How to Style a 1960s Mod Inspired Outfit

You know when you see something and before you know it it’s in a shopping bag in your car and you’re wondering what just happened? Well that’s what happened to me with a pair of navy corduroy boots. The problem was I didn’t know how I was going to style them. At least not until I was doing some research for a show set in the 1960s.

One of my favorite parts about fashion is how aspects of modern fashion are inspired by trends from the past. I noticed that my navy boots were a similar shape to some of the shoes I was researching. That’s when I decided I wanted to style a mod 1960s outfit centered around my boots!

I knew I wanted a dress, so there were a couple of key features I had to keep in mind:

• mini length

• High neck

• A color monochromatic color or a mod pattern

I kept my eye out for a couple weeks but finally found the dress I was looking for when I went into one of my favorite secondhand shops, Avalon Exchange. They get a lot of specialty clothing and vintage pieces. The dress I found is from Esprit, which was founded in 1968. Though I doubt this dress is from the 60s (in fact I have sneaking suspicion it might be from the 90s), the fabric it’s made out of definitely vintage!

Aspects that make the dress mod:

- Mini length

- High neck (when buttoned up all the way)

- Retro floral pattern

- Empire waist cut

ASPECTS THAT MAKE THE DRESS MODERN:

- Collar

- Cap sleeves

Mod Inspired

Floral Mini Dress: $12 from Avalon Exchange

Navy Corduroy Boots: $30 from Forever 21

Navy Neck Tie : Found in my house

The dress I found didn’t have any navy in it at all, so to tie my boots in and give the collar of the dress a more 60’s look I added a thin navy ribbon neck tie. That little addition really tied the whole outfit together! Add a mod hairstyle with a nude lip and the outfit is complete.

Got anything in your closet that inspires you to dress from the past?

Stay creative!

Annie