Άρθρο: 9 Iconic Vintage Summer Dress Styles (and How to Wear Them!)
9 Iconic Vintage Summer Dress Styles (and How to Wear Them!)
When summer hits, it's time to pull out the sundress! And vintage summer dresses have created some of the most iconic sundress styles we still love today.
But we're not just talking about one style of vintage summer dress here; from the 1950s to the 1990s, each decade brought its own take on the perfect summer dress. Let's take a look through 5 decades of vintage summer dresses, discover the vintage summer dress that suits your personal style, and find inspiration on how to style them!
Vintage 1950s striped summer dress: Unsplash
1. 1950s Vintage Summer Dresses
When you think of a vintage summer dress, there is one dress style that probably pops into mind first - the 1950s sundress. This is the decade that created the summer dress silhouette that became truly timeless.
Born from post-war optimism and Christian Dior's revolutionary "New Look," 50s vintage summer dresses have become the blueprint for the classic summer sundress. The signature shape of 1950s dresses is the hourglass silhouette, characterized by a fitted bodice, nipped-in waist, and a full circle skirt with lots of swing.
Often made from crisp cotton in playful prints like gingham and florals, these dresses are ultra-feminine and a timeless favorite style. The quality cotton and summery prints make vintage 50s dresses perfect for summer days.
How to Wear 50s Summer Dresses
If you want that timeless 50s summer elegance, these are the essentials you'll need for the look:
- Fitted bodice dresses with full circle skirts - the quintessential 50s silhouette
- Classic prints - polka dots, gingham, cherries, stripes, or painterly florals
- Shirtwaist dresses with button fronts and belted waists
- Halter necklines for poolside style
- Cat-eye sunglasses and structured handbags for authentic accessories
- Kitten heels or espadrille wedges - perfect for garden parties
- Light cardigans or matching boleros for evening breezes
The secret to a 50s dress is the silhouette. In the 50s, this was achieved with structured undergarments, which provided the base for the dresses to have that perfect cinched fit. If you find the fit uncomfortable but still like the 50s style, try the '80s does 50s' retro look. Read on to find out how!
2. 1960s Vintage Summer Dresses: Mod Style
In the 1960s, the futuristic mod movement revolutionized summer dressing. The dress silhouette went from a curvy hourglass to an angular A-line or trapeze shape - bold, youthful, and very modern.
Led by designers like Mary Quant, the mini-dress became the uniform of 60s youth rebellion. Inspired by children's dresses, optical illusion art, and the space race, 60s mod dresses featured primary colors, geometric prints, contrasting collars, and micro-mini hemlines.
With the creation of the mini skirt and mini dress, the 1960s were when bare knees and thighs became an everyday part of summer dressing!
How to Wear 60s Mod Summer Dresses
To nail that swinging 60s mod look this summer, you'll need:
- A-line or shift dresses in mini-length - the mod essential
- Bold geometric or Op-art prints - the bolder, the better
- Solid blocks of color - primary colors and monochrome black and white
- Peter Pan or sharp collars - crisp and clean lines with contrast
- White go-go boots, Mary Jane flats, or block-heeled patent sandals
- Oversized round sunglasses with plastic frames
- Geometric jewelry and wide headbands
- Pale lipstick and dramatic eye makeup
Sixties mod dresses were often made from heavyweight crimped or double-knit polyester - great for holding those sharp lines and structured trapeze skirts, but a bit sweaty in the summer heat.
To enjoy the 60s mod look in the summer, look for dresses made from cotton or acetate (a thin, breezy synthetic silk), as these will be comfortable on hot days. However, the loose silhouette does allow for breathability due to airflow, so if your favorite 60s dress is polyester, it can still work for summer - especially in sleeveless styles with wide A-line skirts.
3. 1960s Vintage Summer Dresses: Hippie Style
By 1967, the Summer of Love had arrived, and fashion got a whole lot groovier. Psychedelic prints, flowing fabrics, and international cultural influences from the Hippie Trail transformed summer dresses from graphic modern to groovy.
If the early 60s were about the future, the late 60s were about expanding your mind and embracing global cultures.
Late 60s dresses kept the mod mini style, but with a psychedelic, groovy twist. Think acid colors, swirling paisley prints, and trippy abstract florals.
