The 1960s was a decade of sweeping change throughout the fashion world generating

ideas and images which still appear modern today. Whereas fashion had previously been
aimed at a wealthy, mature elite, the tastes and preferences of young people now became
important. At the beginning of the decade, the market was dominated by Parisian
designers of expensive haute couture garments. Yet the shape of clothes was soon
transformed by new ideas emerging from the London pop scene.
In Britain, musical taste and styles of dress were closely linked and it was the mod look
which first popularised the simple geometric shapes typical of the 1960s. Slim fitting,
brightly coloured garments were sold cheaply in boutiques all over 'Swinging London'
and had tremendous influence throughout Europe and the US.
Later in the decade the hippy look, which originated on the West Coast of America,
crossed the Atlantic. This was a time when designers of dress and textiles experimented
with colours, patterns and textures borrowed from non-Western cultures.

Street Style
Young people's income was at its highest since the end of the Second World War,
creating the desire for a wardrobe which did more than simply copy adult dress. The
clothes aimed specifically at young people which Mary Quant had been designing since
the late 1950s became popular. Boutiques, like Quant's Bazaar and Barbara Hulanicki's
Biba provided inexpensively made clothing suited to a busy, urban lifestyle. Instead of
buying outfits designed for specific occasions or times of the day, people preferred
separates which they could combine in different ways.
The miniskirt was the most eye-catching garment of the decade, designed for an ideally
skinny female form. Women wore pale foundation and emphasised their eyes with kohl,
mascara and false eyelashes. Hair was long and straight or worn in a shaped bob or
wedge, as invented by the hairdresser Vidal Sassoon.
Designers of clothes and textiles celebrated modernity. Space-age silver was mixed with
primary coloured prints taken from Pop and Op Art. Novel fashion materials were
introduced, including shiny, wet-look PVC, easy-care acrylics and polyesters.

The Peacock Revolution

Perhaps the most remarkable development in 1960s dress was the dramatic change in
menswear. For the past 150 years, clothing for men had been tailor-made and plain and
dark in appearance. Now, following trends which first appeared in gay fashions, colourful
elements were introduced, such as the collarless jacket, worn with slim-fitting trousers
and boots. During the mid-1960s frills and cravats came back in, together with vividly
printed shirts. Finally, lapels and trousers took on exaggeratedly wide dimensions.
Clothing became increasingly unisex as men and women shopped at the same boutiques
for similar items.

Textiles
Heal's, Hull Traders and Conran Fabrics all bought patterns from young freelance
designers who took their inspiration from contemporary art and graphics like Andy
Warhol's Pop images and the dazzling Op art paintings of Bridget Riley. Brightly
coloured large-scale geometric repeats were favourites for both dress and furnishing
fabrics. Later in the decade, floral patterns were seen everywhere. Victorian decor was
rediscovered and motifs borrowed from Art Nouveau and Art Deco were given a new
lease of life by the addition of psychedelic colours.

Counter culture
During the late 1960s, there was a reaction against the mass production of mod clothing
and pop products which had brought bright new styles into European and American
homes and wardrobes. Some people became disillusioned by this materialistic mood and
turned to Eastern cultures and mythologies which appeared more in tune with the 'natural'
world.
North American influences dominated during the later part of the decade. Journalist Tom
Wolfe's 'The Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test' and the film 'Easy Rider' examined a counter
culture which had its roots in the West Coast of America. The end of the decade saw
worldwide anti-Vietnam War protests. Meanwhile in France, students and workers united
in violent uprisings against De Gaulle's conservative government. A cosmopolitan view
was reflected in fashion by Ossie Clark, Jean Muir, Thea Porter and Zandra Rhodes, all
of whom experimented with non-traditional tailoring and colourful prints, showing an
interest in ethnic garments. Secondhand attire was sought after and even items like
military dress were worn for their decorative qualities.

Music
The 1950s music scene had been dominated by US rock 'n roll, but from the start of the
1960s, bands like the Beatles and the Stones, the Kinks and The Who revitalised British
pop. Musicians often pioneered alternative ways of dressing, as can be seen from
photographs of these bands as they began their careers attired in mod outfits, complete
with straight-combed hairstyles. By the latter part of the decade most had swapped these
for psychedelic gear, facial hair and a growing interest in music from other continents
like India.
Important American musical contributions came from Bob Dylan and West Coast groups
associated with the folk and hippy movements like the Mamas and the Papas, Peter, Paul
and Mary and the Jefferson Airplane. The decade ended with the free festival
'Woodstock' held in a rural part of New York state and headlined by progressive rock
musicians such as Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin and the Grateful Dead.

