditional design consisted of a Chiton or rectangular cloth, like a wide shawl, draped around the body. It can be wrapped and twisted in several ways, held in place at the shoulders with a large statement brooch. Some other characteristics typical of the style are:

1. Fabrics

2. Colors

3. Patterns

4. Detailing

5. Style

6. Headpiece

7. Hairstyle

8. Footwear

 

Elegant Greek woman in traditional Greek-inspired attire.

Fabrics

Soft light, breezy and sometimes sheer fabrics like silk, soft wool, chiffon, organza, satin, cotton, and linen.

Colours

Traditionally pure white, modern Grecian dress styles come in light colors, soft pastels, off-white, and champagne. There are also white and gold or white and silver combinations.

Patterns

It is uncommon to find overtly patterned fabrics made into Grecian-style dresses. Traditionally, patterns varied with the times and status of the wearer.

Detailing

For a sophisticated look, the main piece can come with gold or silver thread detailing, and the fabric sashes trimmed with ornate gold or silver rope works. A thick rope sash can replace the fabric sash as long as it holds the main dress’s folds firmly at the waist.

Style

The dress forms of Greek mythological goddesses had longer flowing gowns, unlike the shorter versions you’ll find on the statues and in images of the mystic gods of Greece. However, both forms were bound with wide sashes at the midriff. Other features include:

• Asymmetrical hemlines.
• Sleeveless and strapless pieces.
• Cap sleeves for women who prefer to have some sleeves.

Head Piece

Although we associate the Greek dress look with headbands, the style can be accessorised with or without headdresses. With this vintage-inspired couture, you don’t need to go head-to-toe goddess look. You do not need to appear as if you stepped out of a Greek mythology fable. It is best to go with a dramatic hairstyle.

Hair Style

Add a classic hairstyle to your fashion ensemble. French plaits, Dutch braids, and fishtail braiding are great hairstyles that enhance a Grecian Goddess-style outfit. These pretty hairstyles have been around for centuries. They are mentioned in art history documents from the Early Greek, Celtic, and Sung dynasties.

French braid hairstyle. 

Footwear

In ancient Greece, sandals may have been the most common type of footwear, but today, in modern trends, you do not have to wear them with your dresses and gowns. It is good to note that clunky, heavy-looking shoes are not the best footwear for this look. If you don’t want to wear sandal-like footwear, open shoes like stiletto heels, slip-ons with simple embellishments, are the best to glam up your outfit.

Important Note

If you prefer girly styles, pretty colours, frills, trimmings, and voluminous layers, then the Greek goddess style is not for you. Its timeless look, fragility, breeziness, and ethereal feel, inspired by the ancient Greek style, is definitely not for every woman.

Further Reading
How to Dress Like a 1950s Woman 
How to Dress Like A Silver Screen Goddess
How to Dress Vintage Chic Style In Everyday Clothes

How to Dress Like the Stylish 1950s Woman

Fashion for women was at its height in the mid-20th century. It was a time when women couldn’t wait to look good once again and certainly went all out to bring back style into their lives.

For fashion houses and fabric manufacturers, it was a great welcome back from the austere times of the 1940s brought on by the effects of the 2nd World War. During the war times, fabrics meant for fashionable clothing were in limited supplies, as were food and other things taken for granted in the pre-war years. Because everything was influenced by rationing, women's apparel was made from fewer yardages of cloth, into simple outfits using as little threads and materials as possible.

Once the war was over, there was increased availability of beautiful fabrics in vast quantities which allowed a new type of fashion to blossom by the 1950s. The good times were back again!

The Fashionable Woman of the ’50s

Stylish and well-groomed women emerged again, and this new fashion era was soon to be described as the ‘epitome of style’.

Looking good and dressing elegantly was soon the norm, and women invested in looking stylish. Every young lady was brought up to recognise and appreciate style.

1950's women fashion was the tailored silhouette, and elegant cuts that always made women look sophisticated and stylish. Styles include:

• Full skirted dresses
• Full swing skirts
• Pencil skirts
• Sleeveless blouses
• Long-sleeved blouses
• Tailored pants suits

Ensembles were incomplete without long coats, hand gloves, shoes, day hats, and neck jewellery like a string of faux or real pearls.

How to Replicate the 1950's Woman's Style Above

The designs of the 1950s clothes required a shapely figure with the curves in the right places . . .  showing distinct hip lines and distinguishable busts. 

But though the styles look best when a woman's waist is small, for those who weren't naturally endowed with a close-to-the-perfect figure, girdles, waist cinchers and general body shapers provided the desired hourglass shape required of most mid-20th-century fashion.