C.J. Braden • 3 Minute Read
Top Retro Fashion Trends That Are Back For Good
I’ve watched trends come and go over the many years I’ve loved fashion, which has been over 40! While I’ve abandoned numerous fashion trends, there are some retro fashion trends that I’ve worn over and over and over again. I find myself wearing things like visors, jumpsuits and more year after year.
Read on to see my list of budget friendly fashion trends that I LOVE and wear often.
1- Jumpsuits
My favorite leopard print jumpsuit
I love a good jumpsuit. It’s a great complete outfit that you do not have to think about. Because it’s pants and the shirt, it automatically matches and it a great ready-to-wear fashion item.
Pairing different prints is always on trend
This year I’ve been constantly wearing a rayon jumpsuit that I found on Amazon. I have it in two prints and LOVE it. My fashion-loving neighbor saw me wearing it and bought one too. It’s lightweight and very breathable, making it a perfect spring or summer outfit. You could even wear it into fall if you layer it.
2- Bandanas
I love a good cat-eye with a bandana headband
I’ve been wearing bandanas as headbands for numerous years. You can fold them horizontally and then roll them until they form a long strip of fabric. Then you can tie them in the front or back of your head. They keep your hair and sweat out of your face. They make excellent pool day fashion items!
Here’ my 1 minute or less tutorial on how I tie my bandana headbands from my Pinterest page @carolynjbraden:
Retro 80s hoops look great with bananas
Due to wanting more colors, I bought a pack of bandanas on Amazon. I washed them prior to using them and they are the perfect retro fashion trend to wear in your hair, as a bracelet, or look great on your dog too! I currently love pairing a bandana headband with some colorful 80’s classic big hoop earrings.
3- Visors
My fab sporty visor
I have worn visors for years. I love that they don’t flatten your hair out like a traditional hat, which is great if you are like me and don’t like to wash your hair every day. I like hats too, but a visor is a great option when you just need to keep the sun off your face for a few hours. Visors are one fashion trend that may seem dated, but the new ones on the market are incredibly stylish.
A straw visor is a great beach hat
Here’s 1 minute or less video tutorial on how I style my roll-up sun visor from my Pinterest page @carolynjbraden:
I had an old Coach visor I wore for years and when it finally was too rough looking to keep wearing, I bought a straw visor (great for the beach) and a plastic sport visor (great for sports or every day wear) on Amazon. I wear them both all the time.
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6- Jean Cut-Off Shorts
My Daisy Duke dupes
I call jean shorts a retro fashion trend because they were made most popular by Daisy Duke from the American television series The Dukes of Hazzard that originally ran from 1979-1985. Daisy Duke wore very short cut-off jean shorts and people went crazy for the style! People even called nicknamed short shorts “Daisy Dukes” after her character and the common show costuming of the jean shorts.
Feeling fab in my jean cut off shorts
I have worn the same style cut off jean shorts since I was a kid. I’ve always loved the ripped jean fashion trend. My shorts are a little longer than Daisy Duke, but I still love the look.
7- Vintage Style Swimwear
Lounging by the pool in a retro swimsuit
I’ve been wearing retro style swimwear since I was in my early 20’s. I always needed a halter style suit (due to having a larger chest) and I like a little bit extra coverage over my bottom half, as I am petite, yet curvy.
Printed retro swimwear is always in style
I’ve owned a lot of different brands over the years, but this year I purchased two from Amazon and they both fit me perfectly and were inexpensive. The skirted striped retro swimsuit I purchased is a bit more roomy, which is fun and very versatile for any body type. The fruit printed retro swimsuit I purchased is more body-hugging, but is definitely my favorite as it reminds me of something the beautifully curvy Marilyn Monroe would have worn.
8- Polka Dots
Polka dots are a great retro fashion trend to try
My grandmother was my first introduction to the polka dot print. She wore it all the time. I called her “Mimi” before I could pronounce “Grandmother” (what she ultimately wanted all the grandkids to call her), so I associate the name “Mimi” with the print. Strange that I still do this as an adult….
Colorful bobby pins pair well with polka dots
I have had all kinds of polka dotted shirts, bathing suits, dresses and more trendy fashion pieces over the years. The polka dotted print has varied in size and color over the years, but it is one retro fashion trend that will definitely stay in style.
9- Hats
Tabitha Brown for Target Dress
I’ve worn hats since probably around the 6th grade. I was in love with Joey McIntyre from New Kids on the Block and he always wore a black fedora-style hat. I wanted that hat. My fashionable grandfather bought me one for my birthday one year.
I’ll never forget how he gifted it to me. He wore it in the house and pretended it was his. He liked to joke like that. It was teeny-tiny on him and looked hilarious. He handed it to me and my fashion loving heart was so happy!
Tabitha Brown for Target Straw Hat
Straw hats, baseball hats, hats with feathers and more will always be in my style closet. I bought the Tabitha Brown straw hat from her Target Summer 2022 collection. It unfortunately arrived very bent, so I stitched up the overly bent side, then glued on some feathers I already had. I then hand-stitched some straw colored raffia over the ends of the feathers, so you couldn’t tell it wasn’t bought that way. It’s even more fabulous and I adore it.
10- White Attire and Accessories
My white Target dress with my vintage sling bag
Simple white shirts and dresses are a part of my daily fashion routine. I literally wear a Hanes white V-neck shirt almost every single day. It’s kind like my work-at-home uniform. When you wear plain white, you can dress it up with accessories like colorful bags (I got my vintage bag on Etsy years ago), fun sandals and more.
Modern White Cat Eye Sunglasses
A good white v-neck dress or shirt will always stay in my top fashion trends list. I also like white sunglasses, white sneakers and my fluffy white dogs. I also love to paint the walls of my home white. It is a fashion color that just makes everything feel and look clean.
C.J. (Carolyn) Braden is a regular contributor and editor for Carolyn’s Blooming Creations. She has been featured in numerous media publications such as InStyle Magazine, on HGTV, on Bustle.com, and more. She is the author of the books Georgia McMasters in Amethyst Lake Cemetery, How To Be Yourself: 3 Little Ways to Get Back To You Being You, and the illustrator for the children’s book Bridging Connections. She is a former classroom teacher that now dedicates her life to educating others on how to live their most healthy, creative and happy life. Learn more about her visiting our About Us page.