Celebrities
This was an era when those who wore and photographed clothing for a living could
become famous overnight. Lesley Hornby, known as 'Twiggy', was a sensation at fifteen
years of age when her large eyes, and rake-thin, under-developed figure were hailed as
the most extreme version of the mod look.
David Bailey and Jean Shrimpton transformed the fashion pages of women's magazines
as Bailey snapped Shrimpton in informal poses. Others who photographed top models
included John French, Terence Donovan, Brian Duffy and Ron Traeger. They filled the
pages of 'Vogue' and 'Elle' with images of Celia Hammond, Penelope Tree, Verushka and
Marisa Berenson (the granddaughter of Elsa Schiaparelli). Ideals of beauty became more
inclusive as black models like the Americans Donyale Luna and Naomi Sims starred in
fashion shoots.
he 1960s featured a number of diverse trends. It was a decade that broke many fashion
traditions, mirroring social movements during the period. In the middle of the decade,
culottes, box-shaped PVC dresses and go-go boots were popular. The widely popular
bikini came into fashion in 1963 after being featured in the musical Beach Party.

60s fashion and style

Like pop music, fashion went through a revolution in
the 60s, but for most women little changed in the early
years of the decade. The styles of the late fifties, the
Chanel suit and the full skirt were still popular. By the
middle of the 60s, the mini was in and short hair, in the
geometric style of Vidal Sassoon, was the in look. By
the end of the sixties, the look was long, flowing hair,
hippy beads and kaftans.

For most men in the 60s,

fashion still meant a trip to
Burton, John Collier
(formerly The Fifty
Shilling Taylor), or
Hepworth for the classic
suit.

For younger men though, men's fashion also went through

several transformations in the 60s. In the early years of the
decade suits had changed little from the 50s, but the Italian
look quickly took off: narrow trousers, narrow lapels
and a thin tie. For the very fashionable, flares were in, lapels on jackets were wider and
the kipper tie was hip by the end of the decade.

Full employment and a school leaving age of fifteen meant that teenagers had plenty of
money to spend. They spent it on music, clothes, scooters or motorbikes. They were often
married by their early twenties, so this period of freedom was short lived. The short term
nature of the 'teenage' period meant fashions and styles quickly changed. There were
several youth cults in the sixties, each quickly succeeding the other. First the Rockers
with their leather jackets and motorbikes, then the ultra stylish Mods, who clashed with
the Rockers at seaside resorts. Then the Hippy look, based on a growing drug culture and
finally the Skinheads.

See also:

Early 60s
In the first half of the 60s, for women's fashion, the look
of the late fifties remained. It was all about the glamour of
American movies. By 1963, when this photograph, right,
was taken, the wide skirts of the 50s had disappeared, but
the look was still formal. The two girls in this picture look
very grown up. The look was adult and glamorous, there
was no real attempt to look that different from the older
generation. This style can be seen in films such as
'Saturday Night and Sunday Morning' (1960).

The young man in this picture is in Mod gear: a smart suit

with narrow lapels and tapered trousers, a slim tie and
winklepickers. Fashion was very regional in the 60s. Styles adopted in the Capital took
some time to reach the whole country. In the film 'Kes' (1969), about Billy, a boy
growing up in Barnsley in Yorkshire, his older brother, Jud, still wears this style, right
down to the winklepickers. In the early sixties, in some towns, the Teddy Boy style was
still in vogue, whereas in London the Mod movement was beginning.

Detail: Winklepickers

Winklepickers (also known as winkle pickers) were sharp shoes, quite

literally, with a pointed toe. Winkle pickers were popular mainstream
fashion for young men in the early 60s. The pointed toe was also
fashionable for young ladies' shoes, which were also known as winklepickers.
 The photograph, above, from 1962, shows
a selection of more casual styles. They
range from a sports jacket and tie complete
with hat for the man on the left, to open
necks for the two in the middle. The hat
was on its way out in the sixties and was
mainly worn by older men.

