Retro Day Ideas

Retro day costumes most often revolve around the fashions of the 1950s, 1960s, 1970s and 1980s. Wearing vintage clothing that epitomizes the most popular trends of those past decades is the best way to ensure that others know the era you represent.

You can find vintage-style clothing at many thrift shores and update your hairstyle and accessories to round out the outfit. If you find a look you love, wear the outfit again at your next Halloween or theme party.

The bobby-soxer style for girls and the greaser look for boys were perhaps the most recognizable fashion trends for young people in the 1950s. The term "bobby-soxer" refers to the retro fashion style of dress socks that girls folded down.

To get the full women's fashion look for retro day, you'll need a full skirt that falls just below the knee. The poodle skirt is one example of the type of skirt you could wear. A short-sleeved, collared blouse; cardigan sweater; saddle shoes and a neat scarf-tied ponytail complete the look.

The greaser fashion trend is largely modeled on the look of popular 1950s actor James Dean. The essential component of this retro day attire is slicked-back, greasy hair. Wear black or blue straight-leg jeans with the leg rolled to show off a pair of white socks and Converse All-Star shoes. Keep the shirt simple with a white or black T-shirt topped with a leather jacket.

The 1960s saw many fashion trends, leaving you with a wide range of choices for a 1960s-style outfit for retro day. The mod, or modernist, look was a trendy style inspired by British trends. Mod women often wore sleeveless short dresses with knee-high boots, a short haircut and a matching headband. Men wore slim-fitting, button-down, collared shirts and slim pants or Levi's jeans.

The hippie look of the late 1960s usually included long and flowing hair, a headband and loose clothing. Women and men often wore loose-fitting tunics and peasant shirts. Tie-dye shirts, sandals, flared leg pants and bell-bottom pants were worn by women and men.

Girls also wore a lot of dresses—some were long and flowing dresses, but many women wore short, baby-doll dresses with flared sleeves and accessorized with knee-high boots or cowboy boots.

Hippie fashion crossed over into the 1970s, so clothing with psychedelic or other loud prints would work well for your retro day outfit. Skirts got a bit longer in the 1970s, so avoid the mini skirt and make sure yours is just above the knee or ankle length.

If you're looking for a retro look that is distinctly 1970s, then disco fashion is the ideal choice. Leisure suits were popular for men, but if you don't have one, wear flared white pants with a colored button-down shirt and a matching white vest.

Women's one-piece pant suits with a bold print and halter top are among the iconic disco fashions, but stretch fabrics and hot pants—short shorts—paired with a flowing blouse or jacket also go with the theme. One accessory that all women and men need for a 1970s look is platform shoes.

Many styles of the 1980s, including stretch pants and wide shoulders, are making a comeback on the runways, so it should be easy to create an authentic 1980s retro look. The fitness craze of the 1980s led to a surge in the popularity of fitness wear, so leotards, leggings, sweatshirts, tracksuits, leg warmers and high-top sneakers could be part of your retro day apparel.

If you prefer a more formal look, puffy dresses with even puffier shoulders are the way to go. You'll get bonus points for authenticity if the dress is covered in rhinestones or sequins. Men from all backgrounds often wore blazers over T-shirts and tank tops, though some blazers were more subdued than others.

Whether you're a woman or a man going for the rock band look, big, teased hair is a must. Fun accessories include oversize hair bows, slap bracelets, Ray-Ban sunglasses, Swatch watches and fingerless gloves.