Fashion trends in the 1960s swung wildly from one end of the spectrum to the other.
The early 1960s were marked by box dresses and 1950s fashions. In the mid-1960s, fashion began to take cues from London and the waistline reappeared. But the late sixties had a mind of their own!
There were so many trends that emerged strongly in 60’s which has an influence on us even today!
High fashion
American fashions in the early years of the decade reflected the elegance of the First Lady, Jaqueline kennedy. In addition to tailored skirts, women wore stilletto heelshoes and suits with short boxy jackets, and oversized buttons. Simple, geometric dresses, known as shifts, were also in style. For evening wear, full-skirted evening gowns were worn; these often had a low decolletage and close-fitting waists. For casual wear, capri trouserswere the fashion for women and girls.
The rise of trousers for women
The early 1960s gave birth to drapeline jeans and capri pants. Traditionally, trousers had been viewed by western society as masculine, but by the early 1960s, it had become acceptable for women to wear them everyday.
Space Age fashions
It was heavily influenced by the Space Race of the Cold War , in addition to popular films and television series Science fiction, paper bags , such as Star Trek , Dan Dare or Lost In Space.
The synthetic fabrics of the 1960s allowed space age fashion designers to design garments with bold shapes and a plastic texture.
The French designer André Courrèges was particularly influential in the development of space age fashion. The “space look” he introduced in the spring of 1964 included trouser suits, goggles, box-shaped dresses with high skirts, and go-go boots. Go-go boots eventually became a staple of go-go girl fashion in the sixties.Other influential space age designers include Pierre Cardin and Paco Rabanne.
A timeless fashion piece : Miniskirt
Mary Quant is credited with introducing the miniskirt in 1964, miniskirt changed fashion forever.Mary Quant and André Courrèges both contributed to the invention of miniskirt during the 1960s. Mary Quant, A British designer, was one of the pioneers of the miniskirt during 1960.Miniskirts became popular in London and Paris and the term “ Chelsea Look” was coined.
The Mods (short for Modernists) adopted new fads that would be imitated by many young people.
Women had short, clean haircuts and often dressed in similar styles to the male Mods.The look of the Mods was classy.
Shirts were slim, with a necessary button down collar accompanied by slim fitted pants. Levi’s were the only type of jeans worn by Modernists. Mod girls wore very very short miniskirts, tall, brightly colored go-go boots, monochromatic geometric print patterns such as houndstooth, and tight fitted, sleeveless tunics. Flared trousers and bell bottoms appeared in 1964 as an alternative to capri pants, and led the way to the hippie period introduced in the 1960s.
Starting in 1967, youth culture began to change musically and Mod culture shifted to a more laid back hippie or Bohemian style. Hosiery manufacturers of the time like Mary Quant (who founded Pamela Mann Legwear) combined the “Flower Power” style of dress and the Pop Art school of design to create fashion tights that would appeal to a female audience that enjoyed psycedelia.
The hippie subculture
Ponchos, moccasins, love beads, peace signs, medallion necklaces, chain belts, polka dot-printed fabrics, and long, puffed “bubble” sleeves were popular fashions in the late 1960s. Both men and women wore frayed bell-bottomed jeans, tie-dyed shirts, work shirts, Jesus sandals, and headbands. Women would often go barefoot and some went braless.Women’s shirts often had transparent sleeves. Psychedelic prints, hemp and the look of “Woodstock” emerged during this era.
Looks of the sixties -
