Vintage-Inspired Fashion: Hip-Huggers and Hipsters for Today’s Fashionistas

Hip-huggers first appeared in 1957, when Irene Kasmer designed the first pair from denim fabric. Also known as hipsters, the style had a unique cut for a typical 1950s fashion item.

(Image created by author on Polyvore.com)

Fitting snugly around the hips and thighs, waistlines were placed at the hips, rather than at the waist. They flared out below the thighs into wide bottoms. The legs were quite long, sweeping the floors as you walked. This always resulted in frayed, dirty hemlines.

Quite similar to low-rise bootcut jeans, hip-huggers became very fashionable and became a wardrobe staple in the mid-60s. The style was popularised by the mods and psychedelic groups, mainly in nightclubs. They continued to trend until the 1970s.

Hipsters and the Hippie Lifestyle

Also associated with the hippie lifestyle, the trend was (in some way) inspired by urban living, rock bands, and other music icons. Rock stars like Jimi Hendrix, Jim Morrison, Sonny and Cher, and Mick Jagger all wore hip-huggers.

The style soon became the basic wear, not only for the psychedelic group but also for pop musicians and disco fanatics.

From 20th Century Vintage to 21st Century Vintage-Inspired

Today’s version of hipsters and hip-huggers, once staples of beatnik cafés and psychedelic rock scenes of the mid-20th century, has reemerged into the fashion scene as retro-inspired streetwear.

The vintage-inspired look, popularised by the style-conscious Gen Z crowd, fashion influencers, and musicians, stems from a nostalgia for reproducing vintage fashion, but with a more stylish touch using modern textiles.

Brands that carry the design include House of Sunny, Lulu & Sky, and Reformation.

Whether you wear them to music festivals or as an everyday fashion item, the vintage-inspired look is a throwback to styles from an era of youths who dressed with purpose and personality.

How to Rock 60s-Inspired Hip-Huggers Today

To style modern hip-huggers with a vintage twist, pair them with:

• Cropped knit tops
• Psychedelic print shirts
• Fringe vests
• Platform boots
• Big (oversized) tinted sunglasses
• Accessories like wide belts, chunky retro rings, and small neck scarves.

You can also layer the ensemble with crochet cardigans, vintage band tees, or suede jackets to create a more authentic look that echoes the free-spirited fashion of the 1960s.

For a perfect balance, avoid wearing a total vintage look. Rather, aim for a perfect balance of vintage on the bottom and modern on the top, or vice versa.

Articles of interest

7 Famous Fashion Designers of the 1960s

Vintage-Inspired Fashion Accessories

Memorable Fabulous Clothing Through Time: Antique and Vintage Fashion for Women
Ugly Vintage Clothing Styles We Will Hate to See Come Back

Vintage-Inspired Fashion for Women: Empire-Style Dress

Classic Empire-style dress.

The Empire-style dress is an old classic. It’s a style that evolved around the late 1700s, influenced by loose, white tunic clothing, belted under the bosom and worn by Greek and Roman women. 

The Empire dress design is vintage-inspired at its best! The dress has a fitted bodice with it being either short-sleeved, one-sleeved, or sleeveless, which ends just below the bust.

This is what gives the style its characteristic high waist. From below the bodice, the dress falls to the floor in a soft body-skimming (not body-hugging!) but loosely fitting way.  Fabric must be soft, light, and almost airy.

Revived in the sixties and now back in fashion, this beautiful style conceals your waistline and de-emphasises your wide hips if you have one. On the other hand, it will emphasise your bust line and give your body a slimming, longer silhouette. 

• Wear the dress with a short or cropped classic wig or hairstyle, and if you want a softer look, go with short curls.
• If you have long hair, there is no need to cut it off. All you have to do is wear it up high, off your face, and pile it up your head; ensure you leave loose wisps of hair around the head. 
• For a classic vintage look as a bridesmaid, or at an evening event, if you are bold enough, accessorize with elbow-length gloves, ballet-styled shoes, or dainty strap sandals.

The empire-style dress is also great as a mother-of-the-bride-or-groom dress.

Are Vintage-Inspired Clutch Bags Back in Vogue?

The clutch is one of the chicest and exclusive of all women’s handbags. They are the most appropriate handbags for formal occasions, evening wear, or dinners, that exude sophistication whenever a lady holds one.

