How to Add Vintage Elements to a Modern Dress Design

Incorporating vintage details into a custom dress can bring playfulness, personality, or elegance to the look, but if not executed correctly it can make the dress look cheap or like a costume. Here are three tips to strike that balance between vintage and modern sophistication:

1. Focus on 1-3 Design Details
   To give your dress a vintage vibe, focus on a couple of era-specific design elements and keep the rest of the silhouette modern. For example, when I designed a cropped jacket with a matching sheath dress, I wanted to evoke the 1950s. By adding an exaggerated wide collar and large covered buttons, I captured that retro essence. I kept the sleeves, jacket shape, and matching dress classic. This made the look feel balanced and sophisticated.

2. Choose the Right Fabric Textures
   Selecting fabric textures similar to the era is a straightforward and subtle way to give your dress a vintage feel. However, it's important to avoid materials that look cheap or overly costume-like. So if you're channeling the 80s, opt for lush satins, velvets, or taffeta to achieve that the feel of the decade. Avoid fabrics like sparkly Lycra, which was not a component of daily 80s wear and feels cheap in modern times.

3. Embrace Vintage Color Palettes
   Color plays a huge role in evoking a certain era. You'll be surprised by how much color palette alone can make your dress feel like it's part of a specific decade. For example, if you're inspired by the 70s, choose earthy tones like olive green, mustard yellow, or rust orange. Throw those colors together and watch the 70s pop out at you.

Even incorporating one of these tips into your dress design can help you bring a vintage element to an otherwise modern or classic outfit.