Slim fitting trousers were also popular casual wear

for women in the early sixties. This shot, right, is
also from 1962.

For most men over thirty the smart suit remained

the only way to dress for going out. Many went to
tailors, such as Burton or John Collier to be fitted
out at least one a year. Burton's suits were good
value for money and lasted reasonably well.

See also 60s mens suit

Mid 60s fashion

By the middle of the decade little had
changed in women's fashion. The Chanel suit, left,
a hangover from the 50s was still very popular in
the 60s. Hemlines might have been slightly
higher. The bouffant hairdo (as worn right) dated
from the middle years of the sixties. It needed a
considerable amount of back combing and hair
lacquer.

The smart suit and fairly formal look remained

popular, certainly for women over thirty.
Hair styles

Below are some more popular hairstyles from the 60s. The flip was a classic 60s look that
remained 'in' for most of the decade. The beehive was popular in the early to mid 60s;
this girl has a typical 'Audrey Hepburn look'. The pixie was a short hairstyle, which was
popular in the mid 60s, before long hair came back in the hippy era.

Flip

Pixie

Beehive

More

fashion from the mid 60s

A more casual look was creeping into fashion for younger women. Calf length boots
were becoming popular. This long leather jacket, right, is quite unusual, but in the spirit
of the more fashionable, art school types. The young woman with short hair, left, looks
like she might have had a part in 'The Avengers'.
 The mini skirt
The mini skirt was the fashion phenomenon of the sixties. Hemlines
rose to 7 to 8 inches above the knee. There is some debate over who
invented the mini. Mary Quant's boutique, Bazaar, on the King's
Road, Chelsea was one of the first places that sold them in 1965.
French fashion designer, Andr Courrges, also added mini skirts to
his fashion collection in 1965.

The mini skirt slowly caught on

throughout the country in the years
following 1965. Most women took a
couple of years to accept the new
look. For the mini to work, the old
fashioned underwear and stockings of
the fifties had to go. Women now
wore tights, or panty-hose. A new
male fantasy ousted an age old one!

London in the mid sixties was awash

with boutiques with names like
Countdown, Blast Off, Top Gear, Change Down, Glad Rags, Clobber,
Quorum, Ad Hoc, Palisades, Barricades etc all in the wake of Mary Quant's
original. There a girl could get the latest fashion, which according to 'The
London Spy (a sophisticated guide book) in 1966, was a buttercup-yellow
satin gymslip worn with orange boots!

Most of these boutiques were fairly expensive. A simple shift dress cost around £10 (read
at least £100 in today's money). For those with smaller pockets there were Wallis,
Neatawear and Top Shop. Top Shop's range in the 60s included designs by Mary Quant.
If Swinging London was not to your taste, then Jaeger made sweaters, suits and coats that
lasted forever. Marks and Spencer was known for quality and value, though some of their
dresses and suits were a little too classic. M&S was also considered the best place for
underwear.

This shift dress, left, is typical of the swinging London style of the mid sixties. The bright
colours and geometric patterns epitomise this period. This look lasted into the latter years
of the sixties for those not ready to join the hippy revolution.
 The Mod style
The Mods of the early sixties took the suit to new levels of
style. The tapered trousers and thin lapels of the Italian style,
became a new youth cult in the early to mid sixties. To this
look they added striped blazers, Fred Perry shirts and the
Mod scooter, a Lambretta if possible.

Carnaby Street was their fashion centre. John Stephen had several shops there. His male
boutiques became the equivalent of Mary Quant's Bazaar.

In the mid 60s, the London Mods congregated in Carnaby Street for a regular fashion
parade. Pop music poured from the boutiques and men's shops along the small, narrow
street. By the mid 60s, boutiques catering for girls as well as boys were common on
Carnaby Street; the Mods usually brought their girlfriends along with them. Shops on
Carnaby Street often came and went. Shops that were on Carnaby Street in the 60s
included:

Men's shops/male boutiques:

• John Stephen
• Lord John
• Adam W1
• Tre Camp
• Carna B Hive
• Paul's Male Boutique
• Domino Male

Ladies' boutiques

• Palisades
• Tuffin & Foale

Carnaby Street also had a junk shop called Gear. It sold furniture from the Victorian past
and reminders of the then fashionable Art Nouveaux era. Also on Carnaby Street in 1967
were a couple of old fashioned pubs, a health food shop, a toyshop and Button Queen,
which sold old buttons.