A vintage-inspired clutch bag with black and white stripes.
(Image used under license from iStockPhoto)

Traditionally, clutch bags were only used by women of style and panache, meaning that they were not meant for everybody or just any wear. Initially, they were small and used as money purses, but as time progressed, they became fashion accessories, worn to the theatre, special occasions, and the like.

Its use is not much different today, however, there is a wider range of clutch bags that are incorporated into casual day wear, but are still great as evening bags too.

The Art of Holding a Clutch Bag

There is an art in holding a clutch bag the right way. Fashionistas will tell you that you hold it in your left hand, close to your midriff, or held with your hand hanging down your side. Some may prefer to use it with its thin over-the-shoulder strap, but it is much more ladylike when worn without the sling or strap.

Clutch bag shapes range from small, square ‘pillbox’ shapes, to triangles, circles, tubular and heart-shaped pieces and larger-sized modern styles. Materials used range from leather and skin to satin, velvet, ornately embroidered silk and heavily embellished pieces.  

What is the good thing about clutch handbags? Their timelessness makes them a classic fashion accessory – and good thing, they are now back full circle. No woman’s wardrobe must be without a couple of clutch handbags.

Related Article

Lucite Purses - Popular Bags of the 1940s

Become a Fashion Designer from Home. Study Fashion Design Online

Are you dreaming of becoming a fashion designer but don't have the time to attend an on-campus school? If you answer yes, then thank online education. Why? Because you can turn your passion into a career, working from the comfort of your home or during free periods at school or your workplace.

Online fashion design courses will give you the flexibility you need and offer in-depth, comprehensive training while developing your skills.

What are the Main Advantages of Studying Fashion Design Online? 

• You learn at your own pace and can balance your studies despite work or family commitments.
• You get access to the courses anywhere in the world.
• Compared to physical attendance at school, studying online is less expensive.
• You get a flexible schedule, especially if you have a busy lifestyle.
• You have the opportunity to replay lessons at your convenience.
• You will receive personalised one-on-one feedback from your instructors.
• There will be networking opportunities globally.
• You can develop your physical and digital portfolio as you progress with your online study.
• You will be updated (regularly) with industry trends and working tools.

What You Need to Qualify for Online Admission

To qualify for the fashion design course, aspiring designers must have: A high school diploma or its equivalent. You must also have:

1. Basic computer skills.
2. A strong passion for design and style.
3. Reliable internet connection.
4. A laptop or desktop.
5. Sketching tools (sketchpads or digital).
6. A basic portfolio book showing sketches of designs (for advanced courses).
7. Proficiency in the English language.

Design hand sketch (Image used under license from 123rf.com)

What You Will Learn

Lessons include developing a style (ideas must be practical) and refining design skills. There is expert guidance and feedback from tutors throughout the duration of the course. Key topics include:

Introduction to Sewing

Dressmaking Processes

Design and Draping

Design for Craft

Using Decorative Features

Textiles and Fibres

Embroidery and Decoration

Pattern Making, Alteration, and Fitting

Miscellaneous Garments

Fashion Sketching and Illustration

Textile and Fabric Studies

Colour Theory and Design Principles

Garment Construction Techniques

Fashion History and Trend Analysis

Digital Design Tools (Adobe Illustrator, CLO 3D Fashion Software, and Optitext)

Sustainable Fashion Practices

Branding and Marketing Strategies

Portfolio Development and Presentation

Some Fashion Designing Certificates You Can Get

There are various certificates you can get if you study fashion design online. These can range from foundational certificates in design and draping to niche-specialised certifications in fashion business management, sustainable design, and digital pattern-making. Others are:

• Certificate in Fashion Design
• Diploma in Fashion Illustration
• Advanced Diploma in Garment Construction
• Textile Design Certification
• Pattern Making Certificate
• Digital Fashion Tools Certification
• Branding for Fashion Certificate
• Sustainable Fashion Badge
• Industry Readiness Certification

Who Will This Course Benefit? 

1. Aspiring fashion designers.
2. High school graduates exploring creative careers.
3. Professionals who desire a career change.
4. Creative stay-at-home individuals who have a feel for fashion design.
5. Boutique owners wanting to design collections
6. Retirees pursuing passion projects.

