Look back in wonder

Although the hunt for vintage clothing may be enticing to some people, others would rather bypass digging for buried treasure that, even when found, may consist of garments that are tattered or in a size best suited for the bird-boned women of the 1940s.

But the retro aesthetic is still a desirable one, particularly for the thriving rockabilly subculture of Southern California that favours 1940s- and 1950s-inspired dresses. Not to be excluded are the plus-sized women who love the look of vintage garments but are hard-pressed to find pieces that fit, especially since the average American woman is an inch taller and 24 pounds (11 kilos) heavier than her counterpart in 1960, according to figures compiled by the national Centres for Disease Control and Prevention.

Enter several local designers and retailers who are creating and selling new clothing crafted to look steeped in the past. Their wares include cocktail dresses and bathing suits, and they sell to customers who take cues from modern-day vintage vixens, including singer Katy Perry.

Consistent appeal

The vintage-inspired and reproduction pieces appeal to people who are consistent in their love of vintage and wear the look year-round regardless of whether it's the latest trend.

"No one's throwing out last season's 1930s clothes to get ready for this season's 1930s clothes," says Annamarie von Firley, co-founder of Revamp Vintage in downtown Los Angeles. Von Firley's designs focus on men's and women's clothing from 1910 to 1957, which she makes in new fabrics from vintage patterns.

"These are period pieces but they have a timeless quality to them. Also, the clothing of the 1930s, 1940s and 1950s are styles that are hugely accessible for people. There seems to be a desire to head back to a time where everything seemed a little more simple," she says. "There's a safety and comfort to the past that people reach back to and embrace the beautiful bits of," she adds.

Von Firley houses a ready-to-wear line of dresses, separates and accessories in her 12th-floor studio and store and also works often with made-to-measure garments, primarily for brides who want that antique appeal on their wedding day. Prices range from $85 (Dh312) for a halter top to $3,000 (Dh11,019) for a wedding gown.

The designer is also something of a full-service time machine and offers all things that areassociated with vintage style, including hair ornaments and make-up classes for those who want a face to match the retro clothes.

Clothing lines such as Stop Staring and Queen of Heartz have created their businesses around the allure of vintage-inspired clothing. Stop Staring founder-designer Alicia Estrada started her line 14 years ago, infusing a love of 1930s and 1940s film noir into a collection of dresses done in stretch fabrics. She designs her own patterns but consistently incorporates vintage elements such as cap sleeves and box pleats, and she works a 1940s-inspired panel of stretchy fabric into the midsection of dresses to allow the wearer to move and breathe comfortably while the tummy area stays sleek.

"I have always wanted to celebrate a woman's figure and show off her curves in a sexy but classy way," says Estrada, whose clothes run from size 4-26. Dresses range from $115-180 (Dh422-661).

Friend in need

Queen of Heartz creator and designer Letty Tennant began her vintage-inspired clothing business making custom dresses for her friends who were a part of the Orange County rockabilly scene. The demand for her creations grew as many of her friends had trouble finding vintage pieces that fit, and Tennant expanded her line to include a popular ready-to-wear collection.

She tends to design with her body type (she's a size 14) in mind and creates clothing to flatter curvier figures. "I think about what cuts are more flattering and use wider straps rather than spaghetti straps or implement a waistband that's more forgiving," she says.

Dresses, priced $130-260 (Dh477-955), are the big draw in Tennant's collection, which comes in sizes 0-18, with anything larger custom-made.

For the full-service vintage-inspired experience, retailers such as Unique Vintage in Burbank and My Baby Jo in West Los Angeles carry new clothing, accessories, undergarments and beauty products that all fall in line with the retro aesthetic.

Katie Echeverry, owner of Unique Vintage offers a range of vintage-inspired clothing for men and women in a variety of prices. Her wares include Stop Staring styles, Esther Williams swimsuits and rockabilly shirts that are a hit with male shoppers.

But the store is best known to some in the prom-going crowd, who flock to Unique Vintage to look for dresses that will make them stand out in a crowd of girls dressed largely in styles offered at the local mall.

At My Baby Jo, there's make-up, foundation garments, shoes and clothes that, displayed together, make you feel as if you've been transported right back to the 1950s.

Owner Darla Montoya started the business online ten years ago and moved into her West LA retail space eight years ago while she was in the swing-dancing scene and wore the 1940s-style clothes that went along with the lifestyle. "People of all ages are drawn to" the vintage look, Montoya says.