Playsuits & Jumpsuits – The New Vintage Must Have!

Let’s face it, the jumpsuit is probably one fashion garment which was not in your wardrobe last year, so credit crunch or not, it may make sense to buy at least one version to suit your shape. A girl has to wear something right? So why not make it vintage and uber fashionable?

Cute, versatile and utterly gorgeous, anyone who’s anyone is either talking about or wearing one of the current coolest fashion trends in the form of the jumpsuit or playsuit. The result took the skyjackets into the realm of exotic, and stylish evening wear. Us mere mortals may favour something more down to earth, but each one of us can admire the figure-defining cut of these jumpsuits which are most reminiscent of knitted lace jumpsuits of the seventies.

Following this massive seal of approval, there is now a wide array of playsuits and jumpsuits available on the high street but each and every one takes its inspiration, shape, colour or print from the vintage fashion of the past. So this is our plea to all you fashion conscious women out there – don’t buy sub-standard remakes from high street stores, buy the original, well made and long lasting vintage clothing that preceded it!

Somewhere between the sophisticated 1970’s wide leg flowing jumpsuit and the1980s glitter filled retro jumpsuit, is the softer fashion playsuit. What we see here is a more fun version which is cropped or designed as a shorts playsuit. Vintage playsuits are huge this summer. In a variety of colours, styles and prints, looking great with gladiator sandals and lace up pumps for the cute yet edgy indie look. Going through into autumn/winter we expect to see the very same beautiful and popular vintage playsuit teamed with luscious chunky opaque tights, brogues and long line cardigans. A more mainstream alternative being the never tiresome and ultra cosy combo of playsuit, leggings and Ugg boots.

Fashion students have always learnt how styles of a previous generation are recreated and resurrected in a new form or style. We see this happening in many lines of modern day fashion, and has prompted the resurgence in the sales of classic vintage dresses, vintage coats, vintage tops, vintage jeans, vintage skirts and vintage accessories. What we are seeing now is a major fashion trend for trousers to join up with tops, the result is the super retro jumpsuit, flying suit or playsuit.

But the all-in-one is certainly no new invention, we have seen this shape in key fashion going back to 1950’s swimwear. Most of us think of the eighties when we see jumpsuits but the birth of the jumpsuit was actually in the late sixties.

In art houses and chic rich haunts worldwide, the shorter playsuit and longer jumpsuit was making waves. It was classic and simple, think Coco Chanel black and white monochrome beneath a Studio 54 backdrop. In the seventies we saw more loose and flowing trousers with more fitted tops and halter necks. Perfect with the long wavy flicked hair of the era.

In the eighties the jumpsuit was so much more dramatic with big shoulder padding, bare backs, tapered trousers, candy colours, sequins, glitter and feathers. And of course as fashion progressed through the years, so did the array of prints and colours And of course we cannot forget the brief resurgence of the all-in-one in the warehouse filled nineties with boiler suit rave chic, all neon, zips and whistles.

Perhaps one trend that won’t be making a reappearance! For now, narrow and tapered trouser legs have risen above the ankle. High waist bands and peg-top carrot shaping means what was lost at the ankle has been taken care of above waist.