In the Seventies groove

Being fashionable is not just about flaunting new-age designs. You can make a statement with the retro look too

May 25, 2014 05:42 pm | Updated 05:42 pm IST - bangalore

Women in polka print dresses, and bouffants. Men with big oval glasses and gelled hair slicked to one side. A song of The Beatles blaring from the radio. It’s official — we’re re-living the Seventies. It’s all over the fashion and music scenes. It’s the order of the day. And it’s not just the sentimental folks in their 40s. Teenagers are completely swept by the retro wave, whether it’s trying to emulate Marilyn Monroe or John Lennon at parties, or loading their music players with the retro hits .

In fashion, retro chic has a multitude of angles and elements, which people tweak to suit their own tastes. For designer Deepika Govind, retro fashion “is a new piece of clothing that has references from the past”. She says “Prints play a big role, be it polkas, squares or the ‘trompe l’oeil’ illusions. The bouffant hair, heavily kohl-lined kohl eyes, bright red lips and leather handbags are characteristically retro.”

Prasad Bidappa, Bangalore-based fashion designer, believes it’s all in the details. He says, “Retro chic is a carefully structured look that is inspired by, but not a copy of what has gone before. A brocade long-sleeved blouse worn with a simple chiffon sari could look great, but the hairstyle and jewellery should match.”

While the experts pay attention to detail, teenage fashion blogger Anvita Nair (17) believes this look truly makes a statement. She says “The retro appearance can be classy or casual, but care must be taken to look fresh than overly dramatic. The focus here is on the eyes, lips and hair.”

Fashion isn’t the only world retro is rocking right now. Music lovers are swearing by retro music for sundry reasons, and even teenagers, who are believed to be taken over by the EDM storm, love grooving to retro tunes.

Michelle Patrao, an RJ at Radio Indigo, which is dearly loved for its Retro Hour, is a die-hard lover of music from the Seventies, and early Eighties. She says, “Retro music has so much more soul. Everything the artiste had to say was cute and genuine. And the sentiment that a song from the Seventies evokes is not the same as that of songs today that are just so race.”

Ayush Das (23), a freelance DJ/Producer feels retro music still stands out because it is original. The music has many elements to it. “Retro is all about being instrumental, and not digital. It’s the real deal.”

Says Akshata Chonkar (16), “EDM is great for hitting the dance floor, but when in need of comfort, happiness or just empathy, I look to retro music. I’ve come to realise that these songs have much more emotion than those of today, which give more importance to the music than the lyrics.”

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