Retro Style Dress to Impress: Outfit Ideas & Guide
Let’s be totally honest with each other. The “Retro Style” theme makes players freeze in total panic. The clock ticks down incredibly fast. You suddenly need to build a historical outfit from scratch.
Most players just throw on a boring polka dot dress. This makes the runway voting incredibly dull and repetitive. You can easily use this lazy trend to your advantage. Nailing a specific historical vibe guarantees you an instant win.
We are going to completely conquer this exact fashion theme. This massive guide breaks down four totally different historical looks. We will also cover the absolute best hairstyles and accessories. Let’s dive right into building your next five-star runway outfit!
What is the retro-style theme?
Before we start running around the dressing room grabbing random pieces of clothing, we need to talk about strategy. What exactly does “retro” even mean? Before putting together your perfect vintage look, make sure you have all the latest free accessories by checking our main Dress to Impress codes page.
A lot of players think retro only means the 1950s. That is a huge mistake! Retro basically covers any major fashion trend from the past. You can easily do a 1970s disco look, a 1980s neon pop star look, or even a 1990s grunge skater look. To win this theme, you just have to pick one specific decade and commit to it completely. Do not mix and match!
The 1970s Disco Queen
This is honestly one of the most fun and easiest outfits to build in the entire game. The 1970s were all about massive, dramatic clothing shapes and lots of shiny, sparkly textures. If you walk down the runway looking like you just stepped out of a roller disco, you are practically guaranteed a podium spot.
For the base layer, you absolutely need the massive flared pants. Do not use skinny jeans or pencil skirts!
- The Bottoms: Grab the widest flared pants you can find. Dye them a bright, sparkly silver or a really funky orange pattern.
- The Top: You need a halter top or a long-sleeve shirt with a massive collar. If you have VIP, the sparkly crop top works perfectly here.
- The Shoes: Platform shoes are mandatory. The chunkier and taller the heel, the better. You want your avatar to look incredibly tall and dramatic.
If you skip the platform shoes or the flared pants, you will just look like you are going to a regular party. The exaggerated shapes are what make it look authentically 70s!
The 1980s Neon Workout Star
This is the biggest hack if you are playing in a lobby full of free-to-play players. The 1980s workout aesthetic is incredibly vibrant, super bold, and you can build the entire thing using mostly free items. The other players are going to vote for you just because the colors are so shockingly bright and creative.
Instead of doing a boring dress, you are going to build a loud, obnoxious aerobics outfit.
- The Base: Use the tightest bodysuit or leotard you can find. Put the basic leggings on underneath the leotard.
- The Colors: Make the leotard a bright, blinding neon blue. Make the leggings a hot neon pink. Do not be afraid to clash your colors! The 80s were famous for terrible color combinations.
- The Accessories: You absolutely need the leg warmers. Dye them a bright neon green. Add the thick sweatband to your head, and grab some chunky plastic earrings.
Pair this bright neon outfit with some simple white sneakers, and you are going to absolutely blind the judges when you step onto the runway!
The 1990s Grunge Aesthetic
If you hate bright colors and sparkles, the 1990s grunge look is your best friend. This is a very edgy, dark, and messy aesthetic that completely stands out against all the other girly outfits on the runway.
This look needs to feel incredibly lazy, messy, and rebellious. You want to avoid clean lines and stick entirely to dark reds, muddy browns, and washed-out denim colors.
- The Setup: Grab the baggy ripped jeans. The more rips and tears, the better. Pair them with a simple, slightly oversized graphic t-shirt.
- The Flannel: This is the secret weapon. You have to layer the oversized open button-down shirt over the t-shirt. Use the pattern tool to turn it into a red and black lumberjack plaid flannel.
- The Shoes: You absolutely must wear the massive, chunky black combat boots.
If you use this grunge strategy, keep your accessories super minimal. Just a simple black choker necklace and maybe a dark beanie hat. It looks effortlessly cool.
Alternatively, if you want a softer, more rustic take on vintage fashion, transitioning your wardrobe into the best Folklore Dress to Impress style is a guaranteed 5-star strategy.
The 1950s Classic Pin-up
This is the classic “safe” option. If you are running out of time and only have a minute left on the clock, building a 1950s diner look is super fast and everyone instantly recognizes it.
- The Dress: Grab the big, puffy swing dress. Go to the patterns and find the classic black and white polka dots or the red and white gingham pattern.
- The Details: Add the cute Mary Jane shoes with little white ankle socks.
- The Headband: This is what completely sells the look! Grab the thick fabric headband and dye it a bright cherry red to match your lipstick.
If you want to narrow down your retro vibe to a specific decade, our dedicated guide on creating a 1950s Dress to Impress outfit is the perfect place to start.