For more on Mods see Mods and Rockers and 60s Mods
Hippy style
Mod fashions were mainstream youth culture by 1965. In 1966 the scene was changing.
In January 1966, Granny Takes a Trip opened at 488 King's Road, London; the wrong
end of the street, known as the the World's End. Granny Takes a Trip was run by Nigel
Waymouth, his girlfriend, Sheila Cohen, a fan of vintage clothes, and former tailor John
Pearse. They decorated the shop with red Art Nouveaux lettering on a black background.
It looked very dark and mysterious. Inside were Aubrey Beardsley prints and blow-ups of
French postcards from the naughty nineties (the 1890s that is).

Granny Takes a Trip marked the end of Mod and

the beginning of Hippy style. The shop sold
clothes for men and women, some vintage, some
new. It also sold floral shirts, jackets with wide
lapels, the opposite of the Mod style, velvet and
brocade flares, and skirts and dresses in velvet and
lace.

Granny's became a Mecca for the pop world. The

Beatles, the Rolling Stones, the Animals and the
Pink Floyd were all customers.

Following on from Granny's, Hung on You had a

shop front painted by pop artist, Michael English.
He choose bold Art Deco inspired lettering in red over bright yellow sun rays on a black
background. It timed in beautifully with the late 60s Art Deco rival which inspired Biba
and films such as 'Bonnie and Clyde'.

Also in 1966, Michael Fish, opened his first shop 'Mr Fish' in Clifford
Street. Michael Fish is credited with the invention of the kipper tie. All
his clothes were labelled 'Peculiar to Mr Fish'.

Bridging Mod and Hippy style was this smart,

double-breasted style, left. This was the the way for
a fashionable young man to look hip without being
scruffy. It was taken up by many of the Mod bands
in the late 60s, often combined with elements of the
Hippy style.

For mainstream youth fashion, everything changed

again in the Summer of 1967. The smart look of the
Mods was replaced with long hair, beads, beards
and kaftans. Flower power was in the air. The look
was psychedelic swirls and paisley patterns. Full on Flower Power was short lived, but its
influence was long lasting.

1969 and after

As the decade ended, hemlines started to drop. The maxi and midi lengths offered women
an alternative to the mini.

Working class youths, unable to join the beautiful people, opted for short cropped hair
and Dr Marten boots. The Skinhead was born.

More about sixties fashion

• 50s fashion
• 70s fashion
• 80s fashion
• 60s fashion pictures

• Mods and Rockers

• 60s Mod fashion
• 60s Skinhead fashion

60s fashion: Reference and further reading

• Revolt into Style: The Pop Arts, by George Melly
• Len Deighton's London Dossier, published 1967 (Penguin)
• The New London Spy by Hunter Davies, published 1966 (Blond)
• The Look: Adventures in Rock and Pop Fashion by Paul Gorman
• The Sixties Source Book: A Visual Reference to the Style of a Generation by
Nigel Cawthorne
• The Sixties Art Scene in London by David Mellor
• Up the Junction (Virago modern classics)

60s fashion on the web

There is quite lot about 60s fashion on the internet. I would highly recommend
www.fashion-era.com. This site has a huge amount of information about fashion from the
60s and other decades. The Wikipedia article about mini skirts,
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miniskirt is also very good.

For hairstyles have a look at www.hairarchives.com. There are number of 60s styles,
including the bouffant, the beehive and some very strange looking unisex haircuts.
You might also like this video. The tone is bit condescending, but fairly typical of
reporting in 60s. It covers most of the late 60s London fashion scene from Granny Takes
a Trip, Hung on You, to Carnaby Street. It asks the question, does London really swing?

A velvet minidress from 1965

The Beatles exerted a major influence on young men's fashions and hairstyles in the
1960s.

Mary Quant invented the mini-skirt, and Jackie Kennedy introduced the pillbox hat,[1]
both becoming extremely popular. False eyelshes were worn by women throughout the
1960s, and their hairstyles were a variety of lengths and styles.[2] While focusing on
colours and tones, accessories were less of an importance during the sixties. People were
dressing in psychedelic prints, highlighter colours, and mismatched patterns.[3] The hippie
movement late in the decade also exerted a strong influence on ladies' clothing styles,
including bell-bottom jeans, tie-dye, and batik fabrics, as well as paisley prints.

