When I was kid, I used to watch reruns like ‘Bewitched,’ ‘I Dream of Jeannie’ and ‘The Mary Tyler Moore Show’ during the summer like clockwork – quality shows in their own rite, but somewhat cheesy in retrospect. But there’s one thing I love about watching shows from that era: the fashion.

In conjunction with ‘The Express’ hype, I’ve been thinking about late 50s and early 60s fashion styles. Women wore dresses and skirts almost exclusively, saving pants for sports or casual wear. Conservative, ladylike looks of that era are classics to me and a fashion that you don’t see very often anymore.

I’m not saying throw away your Sevens and wear headbands. But when it comes to a vintage dress, it’s best to mix in your own style for a look that’s all your own. Why not take those full A-line dresses, pencil skirt suits and short gloves and find your own modern, personal twist? Add a pair of stilettos in a contrasting color, tease your hair, or wear dramatic bright eye makeup for an edgier look.

There are endless benefits to the vintage dress. My favorite feature of the early 60s dress is the tailoring. Shirtwaist dresses gave almost every woman the pinnacle hourglass figure – a look that’s a far cry from what we often see in today’s fashion magazines. Personally, I’m a sucker for anything with a sash. Full, pleated skirts and bold, bright colors like yellow or lime green have a playful pop that can turn any girl into Jackie O. for a day.

Hems of dresses were longer; often cut at the knee. With pointy-toed heels or the right lace-up sandal, you can turn a conservative dress into a downright sexy one.

Dress styles of the early 60s had great necklines, too. Scoop necks can be flattering to almost any figure and are great for a professional look that doesn’t compromise your style.

I’m a big fan of the short, boxy jacket over a dress, too – a bold patterned jacket adds eye-catching layers to your look without being too distracting from the dress. Stores like Banana Republic or Ann Taylor Loft often have 60s-influenced suits and jackets (and their clearance racks are usually stellar).

But to give off that real ladylike vibe, it takes more than just a detailed-oriented ensemble. It’s got to be the whole package – the right accessories or hairstyles attract in a whole different way.

One of my favorite older hairstyles is ringlet curls. Soft-curled hair can work for all lengths, and while it’s not totally 60s, it’s an uber-feminine touch. If you have naturally straight hair and are in the mood to experiment, sleeping in carefully placed soft rollers overnight creates soft, touchable ringlets.

If you’re looking for something a little less time intensive, I recommend the aptly titled Fekkai Tousled Wave Spray. It takes all of five minutes after you jump out of the shower – towel dry your hair, spray and scrunch all over, and once it dries, you’ll have shiny, textured loose curls. Mission: accomplished.

The best bet for finding vintage fashion is, no surprise, buying online. There are countless sites, and eBay has a whole marketplace specifically for vintage in all price ranges. If you’re worried about the fit, owners of clothing sites or eBay stores are usually happy to respond to e-mails about sizing and measurements. But if you’re looking to stay extra-close to campus, head down to Westcott Street. Mother Midnight features real vintage clothing, and Boom Babies carries dozens of designers who stick to classic cuts.

Melissa Daniels is a junior newspaper journalism major, and she wonders what happened to the term ‘slacks.’ She can be reached at mdanie01@syr.edu.

Published on September 15, 2008 at 12:00 pm