How to Wear 60s Psychedelic Summer Dresses
To make this summer a psychedelic summer of love, you'll need:
- Flowing or sheer fabrics in psychedelic swirls or paisley prints
- Indian-inspired prints and traditional embroidery
- Empire waists and bell sleeves - for freedom of movement
- Gladiator-style sandals with straps that wrap up the leg
- Beaded necklaces - layer them for maximum impact
- Flower accessories - in your hair, as a crown, everywhere!
- Round metal-framed sunglasses with colored lenses
These groovy, psychedelic 60s summer dresses are often sheer, making them nice and light for summer and perfect for festival-style layering - the original music festival fashion!
4. 1970s Vintage Summer Dresses: Maxis
Moving into the 1970s, summer dresses turned from mini to maxi. Previously reserved for evening wear, the 70s made maxis fashionable for everyday wear. Inspired by both the hippie and bohemian movement, and the later disco glamour, these floor-sweeping dresses came in everything from prairie prints to liquid metallic jerseys.
Diane von Furstenberg invented the iconic wrap dress in the 70s, which has become a staple, timeless style ever since.
How to Wear 70s Maxi Summer Dresses
Channel your inner 70s goddess this summer with:
- Floor-length hemlines (or at least midi) - dramatic and elegant
- Halter necks or wrap front dresses
- Angel, flutter, or kimono sleeves - for romantic boho style
- Bold florals or block prints
- Chiffon or silk fabrics, with details like velvet trims and paneling
- Platform sandals or wedges (essential if you need the extra height for the length!)
- Floppy hats and oversized sunglasses
- Long pendant necklaces or layered chains
Seventies vintage maxi dresses never go out of style. These floor-sweeping bohemian styles consistently inspire new trends and designs every year. This makes a vintage 70s maxi dress the perfect summer style investment!
5. 1970s Vintage Summer Dresses: Prairie Style
In the mid-70s, fashion took a turn back in time. Disillusioned with the future the 60s promised and influenced by economic uncertainty, women looked to romanticized eras like the Victorian period and the American frontier. This nostalgic movement created some of the most romantic summer dresses ever made.
Laura Ashley built an empire on ruffled, tiered dresses in tiny florals, while Gunne Sax (founded by Jessica McClintock) cornered the market on prairie-style dresses. This was part of the 70s decade's craft movement, back-to-the-land ideals, and feminists reclaiming traditionally 'feminine' styles on their own terms.
Natural fabrics were key for 70s prairie style. Dresses were made from cotton and linen in ditsy floral prints and gingham, with lace or velvet trims and lots of ruffles - this was the original cottagecore.
How to Wear 70s Prairie Summer Dresses
To get the 1970s prairie dress look this summer, search for:
- A tiered midi or maxi dress with ruffles or lace trims
- Rustic fabrics like cotton or linen with a washed and textured finish
- Floral prints or gingham in muted, romantic colors
- Puffed sleeves or sleeveless styles with ruffled details
- Wooden clogs or lace-up Victorian-style boots (for cooler weather)
- A straw hat with a ribbon trim
Real vintage Gunne Sax and Laura Ashley dresses from the 1970s are rare and very expensive; on top of that, it's often only the smallest XXS or XS sizes that remain in circulation. However, in the 1970s, many women created their own homemade versions of these prairie dresses.
This means you can often find handmade vintage dresses inspired by those styles in a range of sizes - equally beautiful and more accessible!
6. 1980s Vintage Summer Dresses
In the 1980s, summer dresses were as bright and bold as the rest of the decade. Memphis design influenced abstract prints and bright primary colors - this was the era of joyful, unapologetic maximalism. Florals were neon and tropical, with structured shapes that made 80s power dressing so fun.
Eighties vintage summer dresses come in styles from mini and bodycon, to peplum princess styles and oversized printed t-shirt dresses. Prints are always bold and bright.
How to Wear 80s Summer Dresses
For authentic 80s summer style:
- A dress with an abstract or tropical neon print
- A blouson or drop-waist silhouette - comfortable and cool
- Bold and bright pumps - fun footwear
- Bright, chunky accessories - stack those bangles, waist belts, and earrings
- A scrunchie or banana clip to keep your hair back, 80s style
For anyone tired of the modern, minimalist, 'clean girl' beige style, the 80s summer dress is the perfect antidote. With their fun colors, prints, and shapes, 80s summer dresses bring back carefree maximalist fun to summer style.