(Image used under license from 123rf.com)

Gain worthwhile qualifications and get a foothold in the fashion and style industry as a qualified fashion designer. Or brush up your rudimentary creative skills so that you can move up the ladder of the fashion design industry. Take advantage of today's fashion demands and study fashion design online.

Fashion, as we all know, is all about being stylish and gorgeously dressed, so the enormous demand for fashionable apparel makes fashion design a highly lucrative and attractive career, with jobs in the industry increasing year after year. So, start your fashion career now. Bring your creativity to reality. Become a professional fashion designer by studying online.

Workbooks for Fashion Design Students

Mood Board Pages for Fashion Designers: Fashion Design Portfolio Organizer Sketchbook Journal

Vintage Paris 1893: Old-Fashioned Cream Paper Sketchbook Journal for Fashion Designers

Fashion Design Portfolio Book with Title and Description Pages with Svelte Female Figure Templates

Be a Step Ahead of Your Peers. Start Your Fashion Website

And if you plan to start a fashion blog or website now, just like other forward-thinking aspiring designers, this is your chance to get your memorable domain name. It's a wonderful idea to blog about your career path and journey to becoming a fashion designer, even before you graduate. The fashion domain names listed for sale on Sedo.com are:

www.fashionable-me.com

www.fashionable-me.pro

It's not too early to make your mark in the fashion world. Start now!

Articles of Interest

7 Famous Fashion Designers of the 1960s

7 Famous Fashion Designers of the 1920s

10 Famous Jewellers of the 1920s

Graphic Art and Illustrations of Vintage Fashion and Style

Vintage Inspired Fashion Accessories

What do we like about fashion accessories? There is no longer one style being in or out of fashion and neither is there a particular trend that one must follow. The beauty of accessorising is that you can create your own unique style by blending, for instance, vintage-inspired accessories with today’s modern trends.

From hats popular in the first half of the 20th-century, to flapper style shoes, flamboyant costume jewellery, box handbags, long strings of beads, chandelier earrings, and Lucite clutch bags, if you like to blend the past with the present, create your own fashion signature and combine your attire with vintage style accessories.

You can accessorise tastefully even with the simplest shift or A-line dress. The powerful statement that vintage style accessories give when worn with simple modern clothing, is the common thing that binds vintage fashion diehards and enthusiasts.

Vintage Inspired Rings by Viryabo@polyvore

Stylish women want a deviation from the dominance of designer labels and high street fashion and know that clothes can be simple and understated, but with the right accessories, any ensemble can look chic, and sophisticated. Vintage-inspired accessories are good for creating this look.

If you are not quite sure of how to put it together, search for ways to accessorize the ‘old-fashioned style, chic and elegant. There are so many illustrations, photos, and pictures of fashionable women of the 1900s to the 1960s online. You can draw inspiration from these and old fashion and style magazines, and brochures.

What Accessories Should You Be Looking For?

You’ll first need to know what look you want, classic retro, bohemian or swinging? But then it doesn’t matter what look you want to pull off. You will find that having a few of the pieces in your wardrobe will help you add style to your entire outfit.

To know what fashion accessories to consider buying, check out fashion accessories inspired by designs that were created nearly a century ago. Pull off a classic look with a Cloche hat, cross-strap shoes, or a collaret.

Here is a list of items to consider if you are looking for vintage-inspired fashion accessories:

Handbags

• Canvas satchel bags with floral, polka dots, or animal prints
• Small sequined or beaded bags with shoulder straps
• Tapestry or embroidered handbags
• Handbags with Parisian streets print
• Lucite bags
• Evening purses "encrusted" with mother-of-pearl, sequins, exquisite beads and rhinestones.
• Wooden box purses
• Two-buckle bags
• Bucket handbags
• Clutch bags
• Quilted handbags

Shoes (with mid-height heels)

• Peep-toe court shoes
• Embroidered shoes
• Floral print court shoes
• Mary Jane flapper shoes
• Ankle strap open-toe high heels
• Dorothy shoes
• T-bar shoes
• Shoe-boots
• Oxfords

Hats and Other Headpieces

• Saucer hats
• Retro pleated hat
• Pillbox hat
• Turbans
• Barbour hat
• Sun hat
• Cloche hat
• Feather hat
• Edwardian feather hats
• Ruched hats
• Bowler hats with bows