Colleen Corby, a teenaged supermodel of the mid-1960s

In the early to mid-1960s, the London Modernists known as the Mods were shaping and
defining popular fashion for young British men while the trends for both sexes changed
more frequently than ever before in the history of fashion and would continue to do so
throughout the decade.[4]

Designers were producing clothing more suitable for young adults which lead to an
increase in interests and sales.[5]

Contents
[hide]

• 1 Early 1960s
• 2 Mid-1960s
• 3 Late 1960s
• 4 Hairstyles
• 5 Additional fads and trends
• 6 Image gallery
• 7 See also
o 7.1 Fashion designers
o 7.2 Style icons
o 7.3 Supermodels
o 7.4 Fashion photographers
o 7.5 Other
• 8 References

• 9 External links

[edit] Early 1960s

Fashions in the early years of the decade reflected the elegance of the First Lady,
Jacqueline Kennedy. In addition to the pillbox hat which is discussed in detail below,
women wore suits, usually in pastel colors, with short boxy jackets, and over-sized
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 décolletage and had close-
fitting waists. For casual wear, Capri trousers were the fashion for women and girls.

Stiletto-heeled shoes were widely popular.

As the suits drifted away from pale, toned shades, menswear was now bright and
colorful. It included frills and cravats, wide ties and trouser straps, leather boots and even
collarless jackets. Ties were worn even five inches wide, with crazy prints, stripes and
patterns. Casual dress consisted of plaid button down shirts with comfortable slacks or
skirts.[6]
The Mods were a British fashion phenomenon in the mid-1960s with their anoraks,
tailored Italian suits, and scooters.

A cocktail dress decorated with metal discs by designer, Paco Rabanne, 1967

[edit] Mid-1960s
After designer Mary Quant introduced the mini-skirt in 1964, fashions of the 1960s were
changed forever. The mini skirt was eventually to be worn by nearly every stylish young
female in the western world.

The mini dress was usually A-line in shape or a sleeveless shift.[7] Also they wore big hats
in very bright colors. This was introduced in 1966. Right after the "tropical years".

In 1964, French designer Andre Courreges introduced the "space look", with trouser
suits, white boots, goggles, and box-shaped dresses whose skirts soared three inches
above the knee. These were mainly designed in fluorescent colours and shiny fabrics such
as PVC and sequins.[8]

The leaders of mid 1960s style were the British. The Mods (short for Modernists) were
characterized by their choice of style different from the 1950s and adopted new fads that
would be imitated by many young people. As the Mods strongly influenced the fashion in
London, 1960s fashion in general set the mode for the rest of the century as it became
marketed mainly to young people. Mods formed their own way of life creating television
shows and magazines that focused directly on the lifestyles of Mods.[9] British rock bands
such as The Who, The Small Faces, and The Kinks emerged from the Mod subculture.
The Mods were known for the Modern Jazz they listened to as they showed their new
styles off at local cafes. They worked at the lower end of the work force, usually nine to
five jobs leaving time for clothes, music, and clubbing.[10] It was not until 1964 when the
Modernists were truly recognized by the public that women really were accepted in the
group. Girls had short, clean haircuts and often dressed in similar styles to the male
Mods.[11] The Mods' lifestyle and musical tastes were the exact opposite of their rival
group known as the Rockers. The rockers liked 1950s rock-and roll, wore black leather
jackets, greased, pompadour hairstyles, and rode motorbikes. The look of the Mods was
classy; they mimicked the clothing and hairstyles of high fashion designers in France and
Italy; opting for tailored suits, which were topped by anoraks that became their
trademark. They rode on scooters, usually Vespas or Lambrettas. The Mods dress style
was often called the City Gent look. Shirts were slim, with a necessary button down
collar accompanied by slim fitted pants.[12] Levi's were the only type of jeans worn by
Modernists. Flared trousers and bellbottoms led the way to the hippie stage introduced in
the 1960s. Variations of polyester were worn along with acrylics.[13]