7. 1980s Retro Vintage Summer Dresses: 80s Does 50s Style
The 80s loved the 50s, but like everything, they had to make it BIGGER. These retro revival dresses took 50s silhouettes and added their own 80s spin. And most importantly - bigger, more comfortable fits! This is how you get the 50s look with 80s ease.
Laura Ashley and Ralph Lauren led the trend with their romantic interpretations of vintage styles. Princess Diana's romantic style influenced millions, making puff sleeves and sailor collars mainstream again.
Eighties does 50s retro dresses have the same overall style as those classic 50s summer dresses, but with relaxed waists, roomier bodices, and fabrics with stretch and flexibility. They were usually made of cotton or viscose, in pastels or romantic, muted floral prints.
How to Wear 80s Retro 50s Summer Dresses
Rock that 80s-does-50s look with:
- Exaggerated 50s silhouettes - midi dresses with belted waists and baggy bodices
- Oversized collars (Peter Pan or sailor)
- Puffed or padded shoulders
- Drop waists or wide elastic waists - comfort is key
- Bold florals - blues, pinks, and pastels on white or black backgrounds
- Pumps or espadrilles - use your accessories to turn your style more 80s or 50s
The 50s revival in the 80s is the comfortable way to wear retro 50s style this summer. Not only are the dresses much easier to find, they are much more affordable and forgiving with sizing.
If you love the vintage 1950s look but want more comfort and ease, 80s vintage dresses offer all the retro style with added wearability. Tip: Remove the shoulder pads if you want to tone down the 80s element; the stitching can usually be neatly snipped to remove them without damage.
8. 90s Vintage Summer Dresses: Grunge Florals
The 90s took those vintage 'granny' florals and made them cool. Grunge culture embraced "ugly" florals - dark backgrounds, clashing colors, and ditsy prints.
The fit was figure-skimming but loose, often in a simple button-front or tie-back style. Drew Barrymore and Courtney Love made deliberately unfashionable florals the ultimate 90s statement.
These 90s summer dresses are the ultimate pick for cute and comfortable vintage summer style.
How to Wear 90s Floral Summer Dresses
Get that perfect 90s vibe with:
- A dark floral print tea dress - the grungier the better
-
Button front or tie-back details
- Combat boots or chunky sandals
- An oversized flannel or cardigan for layering when it gets cooler
- Tinted metal frame sunglasses
- Claw clips, baseball caps, and mini backpacks
The vintage floral 90s dresses are perfect for summer. They are usually made from cotton, or viscose that feels and acts like soft and breathable cotton, making them very comfortable on a hot summer day.
The relaxed fit keeps them between casual and smart, so despite being floral dresses, they are versatile for any summer occasion.
9. 90s Vintage Summer Dresses: Delia's Style
Before internet shopping was a thing, part of the teenage experience in the 90s was flipping through fashion catalogues, circling your favorite clothes in the hope your mum might buy you the cool ones when it was time for the annual haul. This catalog culture created a specific aesthetic that's pure nostalgic joy.
The coolest catalogue in the 90s has to be Delia's, it was packed full of fun, happy designs that were the original dopamine dressing. Gingham mini dresses, spaghetti strap sundresses, smiley faces, cartoon flowers, rainbows, and embroidered denim. This was the preppy, optimistic side of 90s fashion.
How to Wear 90s "Delia's" Style Summer Dresses
Channel your inner 90s catalog model with:
- A sleek, spaghetti strap mini dress - a 90s staple
- Gingham, plaid, or daisy prints
- Denim, pink or rainbow stripes
- Platform sandals or chunky sneakers - a retro nod to 70s style
- Butterfly clips or a zigzag headband - fun hair accessories
- Bucket hats - crochet, woven, or plain
Nineties summer dresses are perfect for those who are nostalgic about 90s sitcom and movie fashion - or for anyone who loves fun, youthful style that doesn't take itself too seriously.
What to Know When Shopping for Vintage Summer Dresses
Q: What makes vintage summer dresses better than modern ones?
Vintage summer dresses are higher quality than modern fast fashion dresses, and this comes down to two things: superior construction and better fabrics.
Construction: Vintage dresses were built to last. Before fast fashion, clothing was made with construction methods that prioritized longevity, like French seams, durable metal zippers (common before the 1960s), and properly finished hems. That's why a 1970s Gunne Sax dress can still be in perfect condition after 50 years, while a modern dress can fall apart at the seams, have buttons pop off, and zippers break within a few wears.
