That’s a wrap on another year of Retro Stage! This May, we’re celebrating eight incredible years of vintage fashion inspired by the greatest trends and breakthroughs of the 20th century. Our longtime goal has been to keep the classics alive and well through lovingly crafted clothing collections combining retro motifs and modern attitudes, and thanks to the ongoing support of fashionistas like you, we’ve been able to go above and beyond that goal for nearly a decade.

We’ve come so far since our founding in 2017, but what’s even more amazing to us is just how far we’ve come in the past year alone. Our catalog is bigger and better than ever, and we’ve been able to connect with fans from all over the world through the art of vintage fashion. To commemorate all that you’ve helped us accomplish and to truly thank you for your contributions to this community, we’d like to invite you on a trip down memory lane with us as we recap our progress from 2024 to today.

A Year in Review

May: We kicked off year eight by helping you celebrate Mother’s Day with retro outfits both you and your mom could rock proudly. Not long after that, we explored the possibilities for vintage bridesmaid dresses, going through dozens of springtime looks and picking out the most elegant, sunshine-ready gowns to get you ready for wedding season.

June: As spring gave way to summer, it was time to give you a sneak peek at our annual summer sale! This is one of our favorite times of year because it’s the perfect way to show off all our favorite swimwear in addition to our classic sundresses and breezy rompers.

July–August: Summer can’t last forever, though, and before we knew it, it was time to plan for back-to-school season with our homecoming dress picks. This was quickly followed up by the resurgence of fall fashion, when preppy plaids and cozy sweaters came back into our wardrobe rotations.

September–December: At the end of the day, fashion is all about having fun, which is why our fall and winter releases just had to include spooky and spellbinding pieces inspired by Beetlejuice and Wicked! These films’ unique aesthetics really resonated with us, and we had a blast translating them into fabulous vintage wear.

Of course, we could never go into winter without talking about the season’s main event, so we did our part to help you brainstorm fun, fantastical Christmas outfits with our retro garments and accessories!

February: We went full steam ahead into 2025 with a girl power attitude, so in February, office chic and the beloved Barbie collection were our top features. As always, we wanted to remind you retro style lovers that you can express yourself through your retro taste no matter the occasion!

May:  Finally, in the lead-up to our latest and greatest milestone, we took a deep dive into the history of vintage swimwear, starting in the minimalist, dignified 1930s and ending in the anything-goes ‘80s! This testament to fashion evolution came just in time for the weather to start warming up—are you ready to hit the beach?

Spotlight Decades

The glamorous, sophisticated 1930s make up our first spotlight decade from this past year, with innovations like bias-cut fabric draping making a huge splash in the fashion world. You showed us your love for classic elegance by flocking to smart daywear pieces like the Black 1930s Dots Tie-Neck Mermaid Dress, Black 1930s Solid Mesh Bow Jumpsuit, and Beige 1930s Polka-Dot Mermaid Dress.

But of course, Old Hollywood is always where it’s at when it comes to 1930s fashion.  Showstopping standouts from this year included the 1930s Vintage Sequin Strapless Dress, the Deep Red 1930s Glitter Cowl-Neck Mermaid Dress, and the 1930s Deep V-Neck Mesh Sequined Maxi Dress—you ladies were really rocking that red carpet!

And it didn’t end there! You were repping the ‘30s from the bedroom all the way to the beach with favorites like the 1930s Embroidered Faux Satin Strap Nightgown, Light Green 1930s Plaid Halter One-Piece Swimsuit, and Brown 1930s Leopard V-Neck Halter Swimsuit.

The 1940s may have been a difficult time for many, but they also marked an evolution in women’s swimwear that you guys were huge fans of this year! Modest one-pieces like the Pink 1940s Halter Polka-Dot Bowknot One-Piece Swimsuit and Red 1940s Halter Patchwork One-Piece Swimsuit made a huge splash right alongside the more daring Green 1940s Striped Halter Swimsuit Set and 1940s Striped Colorblock Vintage Bikini Set.

The ‘40s also put the shirtwaist dress on the map, and our unconventional take on this iconic style, the Red 1940s Floral V-Neck Added Button Dress, was among this past year’s bestsellers.

