Retro is a style that evokes a previous period, usually the 50s, 60s, 70s or 80s. Vietnam youth is digging into the retro look (specially the 80s). It has never been a better time to look retro and they don't have to visit a second hand shop to do it. There are some unknown stores and many more outlets selling retro stuff from fashion, accessories to motorbike, camera and so on. I spent the whole afternoon with Lukas Huynh, a fasion Guru Guru and had him educate me about Retro.
Lukas Huynh
Age: 26
Nationality: Chinese Vietnamese
Occupation: Sales and Marketing Executive
How can you give your outfit that retro feeling?
I found this somewhere, "Doing retro right is all about balance. If you do everything from the same period, your space can become cliche. What you mix retro with is what makes the space unique and updated.” I try not to bring the whole package on me. I mean, I don't want to look like an Alien in the street. I choose one or two pieces (of retro) at a time, may be a sunglasses, a hat, going together with my Gucci belt and AX shirt.
What is the Inspiration? I mean how do you come up with the idea about Retro?
Well, I am the 8X generation. To know about the 60s, 70s or 80s style, I have to find references, images that represent those years. There are Flickr, Youtube, Wikipedia, where we can learn more about that time in history and check some pictures of products, designs, and videos that were produced on those days. And of course, browse through your family old photo album where Mom, Dad and older generation looked so cool in their outfit.
And from there?
These images will give us an idea of the colors, the typography style, and the graphic elements that were mostly used in that period of time. From there, I can design them myself or buy at some Retro Style shops.
Between the Q&A, me and him just simply sat in a street café shop, gossip, looking at people and found some hottest pieces that represents the trend we were talking about.
Jumpsuit is back
Lady GaGa, Dakota Fanning, Leona Hewis... stay stylish everywhere in jumpsuit. But it's no longer the jumpsuit as its predecessors. Nowaday, the design turns the classic jumpsuit into all-in-one jumpsuit, flying suit or playsuit.
(Dakota Fanning)
Vietnamese celebrities do jumpsuit too.
(Singer Uyen Trang)
(Miss Vietnam 2006 - Mai Phuong Thuy in her black jumpsuit)
Maxi Dress Phenomenon
Carrie in “Sex and the city” is such a Creative Urbanite Meets Fearless Fashionista. She brought Floral Maxi dress on the big screen and it becomes the phenomenon. This summer in Vietnam, maxi dress is the first pick of young ladies.
And Lukas still has more to show me. I am slightly allured by this charm look of Retro.