Have you ever wished your mother had passed one of her fabulous vintage cocktail dresses down to you instead of giving it away? If so, turn to Repro-Retro owner Patricia Tomlinson. An art and fashion historian with a passion for 1950s and early 1960s style—think Christian Dior’s iconic “New Look,” costume designer Edith Head’s work for Hollywood films, and early seasons of Mad Men—Tomlinson designs reproductions of retro clothing (Repro-Retro, get it now?). It's a response to what she considers a “lack of elegance and magic in today’s world.” 

Her creations offer modern gals a classic mid-century look without the problems that normally arise when buying vintage pieces: faded, torn, or stained fabric, and confusing sizes (a size 4 today would have been a size 12 or 14 in the 1950s). In homage to designs worn by Audrey Hepburn, Grace Kelly, and Lana Turner, Tomlinson’s current lineup of cocktail dress styles are named after these fashion icons and are cut to flatter a variety of figures (sizes generally range from 0-16; Tomlinson will also make custom dresses).

Bonus: Although Tomlinson source her fabrics from Chicago and New York City’s Garment District, her entire collection is patterned, cut, and sewn right here in Colorado. 

Pictured: The Grace (above left), $569; The Lana (above right), $717; The Audrey (bottom left), $345