Nostalgia, darling

Autumn has always been my favourite season and this year I am so excited because of the inspiration it has taken from one of my favourite decades the sixties.

Walking down the high street and flicking through magazines, it is hard to ignore the bow collared trend and shift dresses that pay homage to the ultra stylish and slick decade. In the oh so important September issue of Vogue Magazine, in between the ads, there is a beautifully shot feature inspired by the beat generation. Moody dark photos, of androgynous models in high necked jumpers and capri pants, made me swoon.

Some of my favourite pieces I have seen so far have been this amazing coat by Prada:

Obviously I will not be getting this one! But I am keeping my eyes open for a high street copy. White will probably not be practical, but that should always come second to style.

A bit more in my price range is this gorgeous bag from Topshop bang on trend and it is pretty too. I love the colour blocking and the contrast between the red and tan. Personally I would wear this when it is not in fashion and is a timeless piece. Find it here

I love the sixties.  Fashion, music, film, politics and civil rights - there are few spheres that did not evolve or experience monumental changes during that period. It was a time of cultural and social revoltion with the breaking of taboos and experimentation.

Fashion was at the very centre of this revoltion which is perhaps why so many classic looks have endured from that period. From Mary Quant's mini skirt to the Jackie O sunglasses - no-one can resist a bit of swinging sixties style!

Some of the looks I have spotted so far.....

EDIE SEDGWICK


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Edie Sedgwick with Andy Warhol. The tragic socialite
with her signature heavy eyes and chandelier earrings now
idolised for her icon look.




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This double breasted faux fur Lepoard print coat by
 Topshop almost looks like a carboard copy of Sedgwick's


NICO, VELVET UNDERGROUND

The charismatic german model who sang with the
velvet underground is the definition
 of sixties cool - effortless, stylish and timeless

And now decades on we are still emulating her under stated
look -  capri pants and jumper both from H&M

JONI MITCHELL

Joni Mitchell is an enduring musical figure from
the sixties folk scene. But her laid back hippy style
is still influential today. Think Kate, Sienna and co

The centre parting, long hair and layered prints
and materials all stem from the summer of
love 1967. Entire outfit from Topshop Bavaria range



GRACE KELLY

The fairytale marriage of screen beauty Grace Kelly to
Prince Rainier of Monaco transformed her into a princess
and her dress into a timeless classic
(this was actually 1956, but still of that era, (!))

When Kings Road loving Kate Middleton joined the
Royal Family it was not hard to spot where her
inspiration had come from.

And those that never go out of fashion...

AUDREY HEPBURN

Audrey Hepburn may not have invented it
but she defined the classic LBD in
the 1961 film Breakfast at Tiffany's

Victoria Beckham is a doppelganger of the elfin Hepburn,
imitation the sincerest form of flattery perhaps?

MARILYN MONROE

The most iconic dress of the last century?
It is one of the decades most enduring images and
embodies the balance of sweetness and sexiness
that made Marilyn Monroe a star



Taylor Swift, this month at the Teen
Choice Awards. 50 years later and the dress is
almost identical, the pose a little more rigid but
the meaning is the same - you don't wear that dress
without wanting to be seen!



And the best thing is, you can piece together your own version of the style. Vintage and second hand shops will be brimming over with original dresses, jewellery, bags and hats!