Costume Jewellery

• Brooches and pins
• Chandelier earrings
• Retro bangles
• Tassel necklaces
• Tie drop necklaces
• Ribbon (tie neck) jewellery
• Large statement rings
• Moonstone rings
• Pebble beads
• 'Rockability’ jewellery
• Ornate hat pins
• Charms bracelets

Belts

• Retro belts
• Chain belts
• Cinch belts
• Pleated belts
• Big buckle belts
• Skinny slim retro belts
• Boho belts
• Tassel belts
• Elasticated metal belts

Why Accessories are Important to Enhance Your Style

Fashion accessories are what makes dressing up complete and powerful. A unique accessory makes your choice of clothing look good, stylish, polished and totally “whole”. They add sophistication to apparel and many fashionable women have created their own bold fashion signatures just by being particular about their choice of fashion accessories.

Vintage-inspired fashion accessories can be bold and daring, opulent or simple, but basically, wearing the style is considered chic and classic.

Just as some fashion accessories inspired by antique and vintage styles come in the most unique hues and colour combinations, others come in calmer earth tones, antique metal colours, and intricately designed works typical of an era that took fashion and style quite different from how we do today.

And because today's trends lean towards the mid-20th-century styles, many fashion-conscious women are quite satisfied to make their choice amidst hundreds of vintage-inspired fashion accessories found in the online market.
 

Dressmaking Patterns of Vintage Clothing

Authentic vintage dressmaking patterns are not so easy to find these days, especially sewing patterns of clothing designs from over three-quarter of a century ago.

These are not the kind of things you’ll find in shopping malls but you may be lucky to find a rare few in flea markets or at local street markets that open only one or two days a week.

Such markets where you will likely find vintage dressmaking patterns include marketplaces and arcades like The Vintage Market and Portobello Market in London; Edith Machinist (Lower East Side) and The Market NYC (Greenwich Village) in New York and Long Beach Antique Market and Arts District Flea in California. But most people looking for genuine vintage clothing patterns, especially the unopened ones, probably don’t live anywhere near these locations.

So, if you, like many of us really want patterns of the stylish 20th-century apparel designs but can’t find them around where you reside, your best option is at online stores that retail sewing craft item – places like Etsy, eBay, Amazon, and Vintage stores. Granted, you may have to devote like a half-hour (or more) to find what you are looking for. Genuine patterns are, of course, rare finds.

Vintage Inspired Sewing Patterns

Obviously, unused vintage authentic patterns (Simplicity, Vogue, Butterick, McCall, etc…) are rare finds so the next best thing is to buy vintage inspired clothing patterns which are reproductions of vintage styles. They are much easier to find online and available designs abound. You can get one for that flapper style you’ve been yearning for.

So, whether you are looking for dressmaking patterns of a 20s tango dress, a Victorian wedding dress, a Mary Quant frock, a retro jumpsuit, or a fifties Chanel jacket, buying reproductions of vintage sewing patterns is always your best choice.

Further Reading:

How to Dress Like a 1950s Woman

How to Dress in Flapper Inspired Style - 1920s Vintage Fashion

Clothing Styles We Will Hate to See Come Back

If you that have a penchant for sewing and dressmaking (either acquired or inherent) you may even be able to create your own patterns after viewing pictures, brochures, or photographs of stylishly dressed women of about a century ago. Pattern making is also easier to do if you are a fashion designer or an aspiring one.

If you search online, you will find an arsenal of pattern making books and tools that will be of tremendous help if you intend to make your own clothing patterns imitating the fashion of a glorious era.

However, if you are like most of us that love the unique but can't stitch two strips of cloth together, you can get a dressmaker or a friend/family that’s good in the art of pattern making or sewing or you can also employ the services of professional couture dressmakers or tailors, albeit for a hefty fee.

Popular paperback pattern making books you’ll find helpful include the following:

• Patternmaking for a Perfect Fit: Using the Rub-off Technique to Re-create and Redesign Your Favourite Fashions
• BurdaStyle Sewing Vintage Modern
• How to Make Sewing Patterns
• Basic Patternmaking in Fashion
• Woman's Dress - A Collection of Vintage Articles on Dressmaking, Millinery and Tailoring

Retro Clothing and Other 1960s Inspired Styles

Retro styles always make a come back. They are timeless, and that's the reason why many of today's fashion designs are retro-inspired, throwbacks from the 1960s.

