Nostalgia: So Pretty Much Everything You Already Had In Your Closet

Remember your first car? The old clunker you bought from the old guy down the street? It could barely get to 60 and when it finally got there it shook like a leaf, but you sure were proud of that thing. Or how about your first kiss? The combination of awkward and awful made the whole experience something that you would never forget.

Nostalgic moments that you look back on and smile about. Moments that happen in your youth, back in the days when you didn’t have to worry about your tuition payment, graduating with your pre-med degree, paying back your student loan, paying your mortgage on time. Back when things were simple, when your life was carefree.

Fashion remembers those moments too, harking back to times when life was simpler and let’s face it; when the economy wasn’t so awful.

This year, high fashion houses like Prada, Miu Miu and D&G are embracing the drama of the 40’s, the romance of the 60’s and the fun-loving carefree festival days of the 70’s.

Fashion is repeating itself, but with more contemporary and modern spins on classics that you could keep in your closet for years to come. High fashion is focusing on investment pieces for the 2011 fall/autumn season because you probably already have something like it what’s walking down the catwalk in a box somewhere in your attic, it just needs to be updated.

Brands like Ralph Lauren and Tommy Hilfiger have trademarked preppy nostalgia throughout the entire history of their brand, making it a hallmark style that has carried these influential designers throughout each different fashion era. Yet, because preppy nostalgia is simply so classic, it becomes less nostalgic and more timeless. I don’t know about you, but when I think of Tommy Hilfiger, I think about my first pair of designer running shoes. When I think about Ralph Lauren I think about the first polo that I ever bought that was more expensive than the rest of my outfit.

Only warm and fuzzy thoughts over here.

Whether it’s “preppy nostalgia” or simply plain old nostalgia. Nostalgia that reminds you of your old car or nostalgia that let’s you wear your old bell-bottoms and the bohemian style wrap dress that you wore on your way to Woodstock, fashion is trying to remind you of more carefree times.

Missoni is trying to get you back into your flared trousers and Roberto Cavalli wants you to put those old boho crochet cardigans back on, because fashion is getting ready to embrace your previous youthful, carefree lifestyle.