We hope you have enjoyed Retro Week here on Rock My Wedding. It’s been a roller coaster of fashion, decor, hair, make-up and accessories that have spanned arguably the most iconic decades of the last century.
To neatly bring everything to a close we asked Lauren from Grace And Gable (who’s vintage winter shoot you may remember from December) to put together some inspirational mood boards to represent the 50′s, 60′s, 70′s and 80′s.
If you are planning a wedding, party, event – or are even thinking about re-decorating your home and want to draw on inspiration from one of these decades, Lauren’s visions are sure to plant a few ideas into your retro loving minds. Take it away Lauren…
Defining A Decade.
When Charlotte and Adam asked me to pull together these moodboards for retro week, I looked for images that displayed elegance, finesse or a certain joie de vivre that truly reflected each decade. What you’ll see here is a selection of each era’s ‘top picks’ where some of the images reflect the style of the period and others represent our modern day interpretation of the ‘best of the past’. That said, what defines a decade for one person may mean nothing to another and this is simply my perspective. Let me know what you think…
The 1950′s
The 50’s is perhaps one of my most loved eras and thus my favourite in this series. The age just oozes quality, femininity and a departure from the austerity of the 1940’s. I love how this era is so creatively stimulating which means it’s so easy to visualise ideas for a modern take on the vintage experience.
The majority of the photographs have soft green and pink tones and luxurious textures, which I think reflects the innocence of the period and the beginning of a softening of cultural attitudes. It just looks so darn pretty too. There’s so much inspiration you can take from the 50’s to make it work for you today. For example, how about dressing your bridesmaids in belted 50’s style dresses and pearls, serving cocktails in exquisite 1950’s glasses or designing an invitation suite using the typography in the Frenchy’s parlour sign or the patterns in the frankly gorgeous marble tile.
I must confess that I am a little worried for the chap stringing up lights so very near the pool. Health and Safety clearly wasn’t a priority then. Lastly, look at that panoramic shot of the family near the bottom of the board – doesn’t it make your heart want to sing.
1950′s Credits.
The 1960′s
I’ve deliberately steered away from peace signs and campervan images although the ‘no hippies’ sign is a subtle nod to them. Instead I’ve focussed on the more glamorous side of the 1960’s – think Brigitte Bardot, Jackie O and the decadence of air travel. Pan AM anyone?
The shimmering butlers tray forms the crux of the board – incidentally does anyone know where I can buy one from? – and the gorgeous chap in his tuxedo and the photograph of the woman with her camera radiate the poise that characterises the age for me. Oh to be taken for cocktails and to wear long leather gloves.
Again a hazy blue, green and soft pink palette dominates. For example, in the images of the champagne glasses and the pool but we begin to see those vibrant pops of colour that the majority of us associate with the 60’s, and again in the roomscape with the orange chair and the interior scene with all those framed prints on the wall.
And I can’t finish without mentioning the amazing attitude of those 1960’s girls. I think the picture of the women posing in the windows sums it all up. They know exactly what they want and they’re going to get it, and if could get away with wearing what I can only describe as a skin-tight romper suit then I so would!
1960′s Credits.
The 1970′s
Whenever I look back at photos of the 1970’s (courtesy of my mother or Pinterest – thank you), they always seem to be covered with a haze of gold dust. Metaphorically you could say this was a golden age, before the hard-nosed minimalist aesthetic of the 80’s made its appearance, or perhaps more simply this was a result of how photos were processed back then. Either way, I wanted the colour scheme and many of the images to reflect this golden hue, hence the jug, cutlery, light pendant and even the decadent lounging area – which I secretly love by the way.
If I didn’t adore the 50’s quite so much then this decade would tug at my heartstrings – the boho hair, the floppy hats, the high-waisted jeans and soft-focus lighting. I even love interior design from this period – have you seen some of those fierce wallpaper patterns. Perhaps including them in the décor of your next event could be the way to go… imagine draping the inside of a marquee with some 70’s prints. That could be a trip and a half.
And whilst Wolfmother is not technically a band from this era I just had to include the image as it screamed 70’s to me. Just look at that font go!
1970′s Credits.
The 1980′s
This concoction of images represents my view of the 80’s or rather my memories of it. As a youngster growing up in the 1980’s, there’s a split in the moodboard between a more childlike interpretation – see the rollerskates and pretty pink princess dress – and the boxy, businesswoman shapes of the high fashion images that remind me of my mum in this era. If this board had ‘smellovision’, the scent of Christian Dior’s ‘Poison’ would now be emanating from your computer screen. I know all eras have any number of defining styles but this IS the 80’s for me.
One of the things that I love from this era is neon and I really see this still having its place in design today. Just look at both sets of stationery – clearly 80’s inspired but still ‘clean’ enough to be desirable in our technological age.
As for the relevance of Mr Cruise… ok I confess to having a bit of a crush on ol’ Tom in Top Gun, so he just had to make his way onto the board. Tom in Top Gun does epitomise the 80s after all… Doesn’t he?
1980′s Credits.
Much RMW love goes out to Lauren from Grace And Gable for this decade spanning smorgasbord of inspiration. We Love these BIG BIG mood boards at Rock My Wedding.
So, which one is your favourite era? And How would you define each decade? Please leave as a note and let us know what you think – and if you do you’ll stand the chance of winning a super-duper retro camera or notebook from lomography.com.
We have been giving them away lomography.com treats week, but unfortunately this is your last chance to get your retro mitts on one – so leave some love 
Adam.
