"I never kept up with the fashions. I believed in wearing what I thought looked good on me."
--BETTIE PAGE
Rockabilly is both a counter-culture, a genre of music, and oh yes, a style of dress that's in season for Spring/Summer 2012. It is best represented this season in the ready-to-wear shows of Anna Sui, but Roland Mouret also took a pretty good stab at the curvy cut of a 50s silhouette.
• Pattern: polka dots, houndstooth, thick sailor style stripes, gingham, leopard, etc.
• High waisted skirts & shorts, hotpants and pencil skirts
• Motifs: swallows, anchors, nautical stars, cherries, dice (think Ed Hardy but LESS AWFUL)
• If it's vintage, you're probably half way there already...
All things Rockabilly stem from pop culture in the 1950s. Everything from big pin-up girl curls and pencil skirts right down to the popularity of nautical symbols and bright red lipstick.
The 1950s are generally known as a more simple and pure time. A Coke cost a quarter, everyone listened to LPs, ate mom's meatloaf and went steady. On the flip side, this conservatism and Leave-It-To-Beaver goodie-two-shoe mentality spawned a dark, provocative alter ego. To me, this ragingly fantastic duality is manifested in two words: Bettie Page.
Page is known as the original pin-up girl. She started off with swimsuits, but perhaps is best known for her provocative and groundbreaking fetish modelling. What's more showy than that? She's the quintessential Rockabilly goddess, like a counter-culture Marilyn Monroe. The Nifty Fifties with an edge. Class, sass and brass. The girls of the sub-culture dress like her, rock her signature bangs, and pretty much idolize her. So when in doubt trying to wear in this mode of clothing, ask yourself, WWBD?
But since a lot of her well known work was on the more scantily clad side, it's finally time to get on with the clothes, since I'm pretty sure we're all already experts at how to wear underwear. For the time being, the little trend that could has found a spot on the main stage of fashion. While some of us don't care so much about being on trend, it's still swell to know that we can start looking for these vintage inspired pieces in more popular retail stores.
Maybe it was because I was anticipating writing this post, but I was feeling more Rockabilly myself this week and ended up with not one but TWO outfit pictures to show y'all. One, a little more casual, say for dinner at the soda fountain with your pals. The second is dressier, all set for a date at the drive in.
#1 All In the Details
#1 All In the Details
#2 My favourite dance is the polka...dot.
Dress: H&M Costume Pearls: Thrifted Shoes: Spring Pantyhose: My mom's. Frames: LOVE
The second outfit shows off more of the overall look and vibe. A bold polka dot print paired with pearls, a red belt and strappy cognac heels go pretty much right for the heart of the trend.
DIY
Rather than constructing an outfit for you to wear, I've done a different kind of leg work and found you a bunch of great pieces that fit into this type of look. Sort of like an inspiration board, but with more hot pants than is probably standard. I like hot pants, what can y'do?
Pastel Pearls: Aldo Nautical Shorts: Modcloth Peplum Halter: Forever 21 Heart Hot Pants: ASOS Houndstooth Heels: heels.com Rose Heels: Spring Swallow Necklace: Modcloth
That's all she wrote, folks! And by her, I do mean me. We'd love to know what you think about this retro reboot! Who is your favourite 50s pin-up? Bettie Page? Betty Grable? Some other Betty we've missed? Leave a comment or tweet us pictures of your style swag: @visforvelvet. Until next Thursday, keep on rock(abilly)ing!
-Riley
The Velvet Team
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