Hollywood & Fashion’s Nostalgic Addictions

by Layla L’Obatti

Some things never get old, and in the world of fashion and lingerie the 20’s-60 are four decades providing a goldmine of style inspiration, and where Hollywood goes fashion follows. There are perhaps deeper psychological reasons to the nostalgic fashion and silver screen references, it’s often said that each generation reflects back upon the decades before it. Perhaps it’s a form of the old adage that “the grass is greener” but chronologically speaking, whatever the reason we always seem to think the yesteryears were more fun, more exciting, and more glamorous than our own era.

No doubt these nostalgic teledramas will make an impact on the intimate’s world. Here’s a breakdown of how the underfashion of the decades portrayed may influence the current trends in intimates:

20’s Downton Abbey

I credit the twitterverse with bringing my attention to this show, and once I watched one episode I was hooked. Jumping into the early twenties the gowns and beading are just divine, and the high society bespoke dressing will surely inspire other costumers and designers as it progresses. With things steaming up for the two leads there will be many a lingerie designer, myself included, holding their breath for some intimate scenes and inspiration in the next season!

20’s-30’s Boardwalk Empire

Deco embroidery and handwork are key trends we’ll be seeing reinterpreted for today, as well as the silhouettes of the long gown and boxier babydolls and rompers reminiscent of the vintage underthings featured here.

60’s Pan Am

It is not coincidence that there have been a record number of shapewear brands launching retro inspired ranges, when a major network show makes girdles sexy again the fashion world pays attention. Pan Am highlights the glamorous golden age of flying on the backdrop of the decade of free love. Standouts intimate fashion moments have gone to the shapewear, one even featuring shapewear by a brand in the market today – Rago, whose shaper was uber recognizable on Christina Ricci. Overall the show has solidified the influence of retro shapewear on modern shapewear silhouettes and designs.

Late 50’s – 60’s Mad Men

With the recent return of this show’s fifth season, the softer sixties silhouettes and bright colors of the swinging sixties will become more in vogue. Perhaps we’ll also see the resurgence of Pucci inspired prints, and also some more nouveau lace concepts featuring similar Pucci inspired designs.

We can also credit this show with bringing back the bullet bra and the bed jacket, after the first four seasons these somewhat retro silhouettes have been featured in editorial after editorial in fashion magazines, and even if these trends did not translate to major retailers, there was one that certainly did – the hi-waist has seen a huge rise in the last several years with the American consumer catching on at the tail end (no pun intended) of the trend.