Carnaby Street and Chelsea's Kings Road were virtual fashion parades. In 1966, the space
age was gradually replaced by the Edwardian, with the men wearing double-breasted
suits of crushed velvet or striped patterns, brocade waistcoats, shirts with frilled collars,
and their hair worn below the collar bone. Rolling Stones guitarist Brian Jones
epitomised this "dandified" look. Women were inspired by the top models of the day
which included Twiggy, Jean Shrimpton, Colleen Corby, Penelope Tree, and Veruschka.
Velvet mini dresses with lace-collars and matching cuffs, wide tent dresses and culottes
had pushed aside the geometric shift. False eyelashes were in vogue, as was pale lipstick.
Hemlines kept rising, and by 1968 they had reached well above mid-thigh. These were
known as "micro-minis". This was when the "angel dress" made its appearance on the
fashion scene. A micro-mini dress with a flared skirt and long, wide trumpet sleeves, it
was usually worn with patterned tights, and was often made of crocheted lace, velvet,
chiffon or sometimes cotton with a psychedelic print such as those designed by Emilio
Pucci. The cowled-neck "monk dress" was another religion-inspired alternative; the cowl
could be pulled up to be worn over the head.[14] For evening wear, skimpy chiffon baby-
doll dresses with spaghetti-straps were the mode as well as the "cocktail dress", which
was a close-fitting sheath, usually covered in lace with matching long sleeves.[15] Feather
boas were occasionally worn.

In 1964, Bell-bottomed trousers were a new alternative to the capris of the early 1960s.
They were usually worn with chiffon blouses, polo-necked ribbed sweaters or tops that
bared the midriff.

The look of corsets, seamed tights, and skirts covering the knees had been abolished. The
idea of buying urbanized clothing, which could be worn with separate pieces, was
intriguing to women of this era in comparison to previously only buying specific outfits
for certain occasions.[16]

For daytime outerwear, short plastic raincoats, colourful swing coats and dyed fake-furs
were popular for young women. In 1966, the Nehru jacket arrived on the fashion scene,
and was worn by both sexes. Suits were very diverse in color but were for the first time
ever, fitted and very sliming. Waistlines for women were left unmarked and hemlines
were getting shorter and shorter.
French actress Brigitte Bardot wearing a transparent top and a feather boa, 1968

Footwear for women included low-heeled sandals and kitten-heeled pumps, as well as the
trendy white go-go boots. Shoes, boots, and handbags were often made of patent leather
or vinyl. The Beatles wore elastic-sided boots similar to Winkle-pickers with pointed toes
and Cuban heels. These were known as "Beatle boots" and were widely copied by young
men in Britain.

German fashion model in 1966 wearing a wool suit trimmed with fur, and a matching fur
hat

[edit] Late 1960s

By 1968, the androgynous hippie look was in style. Both men and women wore frayed
bell-bottomed jeans, tie-dyed shirts, workshirts, and headbands. Wearing sandals was
also part of the hippie look for both men and women. Women would often go barefoot,
and some even went braless.

Fringed buck-skin vests, flowing caftans, Mexican peasant blouses, gypsy-style skirts,
scarves, and bangles were also worn by teenage girls and young women. Indian prints,
batik and paisley were the fabrics preferred. For more conservative women, there were
the "lounging" or "hostess" pyjamas. These consisted of a tunic top over floor-length
culottes, and were usually made of polyester or chiffon.

Another popular look for women and girls which lasted well into the early 1970s was the
suede mini-skirt worn with a French polo-neck top,[14] square-toed boots, and Newsboy
cap or beret. Long maxi coats, often belted and lined in sheepskin, appeared at the close
of the decade.[17] Animal prints were also popular for women in the autumn and winter of
1969. Women's shirts often had transparent sleeves. Psychedelic prints, hemp and the
look of "Woodstock" came about in this generation.[18]

John Lennon, with long, unkempt hair and a beard, 1969. Photo courtesy of Roy
Kerwood

[edit] Hairstyles

Rolling Stone and trendsetter Brian Jones in 1965 with his trademark bowl-style haircut

Head coverings changed dramatically towards the end of the decade as men's hats went
out of style, replaced by the bandanna, if anything at all. As men let their hair grow long,
the Afro became the hairstyle of choice for African Americans. Mop-top hairstyles were
most popular for white and Hispanic men, beginning as a short version around 1963
through 1964, developing into a longer style worn during 1965-66, eventually evolving
into an unkempt hippie version worn during the 1967-69 period which continued in the
early 1970s. Facial hair, evolving in its extremity from simply having longer sideburns, to
mustaches and goatees, to full-grown beards became popular with young men from 1966
onwards. Women's hair styles ranged from beehive hairdos in the early part of the decade
to the very short styles popularized by Twiggy just five years later to a very long straight
style as popularized by the hippies in the late 1960s. Between these extremes, the chin-
length contour cut and the pageboy were also popular. The pillbox hat was fashionable,
due almost entirely to the influence of Jacqueline Kennedy, who was a style-setter
throughout the decade.
Colourful headbands, bell-bottoms, and bare feet were part of the hippie look which was
popular in 1969.

