Never Going out of Style
Recently I thought it would be fun to delve into a bit of fashion history, and find five pieces in my wardrobe that have been in style for at least fifty years. As much as I love a good statement piece or floral print, these pieces wouldn’t go very far without a classic foundation of basics. Each of the five pieces I’m sharing today would be just as at home in my grandmother’s wardrobe as they would in mine, a true testament to their classic nature.
the trench coat
While most of us associate a trench coat with either classic Parisian style or a good spy movie, they were actually originally designed by Thomas Burberry for the British military during the era of World War I. This explains a lot of the detailing of the design. Trench coats remained primarily menswear for a while, but gained popularity for women during the 1960s. I always loved the way Audrey Hepburn and Givenchy styled them in films such as Charade and Breakfast at Tiffany’s. The trench coat in my wardrobe is the J. Crew Icon Trench, and I highly recommend it for a timeless trench that is well made without being overpriced.
the shirt dress
Up next on my list is the shirt dress, also sometimes called a shirtwaist dress in history. These dresses are usually made of cotton type materials, and feature classic shirt style details like collars and buttons. They were first popularized in the 1940s, and took off in popularity with Christian Dior’s New Look in the late 40s and 50s. The bodice style of a shirt dress has stayed practically the same since they were first introduced, but the skirt style and length has varied across the decades. Gal Meets Glam carries a wide variety of classic dresses, and their Judith dress would make the perfect shirt dress for spring and summer.
Ballet Flats
When it comes to classic shoes, I think ballet flats are always a good choice. While this style of footwear has existed in some form since the 16th century, it took off for women in the 1950s. When I think of ballet flats, I usually think of how Audrey Hepburn and Brigitte Bardot wore them paired with cropped cigarette trousers, and I recently discovered that Audrey Hepburn owned the same style of leather flats in many different colors. For me ballet flats are an easy way to look a little more polished, and I’d love to add a variety of colors to my wardrobe in classic leather. My favorites right now are the Reid ballet flat from Madewell. They have a simple timeless design and are great quality at a reasonable price.
a striped tee
If you know me, you know I love a striped top, so of course I had to include my favorite wardrobe item on this list. The Breton stripe shirt was first designed in the 1850s as part of the uniform of the French navy, perhaps explaining why we associate the style with the nautical look. It is often said that the stripes made it easier to spot sailors who had fallen overboard. Breton tops became popular for women due to the influence of one of my favorite characters in fashion history, Coco Chanel. During World War I, Chanel was inspired by sailor’s uniforms, and launched the Navy Style in 1917, a shortened jersey version of the uniform top designed for women. The tops have remained popular across the last century, and are readily available from today’s retailers. Amour Vert carries a classic striped tee in both long sleeve and 3/4 sleeve options and a variety of colors.
blue jeans
And last but not least, let’s talk about denim. I can’t imagine going through a week without wearing a pair of jeans, and we can all thank Levi Strauss and Jacob Davis for these wardrobe staples. Strauss and Davis partnered together to create clothing made with reinforced copper rivets in the 1870s. Originally made for workmen, Lady Levi’s jeans were introduced in 1934, and were aimed at women who worked on ranches in the American west. Rises, washes, and cuts have varied a lot since 1934, but the essence is the same. My favorite jeans come from Madewell, and I love that they offer organic and fair trade options. My favorite style to wear is a high-rise skinny cut with a bit of stretch. The silhouette reminds me a lot of cigarette trousers from the past, and I think it gives a very classic look.
