Three continents in one week! Can you believe it? I just got back from a month of traveling for both pleasure and work, including visits to trade shows in Berlin, Paris, and Amsterdam. Next up: London! What a busy year so far! If you didn’t see them already, I Instagrammed a few photos for @ModCloth while I was abroad, and you can follow me, too, for more peeks into my upcoming trips.
When I was in Europe, I noticed a ton of nautical resort styles (which seemed to be echoing my across-seas adventures), so I thought I’d share some retro nautical catalog shots I found that serve as inspiration for some of what you’ll find on our site this month.
I love everything about the vintage images below, especially the tiny details on the clothes like gold anchor buttons and fit-and-flare silhouettes. Don’t you just want to throw on some stripes and set sail back to the ’50s?
Images via Tuppence Ha’penny Vintage and Sailors & Mermaids.
The imagery above put our team in the mood to create similar retro-inspired looks, and it got me thinking about reinvention. Even though nautical inspiration appears each time we approach summer, it still manages to be chic and continually ‘on-trend.’ These trends often come and go, and come back again with surprising twists. That said, I think the true craft of styling vintage is about drawing inspiration from the past and making it into something fresh and new.
We have a lot more excitement in the pipeline, so stop by again soon, and also keep an eye out for our New York Fashion Week coverage in coming weeks. Before I sign off, though, you tell me: In what ways will you be letting the past inspire your present?
12 loves 
Susan, some great vintage shots here! Love the style angle and Breton stripes are certainly all the rage now! We love Audrey Hepburn and our new SS2013 collection will feature some retro designs.
Thanks for sharing!
Zoe xxx
I love this style angle! I agree that being inspired by the past and creating something new is what’s so fun about vintage. I look awful in A-lines, and tend to stick with empire waist designs. I’m excited about trying to mix Breton stripes and some of these styles into a look that works for me. By the way, your hair looks great!
I agree about your hair!
Thanks Monica!
Nautical styles have always been a favorite with me. I remember a straight dress with little verticle folds on the very thin polyster type fabric. It had a half inch navy trim that made the fron of the dress look like the top of a uniform and six gold buttons. I loved that dress!
Nautical styles have always been a favorite with me. I remember a straight dress with little horizontal folds on the very thin polyster type fabric. It had a half inch navy trim that made the fron of the dress look like the top of a uniform and six gold buttons. I loved that dress!
Susan, the 40′s on are the best years for me, i had always wished to go back, but when i found modclot i realize we didn’t need to go back couse we can make it work now. Love the page can’t wait to shop!! Awesome job …….