[edit] Additional fads and trends

The '60s also gave birth to the skinny jeans, worn by Audrey Hepburn, which again
became popular with young men and women in the first decade of the 2000s.

The late 1960s produced a style categorized of people who promoted sexual liberation
and favored a type of politics reflecting "peace, love and freedom".[19] Ponchos,
mocassins, love beads, peace signs, medallion necklaces, chain belts, polka dot-printed
fabrics, and long, puffed "bubble" sleeves were additional trends in the late 1960s.

New materials other than cloth (such as polyester and PVC) started to become more
popular as well.

Starting in 1967, the Mod culture began to embrace reggae music and its working class
roots. The new urban fashion known as Skinhead was born.

MENS FASHION IN THE 1960s

After the conservative fashions of the 1950's, mens fashion in the 1960s emerged as
something of a renaissance. All of a sudden, there was a great deal more choice in the
color palates that were considered appropriate for men, more than that, the cuts of the
clothes started to change dramatically.
This decade would see the emergence of blue jeans from being a working class staple to
something much more ubiquitous, and though there is no one piece of clothing that every
man wore, there were still several identifiable trends.
In general, clothes became significantly more tight fitting during this area, and the narrow
and form revealing styles were strongly influenced by the designs coming out of Italy.
The mod styles that emerged in England gave men a greater license when it came to the
clothes that they wore, and there was an emergence of single breasted suits with short
tailored jackets and relatively narrow lapels. When matched with thin ties and narrow
collared shirts, this became a singularly dashing look, and due to the fact that mens
bespoke tailoring was still a common custom, it was one that could be quite well fitted.

MORE FREEDOM, MORE COLOR, MORE EVERYTHING!

Mens fashion in the 1960s saw a great deal more elaboration and adornment. The patterns
for men flourished, and from a period when stripes were considered a bold statement,
paisley, polka dots and fluorescent colors quickly became the norm.
There was a greater emphasis on clothing as self expression, and there was an increase in
the types of textures worn. While wool and polyesters of course stayed common, mens
fashions began to experiment more with cotton and velvet.

In terms of a basic clothing staple, turtlenecks with sleek lines were very commonplace.
They could be combined with a blocky blazer or a sweater or a vest, and they were
considered fashionable for men of all professions. Similarly, longer cotton tunics with
nehru collars were well regarded as fashionable types of clothing. Nehru collars were
distinguished with an open mandarin collar and often the tunics were adorned with with a
long row of small of buttons down the front.

The sixties were a decade that looked ahead to the excesses of the seventies, but there
was still a strong emphasis on sleek lines and simple designs. For instance, for the fringe
hippie styles, simple vests worn over bare chests were fashionable and when combined
when blue jeans made for a fashion statement that was quite distant from that of the
conservative fifties. Another type of clothing that was popular across the board during the
fifties was the buffalo plaid shirt. Typically made of flannel with a casual print or with
simple checks, the buffalo plaid was common for anyone who wanted to keep warm and
look good.

There were many different styles during this time, and though there was no single style
that was worn by all men, mens fashion in the 1960s was alot more free and men found it
easier to express themselves through clothing than at any time in the previous years.

