New Fashion Trends for 2011: From Kitten Heels to Hourglass Dresses

Clothing says a lot about a person, and how we accessorize, says even more about our character, personality, playfulness, and quirkiness or a lack there of. Trendy styles from days gone by seem to be making their way back to the frontline as a fresh new year comes alive with ideas from days gone by. A yearning for the past is as easy as snapping your fingers if you happen to be existing in the present day, and living through a shaky economy that has no simple answers to where it is headed. A fondness for familiar things is leading us straight into a decade of nostalgia, and trend setting themes that offers the feeling that stability is not so out of reach.

We all dream of simpler times when everyone presented themselves as being void of stress, and a carefree Sunday afternoon was all just a part of deal, coming complete with a lazy stroll down a hidden pathway, a picnic, and a playful dip in a lake somewhere just to cool off. The past also has a way of lending itself to us in a creative way when we get those longings for a taste of things out of the past that lead clothing designers straight into making them for us at affordable prices.

The clothing racks, handbag & shoe departments, and jewelry counters at popular retail stores are evidence of this, and consumers are more then happy to snap up these modern day relics that are clearly reminiscent of the 1960's. Jackie Kennedy's vintage box purse has been reincarnated, and June Cleaver's famous apron has made a huge comeback, although manufacturers have keyed in on making these retro aprons a bit more flirty and fun.

If you are still up in the air about a sixty's comeback, just take a peek at two new shows that have recently hit the airways. True Grit and Hawaii Five-O were popularized in the late 60's, and their modern day remakes are watched by literally everyone from aged 10 to 110 today. American fashion consultant and media personality, Stacy London demonstrates "What Not to Wear" by lending her expertise to celebrities that have lost their way in the fashion world. Instead you should be wearing high-waisted slacks and skirts, as these are perfect examples of dressing to impress in 2011.

Trend setters looking for a wistful piece of history have set their sights on nostalgic targets, and that includes anything and everything vintage, including a Beatlemania comeback. Festivals are bringing in fully packed houses of fashion trendy people donning bomber jackets, hourglass dresses, high-waisted slacks and black framed glasses while basking in the memory of the good old days as they reflect on an easier time that seemed to have less worries, and an obvious lack of gadgets, other then the ones made for listening to your favorite shows or groups.

Even the first lady, Michelle Obama is fashion conscience, and she is keeping up with her fashion credibility as she demonstrates this with her trend setting style sense by donning both vintage and retro clothes as can be seen when she wore a gorgeous 1950s vintage Norman Norell black lace cocktail dress on the TNT Christmas Special in Washington. http://www.bluevelvetvintage.com/vintage_style_files/2010/12/19/first-lady-fashion-first-michelle-obama-wears-vintage-norman-norell/

Five Women's Must Have Retro Fashions for 2011

Kitten Heels: Versatile and comfortable, the placement, and the shape of the heel is what defines the kitten heel. Also evident is the 1.5 inch or less height in this classy thin-based low heel. They have been spotted recently on the feet of celebrities from Bette Midler to the German Countess Isa von Hardenberg. To purchase the popular kitten heels, go to: http://shopping.yahoo.com/search?p=kitten%20heels

High-Waisted Slacks: Movie stars Katherine Hepburn and Marlene Dietrich once made this style popular during the 1930's, as did the women wearing men's trousers during WWII in the 1940's. This style is at full force once again for trendy women with a great sense of fashion, and they are worn by women of all ages; while low riders and hip huggers have definitely falling out of the loop. http://www.highwaistedpants.com/

Chunky Sweaters: They are easy to layer, warm, cozy, and fashionably trendy, whether you wear them with a belt or without. The possibilities and the colors are endless. http://www.like.com/chunky-womens-sweaters.htm

Hourglass Dresses: Men dream of women who have this figure, and women just dream of having it. This soft and curvy style is flattering and sexy, and oh so feminine. Classy and elegant, the hourglass dress is also seductive with the design made so that the hips and shoulders are even, making for a thinner waistline. http://petite.about.com/od/howtodress/ss/hourglassfigure.htm

Black-Framed Glasses: They were once considered nerd wear, and whether they are sunglasses or reading glasses, if they have a thick black frame and that quirky rectangular or daring round look to them, they are in, and they are worn by celebrities, teens, and diehard trend setters everywhere. Vintage style wayfarers once worn by the Blues Brothers and Buddy Holly are now must have stylish accessory pieces.

http://shopping.yahoo.com/search?p=dark%20frame%20glasses

Sources:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/news/michelle-obama-style

http://blog.loehmanns.com/trend-alert-high-waisted-pants-part-i/

http://www.modcloth.com/

http://www.vintagetrends.com/

http://www1.macys.com/catalog/product/index.ognc?ID=318825&CategoryID=164

http://womens-fashion.lovetoknow.com/How_to_Dress_an_Hourglass_Shape

http://www.washingtonian.com/blogarticles/shopping/shoparound/13162.html

http://shoes.about.com/od/glossaryofshoestyles/g/kitten_heels.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hawaii_Five-O

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/True_Grit_(2010_film)

http://www.aarp.org/entertainment/fashion-beauty/info-09-2010/retro-fashion.html