Fashion: She's so mod

Photo / Greg Bowker

Neo-mod looks give a nostalgic spin on modern-day minimalism.

London's Carnaby St and King's Rd mod looks from the 1960s return this season, with a focus on the streamlined aspects of that subculture. While last season's 60s fixation zeroed in on the busy op-art prints of that era, the focus now is on cleancut tailoring and sensible heels, with a Bauhaus-inspired colour palette - with a slight nod to that other 60s tribe, the norm-core of that era, the Beatniks.

It's an understated look but very much about piecing together separates that have a sense of nostalgia. That A-line miniskirt, classic trench, and lightweight knit polo top, for example, are as relevant today as they were more than 45 years ago.

While skirt lengths remain a contentious issue (is it really all just about the mid-length?) the miniskirt returns to the fore. Ruby's "Cabazon" miniskirt (#6) in grey is a key piece that references those progressively short skirts made famous by Mary Quant in the mid-60s.

A-line miniskirts and mid-lengths are on-trend now and are likely to still be around next season.

For his debut collection for Louis Vuitton earlier in February, artistic director Nicholas Ghesquiere focused on an A-line shape within a collection that touched on retro futurism and 60s mod.

That A-line shape has continued throughout Ghesquiere's collection for his third collection for spring 2015, showcased at Paris Fashion Week last month, spearheading a cluster of designers who focused on the late-60s (Carven) and the 70s (Vuitton, Saint Laurent) for yet another trip down memory lane.

Photos / Greg Bowker

1 Kate Sylvester jacket, $595, and skirt, $345. Rollas jumper, $100, and T-shirt, $69.90. Lewis Fredericks sunglasses, $435. Kagi rose gold pendant, $159. Mi Piaci sandals, $230.

2 Gorman knit top, $149, and miniskirt, $319. Deborah Sweeney trench coat, $795. Mi Piaci mules, $250. Hoops, $20, from The Third Eye. Louis Vuitton Doc BB Malletage Noir handbag, $5600.

3 Pardon My French dress, $395. Mi Piaci mules, $250, and handbag, $390. Wooden cuff, $22, from The Third Eye.

Photos / Greg Bowker

4 Gregory dress, $349. Mimco sling-back flats, $299. Earring, $8, and bracelet, $12, from The Third Eye.

5 Sills shirt, $269. X-plain trench coat, $295. Juliette Hogan leather skirt, $599. Laura Bellariva heels, $490, from Runway.

6 Sylvester top, $195 and Kate Sylvester heels, $595. Ruby skirt, $199. Kagi rose gold pendant, $159, and rose gold bracelet, $159. Louis Vuitton Alma BB Malletage handbag, $5600.

Stockists

• Deborah Sweeney
• Gregory
• Gorman (09) 529 2279
• Juliette Hogan
• Kagi
• Kate Sylvester
• Lewis Fredericks
• Louis Vuitton 0800 586 966
• Mimco (09) 361 5071
• Mi Piaci
• Pardon My French
• Rollas
• Ruby
• Runway (09) 522 0808
• Sills
• Sylvester
• The Third Eye
• X-Plain (09) 524 0287