The touches of the fifties and sixties on the modern world of fashion

Fashion keeps borrowing looks from the 1950s and 1960s and old cuts, colours and labels now fill shop rails again. The spirit of those two eras mixes with today's needs - clothes feel familiar yet work for modern life.

The low kitten heel from the fifties has reappeared. It gives height without pain, fits jeans as well as office trousers plus adds polish without slowing the wearer down.

The miniskirt, pushed back into view by Paris Hilton besides Britney Spears at the start of the millennium, sells fast again. Young shoppers wear it with baggy shirts or thick soled trainers to show a cheeky, care free mood.

The fit-and-flare dress, a 1950s favourite, hugs the waist and skims the hips - it flatters most shapes. New versions use soft cloth, bright prints and hidden pockets keeping the old charm while meeting present day taste.

While hemlines rise on miniskirts, the midi but also the knee length skirt also return. Those longer cuts echo the quiet grace of the 1950s and 1960s. Fresh tailoring and breathable cloth give them a refined look that lasts longer than one season fads.

Cat-eye sunglasses, first worn by Marilyn Monroe, sit on new faces once more. The outer corners still sweep upward - yet frames now come in clear acetate, matte metal or pastel shades - the shape feels current rather than costume.

The pencil skirt, once the uniform of secretaries and starlets, returns to both boardrooms as well as brunch tables. Added stretch in the weave lets the wearer walk and sit with ease, while the narrow line keeps its signature sleek shape.

The A-line dress and skirt flare from the waist or skim the knees, a cut that hides or highlights as needed. Shops stock it in denim, linen, wool or satin and in mini, midi or maxi lengths - it answers almost any daily dress code.