Fabric quality: Before the fast fashion industry made it normal to produce cheap, low-quality fabrics, fabrics were universally of higher quality.
Tired of sweaty, clingy polyester? Vintage is the answer. While fast fashion relies on cheap synthetics that feel like wearing a plastic bag, vintage dresses were predominantly made from high-quality natural or semi-natural fabrics that are breathable and comfortable in the heat.
70s, 80s and 90s clothing labels. Arnel is an acetate brand - a synthetic silk made of cellulose
Q: Are vintage summer dresses really made with better fabrics?
Yes, vintage summer dresses are made with better fabrics. It's a difference you can feel - especially in the summer.
These days, we are all searching for clothes that are actually breathable and won't fall apart. Fast fashion pumps out summer dresses in the kind of polyester that feels like wearing a plastic bag - clammy, clingy, and with no drape, weight, or texture.
Shopping modern often means checking every label just to see it's polyester, when what we really want are comfortable fabrics like cotton, linen (not "linen-look"), or silk. And not just that, we want them to please not be see-through! We want them to last without ripping, pilling, or shrinking too.
Vintage summer dresses offer a great solution for comfortable summer style because they were made from these quality, natural fabrics we are searching for. And while the 60s and 70s had fun with the novel polyester, even that was incredible quality compared to now.
The fabrics used for vintage summer dresses are usually:
- Pre-1960s: Dresses were made from cotton, linen, silk, and high-quality rayon.
- 1980s-90s: Dresses usually made from cotton, silk, or viscose. But this vintage viscose had the drape, weight, and breathability of cotton, unlike the thin, synthetic-feeling viscose made today.
A special note on viscose: Viscose is neither fully natural nor synthetic; it's chemically processed tree pulp spun into a fiber. This means it can be woven to replicate anything from silk to cotton.
Vintage viscose from the 80s and 90s is often indistinguishable from cotton - it's breathable, soft, and has great movement, making it a fantastic choice for a summer fabric.
Vintage summer dress fabrics: A 90s viscose floral dress, a 70s acetate psychedelic dress, and an 80s cotton sundress.
Q: How do I know what size vintage summer dress to buy?
This is the most important rule of vintage shopping: Always shop by measurements, not the tag size.
Due to the influence of vanity sizing, modern sizes are generally larger than those of vintage clothing. Vintage sizes can be 2-4 sizes smaller than the label indicates, and this variation depends on the decade and country of manufacture. Beyond that, the fit also varies by era:
- Pre-1960s dresses have no stretch at all. You must match your measurements closely.
- 1960s dresses have a loose a-line shape that skims the waist and hips without a tight fit.
- 1970s dresses sometimes use shirring (elastic smocking) in the bust or waist, allowing for a more flexible and comfortable fit.
- 1980s and 90s dresses typically feature looser, oversized silhouettes, making their sizing the most forgiving.
Compare your body measurements to garment measurements. Add 2–5 cm to the garment measurements to allow for a comfortable fit, or more if the item is non-stretchy.
Q: How should I style a vintage summer dress?
The styling shown in this guide is just a suggestion based on the vibe of the decade, not a rule. The best approach to vintage summer dress style is to do whatever you are comfortable with, whether that's mixing modern pieces or going for a full vintage look. Vintage style is about expressing yourself and having fun with fashion history!
The Vintage Revival Decade Hack:
Mixing decades is a great way to create a unique look. If you love a particular style but find authentic pieces challenging to source or in your size, consider shopping for a revival of that style in a later decade.
For example: If you love the 50s style but want more sizing options, the 80s is a great alternative. An 80s-does-50s dress gives you the vintage aesthetic with more relaxed sizing and often more affordable prices. If you like the funky 60s and 70s styles, shop for late 90s and early 00s clothes - where there was a fun revival of groovy style with a modern Y2K twist. It's a smart way to build your vintage wardrobe!
Where to Buy Vintage Summer Dresses?
Ready to find your perfect vintage summer dress? Remember: shop by measurements, check the fabric content, and don't be afraid to embrace the full vintage look or mix it with your personal style.
At ThriftTale, you'll find authentic vintage summer dresses from across the decades. With a wide selection of vintage summer dresses online and even more handpicked styles in our store locations, it's the perfect place to start your vintage search!
