Jennifer Garner goes romantic retro with a 50s look in Valentine's Day

Red, white and blue are the key to this classic American outfit.

Last February, those of us looking for a little Valentine’s Day love at the movies headed out to see He’s Just Not That Into You, a romantic comedy that’s practically a who’s who of Hollywood with gorgeous gals like Jennifer Aniston, Scarlett Johansson and Drew Barrymore and handsome hotties like Bradley Cooper. And this year Tinseltown has followed up with Valentine’s Day, a new ensemble rom-com with more familiar faces than HJNTIY and packed with even more lust-have fashions.

Valentine’s Day is described as a day in the life of love, and we definitely think we felt Cupid’s arrow strike with this cute and kitschy outfit as seen on Jennifer Garner’s primary school teacher, Julia Fitzpatrick. Like her fellow fictional school teachers like Julia in Brothers and Sisters and Emma in Glee, Julia is one seriously stylish tutor and this flair for fashion thrives whether off the clock with boyfriend, Dr Harrison Copeland (Grey’s Anatomy’s Patrick Dempsey on medical duty again) or on the job. And as workplace outfits go, this one is a vintage Valentine’s Day treat.

So much of this look harks back to the 50s, an era defined by flattering feminine dressing as women discarded the practical and unpretty utilitarian wear of the war years and re-connected with their inner glamour goddesses. Waists were neatly cinched in, circle skirts flared to flash a little leg and heels got very high creating an hour-glass figure made so famous and unforgettable by screen sirens like Marilyn Monroe.

This was a time of hope and optimism after the grey years of World War II and so colour was back, rock n roll was booming with the ‘birth of the teenager’ and this youthful buzz and energy shined through with bold and striking prints and patterns, adding up to an injection of fun and personality that’s on show in this spirited style.

Knitwear was a huge trend of the 50s, worn clingy and tight to the figure by the likes of Lana Turner and Jane Russell, however this cardigan, ‘Karen’ from the Marc by Marc Jacobs collection, taps into the trend while adding some cute innocence to make it more chic than cheap. And this balance between old and new is given further twists with the styling; the polka dot print and the red and white colour combination is quintessentially 50s, yet worked with a deep V-neck, white trim and short sleeves it captures a modern edge.

In-keeping with this, Julia’s nails, both finger and toe, are also painted a shocking scarlet and this red, along with the cardigan’s white, is brought into sharp contrast with the vibrant navy blue of the simple flared A-line combining to bring a full-on Americana attitude. Julia’s jewellery and shoes know not to compete with these primary colours and so the sling back peep-toe wedges keep things neutral in a discreet and subtle nude/ beige shade (in a glam glossy patent) and the jewellery is delicate and fine rather than chunky and heavy.

We particularly love the apple disc necklace which is deliciously ripe for summer (although Julia swaps this for a more Valentine’s Day appropriate heart necklace later in the evening) and the look is given its finishing touch by the handbag. Also courtesy of New York fashion designer Marc Jacobs, his Jacobs Hillier Hobo style to be precise, the sleek and smart bag manages to look amazing while proving roomy enough for day-to-day practical use – just perfect for this retro-inspired glam look.