Retro chic: polish up your act with timeless, figure-embracing pieces

Shape, Nov, 2008

Ruching lends drama to a Le Chateau polyester-blend dress ($100; lechateau.com for stores).

Nothing says refinement like suede gloves from Club Monaco ($89; club monaco.com for stores).

Carry the day with a Chinese Laundry Handbags clutch ($45; chineselaundrybags.com)

Give your wrist some old-world glitz with a bejeweled leather watch from Avon ($30; avon.com)

Go a teeny bit wild in a skinny patent leather belt from J. Crew ($48; jcrew.com).

Channel your inner fifties screen siren in a Bebe dress ($129; bebe.com).

A Banana Republic cabochon ring ($39; banana republic.com) has jet-set appeal.

Black patent leather heels, like these XOXO pumps ($70; xoxo.com), are perpetually on point.