While the 1950s have always been one of our most popular eras, this year, you guys went above and beyond with showing your love for classic mid-century styles. Our longtime favorite Green 1950s Retro Halter Striped Bikini Set was joined at the top of the charts by sweet and sexy vintage sleepwear like the 1950s Spaghetti Strap Lace Sheer Nightdress, the Pink 1950s Square Collar Ribbon Pajamas, and the Pink 1950s Cherry Lace Spaghetti Strap Sleepwear.

The world of swimsuits experienced a fun little upset, too! You’ve known and loved the 1950s Lace Strawberry Cami Tankini Set and Gingham 1950s Halter Bowknot One-Piece Swimsuit for a long time now, but this year, the Blue 1950s Ink Floral One-Piece Swimsuit made waves as a new arrival and quickly took a spot on the bestsellers list.

But where would we be without the staple swing dresses that helped put Retro Stage on the map? You all showed your love for a wide range of patterns throughout the year, from the subdued, sophisticated Pink 1950s Rose Floral Swing Dress and 1950s Off-Shoulder Swing Dress to the vibrant Heart 1950s Mesh Sling Dress and Red 1950s Polka-Dot Halter Dress.

In particular, you showed a fondness for ‘50s-style dresses that are lightweight and easy to wear, from statement pieces like the Green 1950s Off-Shoulder Vintage Dress and Red 1950s Strawberry Ruffle Belt Dress to low-maintenance daytime dresses like the Black 1950s Solid Lace Gothic Dress and Sky Blue 1950s Strap Polka-Dot Swing Dress. And as we head into summer, it’s the perfect time for these breezy swing skirts to come out of your closet!

Lastly, we’re highlighting the rebellion-fueled 1960s, when youth movements brought shorter skirts and brighter colors to the forefront of fashion. This period of free-for-all style inspired you to snatch up bold monochrome pieces like the Black 1960s Contrasting Heart Knit Dress and Black 1960s Vertical Stripes Strap Pencil Dress, as well as more outside-the-box looks, including the Black 1960s Leopard Plush V-Neck Pencil Dress and the ultra-mod Orange & Blue 1960s Floral Stand Collar Dress.

This was also the age of high-class dinner parties and the sultry tailored dresses that went with them. Curve-hugging dresses like the Black 1960s Solid Pearl Buttons Suspender Dress and Ivory 1960s Cap Sleeve Slim Pleated Dress lived rent-free in your heads this year, and so did the iconic pencil silhouette in the form of the Red 1960s Lace Long-Sleeve Patchwork Dress and Rose Red 1960s Satin Solid Pencil Dress.

All in all, you ladies were ready to throw a cocktail party any day of the week, sporting simple yet elegant little numbers such as the 1960s Solid Velvet V-Neck Strap Dress and the Black 1960s Solid Velvet Bow Dress. But this is the ‘60s we’re talking about—of course pops of color had their share of the spotlight! The Green 1960s Oil Painting Rose Dress and Black 1960s Halter Sunflower Pencil Dress were some of the most popular among all the colorful picks you all were adding to your collection over the past 12 months.

What we’ve always loved about the ‘60s is how diverse the styles can be, and you’ve shown us that you feel the same way! Whether it’s a preppy two-piece set like the 2-Piece Blue 1960s Belt Top & Back Split Pencil Skirt, a forward-thinking bathing suit like the 2-Piece Red 1960s Rose Halter Swimsuit & Skirt Cover-Up, or a flattering nightlife gown like the Red 1960s Solid Halter Bodycon Dress or 1960s Off-Shoulder Leopard Print Dress, your purchases have proven that your hearts are in the Swinging Sixties.

Looking Ahead

We’re so grateful to have shared these past eight years with you, and we’re even more excited for you to see what the future holds at Retro Stage. Whether you’re a longtime fan or a brand-new customer delving into vintage fashion for the first time, we’re here to show you what the 20th century really has to offer with our ever-evolving catalog of pieces inspired by iconic retro aesthetics. As always, thank you so much for your support!

You can check out our dedicated 8th Anniversary page today to shop all the items featured here plus so much more!