Fashion runways showcase them. Models display them. And designers draw inspiration from the fashion legends of the era, like Mary Quant, Ossie Clark, Biba, and Yves St. Laurent.

In the early sixties, women mainly wore spillover styles from the 1950s. Clothing designs were prim, simple, and proper, typical of outfits worn by style pacesetter, Jackie Onassis. But this soon changed.

The 1960s cultivated a new breed of fashion designers. They were open-minded and adventurous enough to experiment, and body-proud to show more skin than ever before.

Retro-Inspired Style

Clothes

Fashion became casual-like. Less emphasis was placed on style. Clothes became casual, playful, and free-spirited. Examples include:

• Shorter skirts
• Higher boots
• Baby-doll dresses
• Rompers
• Jumpsuits
• A-line mini dresses and frocks
• Polka dot patterns
• Bell-bottom pants.

Prints were popular, and so were bold colours, psychedelic patterns, and textures. These were the hallmarks of retro clothing and fashion accessories.

The retro-style skirts and dresses varied in length. There were extremely short mini, micro-mini, calf-length midi, and full-length maxi outfits.

 

Jewellry

Sixties jewellery was bright, bold, and playful. While pop art and mod influences brought geometric shapes, the late sixties hippie styles leaned toward peace signs, natural stones, and love beads. Other adornments include:

• Oversized hoop earrings
• Bright plastic bangles
• Chunky bead necklaces
• Brooches (shaped like flowers or animals)
• Colourful Lucite and enamel earrings

Handbags

Handbag designs ranged from classy to quirky, and boxy top-handle purses (in leather or vinyl) were for everyday use. Others include:

• Colourful clutch bags
• Chain-strap shoulder bags
• Fringed suede bags
• Embroidered crossbodies
• Mini bag

Footwear

Shoes in the 1960s were as dynamic as the decade. They were fun and exciting, and they included:

• Go-go boots (in patent leather)
• Kitten heels
• Mary Janes
• Platform soles
• Sandals and moccasins (late 60s)

 

Hairstyles

Hair of the retro-sixties was all about volume and variety, with many hairstyles made popular by silver screen actors. They include:

• Pulled-back ponytail
• Ducktail
• Pompadours (hair swept upwards from the face and worn high over the forehead)
• Beehive (big, bold, and backcombed to the skies!)
• Sleek bobs and pixie cuts
• And of course, hair accessories like headbands and scarves were extremely popular.

 

Post-Retro Fashion

By the end of the decade and into the 1970s, the hippie movement began and with it came long flowing maxi dresses and skirts. Outfits were anything but stylish. They were seen as a less proper way to dress.

 

How to Be Retro Fashion-Inspired

Wearing this style is a little more difficult to pull off than other vintage-inspired styles. Although retro styles are kind of conservative, with no trims, lace, fancy frills, or embellishments (faux pearls, sequins, beads) typical of the early 20th century, if you are looking for some special occasion wear, they aren’t elegant or chic. But paired well with modern clothes and accessories, you can create an awesome look.

If you want that free, happy, retro look, get clothes that feature fun, whimsical prints, the type that modern styles simply don’t have.

They’ll be perfect for a vintage-modern blend. Having any of these pieces in your closet, you will get the perfect vintage-inspired style.

• Bell-bottom jeans
• Oversized sunglasses
• Fedora hats
• Funky jackets
• Gloves
• Scarves
• Flares
• Slim-fit shirts
• Fly collars
• Block heeled footwear
• Low-rise and hipster pants

To add drama to the look, try retro-type makeup. Make-up was generally heavy, with dark eyeliners, luscious red, dark, or black lipstick, and black nail polish. Retro-inspired fashion enthusiasts still wear much of this heavily made-up look.

Further Reading
Famous Fashion Designers of the 1960s
Vintage Clothing Styles We'll Hate to See Come Back

Victorian-Style Bustle Is Back and Here Is How to Rock It with a Modern Twist
7 Famous Fashion Designers of the 1920s