Fashion is not something that exists in dresses only. Fashion is in the sky, in the street, fashion has to do with ideas, the way we live, what is happening. -- Coco Chanel1960s' fashion is used till today, as this decade was marked as the time when there were major social changes, and was dominated solely by the youth. These were the years after the World Wars, when the baby boomers were the youth, and demanded to have their own fashion styles, and set trends their way. Because of the huge fashion saga, designers in the 1960s too responded more liberally, and had a daring approach to styling, which showed in their designing ways.
Fashion in the '60s', due to this change, consisted of colorful fabrics and bold designs that eradicated the formal way of dressing. This transformation was a warning to the earlier eras, that the youth of the '60s would not be dominated by traditional obligations of what had to be worn, when, and by whom. Given below is a short description of these clothes which changed the way people thought, and merged the division between 'casual' and 'formal'.
The 1960s' Women Wore...
Hippie Clothing
Mini Dress
Loose-fitting Shirt
Knee-length Skirt
Accessories
Capri
Fashion, in this era, underwent many changes in clothes for women. Along with color changes to styles, to hairdos, to footwear, everything was different. The gowns made way for mini as well as long skirts and close-fitting dresses. The hippies believed in dressing only for necessity and not luxury. They wore bell-bottomed jeans, long skirts, loose-fitting or tie-dyed shirts, sandals, and headbands. Capri pants and tight narrow denims were also a big hit.
In the early '60s, the elegance of these clothes was flaunted by the First Lady, Jacqueline Kennedy. Women wore suits with short boxy jackets and over-sized buttons. Women also showed off their sexy toned bodies with A-line mini dresses with sleeveless patterns, and wore them with knee-length boots, swanky goggles, and beaded accessories. Cocktail dresses, stilettos, and go-go boots, were also very popular. Polo neck tops, square-toed boots, and berets were also gaining momentum in popularity.
Colorful frills, leather boots, collarless jackets, comfortable slacks, and many more were the designs of the day for these budding youngsters with an attitude to change the world. Sequins and shiny fabrics also became popular by the middle of this decade, and were accompanied with leather hand bags and pump-heeled shoes. Transparent and netted clothes were flaunted by celebrities, and was aped by the common people. Animal print on mini skirts, the fashion elements of this era will definitely inspire you to add some new twist to your current wardrobe. So go ahead, add these elements and have fun experimenting with the 1960s kind of fashion.
The 1960s' Men Wore...
Pleated Trousers
Big-collared Shirt
Checked Blazer
Beret
Headband and Jacket
Hippie Attire
With this revolution, there were some serious transformations in the designs and patterns of men's clothing. One such pattern in the shirts was the buffalo plaids, which were popular with the hippies as well as regulars, along with the lumberjacks. Another form of shirts in this time was shirts with psychedelic prints and high-collared Regency jackets. The 'hipster' pants that were to be worn below the belly button also came into fashion in the '60s, that is modified and seen even today.
Other fashion styles for men consisted of a variety of collars. These collars were designed taking global inspirations of those times, and merged in with western outfits. Some very famous collar styles were the turtle necks, which gave 1960s' fashion international recognition, and were mainly paired with checked and striped blazers and vests. The Nehru jacket also gained popularity, which was inspired by the Indian Prime Minister - Jawaharlal Nehru, and was a favorite among 'The Beatles' and other '60s' celebrities. Men accessorized their look with swanky watches, retro sunglasses, funky bandannas, and were seen riding the famous mod-style Lambretta scooters.
Print (Men)
Print (Women)
If it wasn't for these young men and women with a difference, the fashion industry would never have flourished, as much as it has today! The '60s bold and fascinating fashion style is the main reason why today's fashion designers are able to design functional as well as esthetically appealing clothes.