Nailing the Makeup and Hair
Okay, so you have the perfect outfit picked out. Your colors match the decade, your layers look amazing, and you grabbed the right shoes. You are done, right? Absolutely not.
If you walk out onto that runway with a modern slicked-back ponytail and natural “no-makeup” makeup, you are going to lose massive stars. Retro fashion was completely obsessed with crazy hair and heavy makeup, and you need to copy that in the game.
Big Hair is Absolutely Mandatory
You absolutely cannot wear flat, boring hair for this theme. Depending on the decade you picked, your hair needs to match the crazy energy of your outfit.
- For the 80s: Go to the hair station and look for the biggest, messiest, most voluminous curly hair you can find. The higher the hair, the closer to a five-star rating.
- For the 70s: Look for the long, feathered hair parted exactly down the middle. It gives off that perfect relaxed disco vibe.
- For the 90s: Grab the messy, straight hair that looks like you haven’t brushed it in three days.
Don't Be Scared of Colorful Makeup
This is not the time to play it safe with neutral brown eyeshadow.
If you are doing the 80s look, go to the makeup chair and pick a face with bright, shocking blue eyeshadow and a heavy streak of bright pink blush across the cheeks. If you are doing the 50s look, you need the sharpest, brightest red lipstick available paired with a heavy black winged eyeliner.
Many players love blending classic retro elements with nostalgic pop-culture aesthetics, much like the glamorous looks featured in our Lana Dress to Impress style guide.
Don't Forget the Performance!
Now that you have the outfit and the face perfectly styled, you need to actually handle the “performance” part of the game. How you act on the glowing runway stage is honestly just as important as what you are wearing.
The Right Runway Poses
When it is your turn to walk down the stage, you have to match the energy of your specific outfit.
- For the 70s and 80s: Use the crazy energetic poses! The “dancing,” “confident,” or “Silly” poses work perfectly because those decades were all about loud, unapologetic fun.
- For the 90s Grunge: Use the “Bored,” “Shy,” or “Slouching” poses. You want to look like you absolutely do not care about being in a fashion show. The contrast is hilarious and usually earns extra votes.
For players who want to go in the complete opposite direction of classic retro, layering bright colors and chaotic accessories from the Decora Dress to Impress trend is a fun alternative.
Use Bold Props
You need a prop to tie the story together.
Run over to the main lobby area and grab something that fits the decade. If you are doing the 80s workout star, grab the water bottle or the boombox prop. If you are doing the 90s grunge look, grab the electric guitar. It proves to the other players that you completely understood the assignment!
Need more inspiration for the runway? Browse through our comprehensive list of Dress to Impress themes and outfit ideas to see how Retro compares to other categories.
Conclusion
At the end of the day, winning the Retro Style theme in Dress to Impress is all about committing fully to the bit. Anyone can throw on an old dress, but it takes a real DTI stylist to remember the blue eyeshadow, the massive platform shoes, and the perfectly themed runway poses.
Whether you decide to go with the edgy 90s grunge aesthetic or you decide to blind everyone with a neon 80s workout suit, just remember to keep it cohesive. Do not mix your decades; go big with your hair, and you will absolutely dominate the runway!
While a vintage look relies heavily on classic silhouettes, you can always mix things up by contrasting it with hyper-modern makeup trends, such as the popular Douyin Dress to Impress aesthetic.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best retro style to pick in Dress to Impress?
The 1980s neon workout style is usually the absolute best choice! It is incredibly bright, super fun to build, and it stands out completely against all the boring polka dot dresses that everyone else usually makes.
Can I win the retro theme without VIP?
Yes, 100%. You do not need the VIP room to win this theme. The free clothing racks have amazing flared pants for the 70s, basic leotards for the 80s, and baggy jeans for the 90s. The trick is simply knowing how to layer them correctly and using the pattern tool effectively.
How do I make my retro outfit stand out?
Stop using the polka dot pattern! The easiest way to stand out is to pick a completely different decade than the 1950s. Try doing a 90s grunge look or a 70s roller disco look. Creativity almost always beats expensive VIP items in this game.
Is the retro theme good for beginners?
It can be tricky because it requires you to actually know a little bit about fashion history. But if you memorize the four basic outfit ideas in this guide, it actually becomes one of the easiest themes to win!
What hair and makeup work best for retro outfits?
It completely depends on the decade! The golden rule is the 50s need red lipstick, 70s need feathered hair, 80s need blue eyeshadow and massive curls, and 90s need messy hair and dark lipstick.
Can I mix two decades into one outfit?
Absolutely not! This is a massive mistake. If you wear 70s flared pants with 80s neon leg warmers and a 50s headband, the judges will just get super confused. Pick one specific decade and stick to it from head to toe.
