Ask Style: How to Make Any Look Modern?

What's the key to adapting a look from another decade? I'm interested in trying out the '40s trend that I'm seeing everywhere.
—Alice K., Portsmouth, Virginia

Let's not stop there. I have the key to adapting any look, from steampunk to early Cyndi Lauper, for the new millennium! Think of the three biggest standout attributes of a certain era. For example, with the early to mid 1980s, it was about heavily layered, rubber accessories; big, frizzy, often sculpted-looking hair; and massive shoulder pads. For the 1940s, it was about exaggerated, swooping hairdos (curlers required); hard, defined, red lips; and—well, massive shoulder pads.

When you're ready to adapt the look to this era, choose no more than two of those aspects. One is even safer.

So in the case of the 1940s, go ahead and indulge in those shoulder pads. Forever 21 has a belted halter dress that nods to the 1940s without toppling over into kitsch, but soften your makeup and keep your hair more understated. Or, for a look I particularly love, give yourself that unmistakable 1940s topknot, but keep the rest of your look disco modern with skinny jeans or leggings, à la Rihanna. The idea is to take the things you love without being too literal or slavish.

Sharp, fitted suits are also very 1940s, as are peep-toe shoes. Fortunately, neither of those are considered as iconic or definitive as the hallmarks I listed above. Wear them together and be happy. Heck, you can even throw in a retro-style stocking with the seams that go up the center of the calf. (I've found a site called StockinGirl that actually makes 'em the way they used to. Really.) Or modernize the suit with a pair of studded booties in lieu of the peep-toes. Whatever you do, just keep the red lips or the curling iron in check. There is such a thing as too much of a good thing.

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