1960s Fashion History
During the 1960s, women's fashion completely evolved. The traditional styles of the 1950s were replaced by more daring and expressive designs. Mini skirts, shift dresses, and psychedelic prints were all the rage during this period. Moreover, women started experimenting with accessories like pillbox hats and go-go boots. The hippie movement also had a major impact on fashion, emphasizing natural fabrics, bright colors, and loose-fitting clothing. Women's fashion during the 1960s represented a time of liberation and self-expression that still influences fashion today.
1960s Clothing Style
Mod Style
In the 1960s, the mod look was a fashion trend that showcased youthfulness and rebellion through a mix of different fashion elements. This included short skirts, loosely-fitted dresses with bold patterns, small hats, tall boots, and brightly colored stockings. Models like Twiggy and Jean Shrimpton made the style famous, and it was commonly seen on London streets. The Mod style allowed the younger generation to express their individuality and stand out from the rest.
Bohemian Style
In the 1960s, the bohemian style became widespread. This style featured long flowy skirts. Peasant blouses with intricate embroidery, detailed tunics, and beaded coats were seen everywhere. To complete the look, people added accessories like headscarves, large hoop earrings, and chunky jewelry such as necklaces and bracelets. Celebrities like Jane Birkin and Brigitte Bardot often wore this style. The bohemian style represents freedom and independence, still widely showcased to this day.
Hippie Style
During the 1960s, the hippie style was a fashionable trend that allowed individuals to express their uniqueness and liberation through clothing. This style typically included bell-bottom jeans, tie-dye shirts, fringed vests, and accessories like peace sign necklaces, bandanas, and round sunglasses. Celebrities like Janis Joplin and Jimi Hendrix often sported this style, especially at music festivals. The hippie style was a creative way for people to express themselves by pairing bright colors, unique patterns, and accessories.
1960s Fashions
Shift Dresses
During the 1960s, shift dresses were incredibly trendy. They were often sleeveless, had a straight cut, with a high neckline, and paired with a waist-cinching belt. Shift dresses were adorned with bold patterns, bright colors, and psychedelic prints, making them popular for formal and casual occasions. Celebrities like Twiggy and Audrey Hepburn also favored shift dresses, often pairing them with pillbox hats and mini skirts for a classic 1960s look.
Mini Skirts
During the 1960s, the mini-skirt emerged as a groundbreaking fashion trend. They featured a short skirt that typically ended just above the knee and was often paired with a tight-fitting top. It was a daring and bold fashion statement that allowed women to showcase their independence and style. Additionally, the mini skirt served as a powerful symbol of the feminist movement, enabling women to embrace their femininity unlike ever before.
Bell Bottom Jeans
Bell bottom jeans are known for their wide legs that flare from the knee. They are typically made from denim and paired with a snug top. These jeans symbolized the hippie movement, representing the expression of individuality among young people. Rock stars and celebrities were also fond of bell-bottom jeans, often pairing them with psychedelic print shirts or vests. Bell-bottom jeans were a significant part of the 1960s, and they remain a fashionable choice even today.
1960s Accessories
Hair Accessories
During their heyday, pillbox hats were a sought-after accessory for women due to their versatility. These hats were small enough to complement any outfit and could be made from felt or straw, then adorned with feathers, flowers, or other decorative elements. Women also frequently opted for headbands, commonly crafted from velvet or satin and embellished with beads or sequins, topping off the iconic 1960s look.
Jewelry
In the 1960s, chunky plastic, wooden beads, and large hoop earrings were extremely popular. You would typically see long necklaces with pendants and charm bracelets. Brooches were the rave and were often made of metal or plastic and decorated with rhinestones or other embellishments. You can still find all these accessories prevalent today in modern or vintage-inspired fashion.
1960s Hair Styles
During the 1960s, women were experimental with their hair, trying out different styles, lengths, and colors. Some popular hairstyles during this time included the beehive, bob, and pixie cut. Additionally, more women began embracing natural styles like the Afro, which symbolized the civil rights movement and individuality. Women also started accessorizing their hair with brightly colored plastic or fabric headbands, barrettes, and bows.
1960s Fashion Icons
The 1960s saw the emergence of several fashion icons, such as Twiggy, Jackie Kennedy, Edie Sedgwick, and Janis Joplin.
Twiggy
During the 1960s, Twiggy emerged as a highly influential fashion icon. She introduced the mini skirt, a short skirt that ended above the knee, and popularized the mod look, which involved bright colors, geometric patterns, and short hemlines. Her unique style was widely imitated by young women of the time, and she became a symbol of youth and rebellion. In fact, Twiggy's impact on the fashion industry was so significant that she graced the cover of Time magazine in 1967.
Jackie Kennedy
Jackie Kennedy was famous for her elegant fashion sense comprising pillbox hats, shift dresses, and tailored suits. She also loved vibrant colors and psychedelic prints. Her style was considered refined and everlasting, and she frequently appeared in photographs wearing her distinctive attire. Her impact on the fashion industry was so significant that she graced the Vogue magazine cover in 1962.
Edie Sedgwick
In the 1960s, Edie Sedgwick became a fashion icon famous for her daring androgynous style. She was known for wearing mini skirts, oversized sweaters, bold colors, and her love for bold makeup and accessories. Her signature look was often captured in photos, and her influence on fashion was so significant that she appeared on the cover of Vogue magazine in 1965. She was even referred to as the "Queen of the Scene" and had a major impact on the hippie fashion style of the late 1960s.
The fashion scene of the 1960s was thrilling, marked by the emergence of bold styles and trends like the mini-skirt, psychedelic prints, chunky accessories, and more. Fashion was reborn into a daring and expressive style. Today's modern fashion takes inspiration from the 1960s, and you can find the same trends being worn everywhere.