MEN'S CLOTHES
SIXTIES 1960s fashion for men was not as revolutionary as it was for
CLOTHING women but there was a lot of change. Ties, belts and lapels
got wider, collars got longer and wider and a modified version
Mod Fashion of the bell bottom called "flared" became popular. The
Hippie Clothes conserative men's suit took on some geometric design along
Mini Skirts & with the flare in the pants leg and wider lapels. Sport shirts
Dresses were the norm for causal wear with the polo style being the
Extra Bonus most popular.
Pictures
Hair Style polo style sh
Hair Style
Teen Hair Style
Ribbons and Bows
Hair Setting
Make up
Eye Make up
Teens an example of longer collars (and hair)
Teen Clothing
Groovy Quick A lot of sports shirts were made of a new material called Ban-
Reference
Teen Hair Style
Dresses
1960 -1964
1965-1969
Basic Black
Evening and Prom
'60-'64 Lon.
Evening and Prom Casual w
Ban-Lon
'65-'69 I was never quite sure what banlon was so here is the
Pants definition: "a trademarked, multistrand, continuous-filament
1960 -1964 synthetic yarn used in the retail clothing industry" Ok I still
���1965 -1969 don't know what it is, but it was comfortable.
Shoes
Bathing suits

BONUS
PICTURES

Go To: SIXTIES
FASHION Men were not immune from the British invasion however and
some very Mod influences managed to creep into what was
once the ultra conserative men's business attire. Patterns grew
bolder as did color choices. No longer were blue, black or
grey the only suit choices. Ties and shirts became more
colorful as well.
 The Seersuc
was one of t
more relaxe

a mod style business

suit
More conserative 1960's suits

The Beatles led the fashion and music invasion

Mod wasn't the only influence on mens styles, the anti-

establishment hippie movement was bringing with it an
"anything goes" philosophy that allowed for greater choice in
clothing. Vests were worn without the suit, men were wearing
sports jackets with slacks (instead of a suit), and suits with no
tie, not to mention all kinds of mix matched patterns and
colors.
Although hippie clothing influenced main stream style to a
certain degree it never caught on as an everyday fashion.
While the movie Easy Rider was showcasing hippie style the
average school kid was still dressing very conseratively.

a school yard 1966

The movie Easy Rider

was an anthem for hippie style.

By the end of the sixties some fashions were here to stay, the
flaired dress slack would remain in style for another decade
ties and lapels didn't skinny up for another 20 - 25 years
either. But among the young crowd anything that was
different from the norm was cool, hip and definetly groovy.
 both pictures taken at Woodstock

60s Fashion Clothing: A look at the sixties style clothes

Floral prints were in vogue in the 1960s. Big and bright flowers were a common sight
during this period. These were often seen on dresses and even skirts. Girls loved to wear
such dresses with daisy prints! Polka dots were also quite popular during this period.

The hippy culture strongly caught on in the 1960’s as well. The hippy culture had their
own way of defining their groups; one could see the youth wearing bell-bottom jeans and
tie and dye prints. Color was the one factor that bound hippies together. Long skirts in
contrasting colors soon became a huge hit with women. Headscarves and headbands were
used to complete the look. Men and women who belonged to this hippy culture also loved
wearing a whole load of jewelry. This jewelry was as colorful as their attire.

Materials were also experimented with during this period. One could see metal and
plastic being used with wire to create unique clothing. During the 1960s one could also
see the use of shimmer and glitter.

Women all over the world (including men!) are fond of short skirts and this is noticeable
at all parties and fashion shows. Well, The mini skirt was actually popular as 60’s fashion
clothing! Mary Quant invented the mini skirt and she created a rage, which is visible even
today. These mini skirts were designed 6 inches above the knees.

Who can forget the Hollywood beauty Audrey Hepburn…she popularized many other
sixties style clothes which created a rage back then. Audrey Hepburn’s skinny jeans soon
became a must in every wardrobe!

Mini dresses also had a significant role to play in the 1960s fashion history. These mini
dresses were knee length or even above the knees. New materials were being used to
create such dresses. These mini dresses were also seen in stripes or polka dot patterns.

Swimwear got a new dimension as part of the 60’s fashion clothing. Bikini gained new
heights of popularity. The bikini required a bolder approach for women who wished to
flaunt the same. Bikini’s created quite a flutter with many who found this garment a little
on the bold side!

Sixties style clothes for men included the Beatles suit. This outfit was all about single-
breasted collarless jackets and slim fitting pants. Mod gear was equally accepted by men;
this meant smart suits with narrow lapels and narrowed trousers. The 60s was all about
striped blazers man also rode the Mod scooter famously known as Lambretta!

Pleated skirts were also very much in vogue during this glorious period. These pleats
were seen on the front as well as the backside of the skirts. Shift dresses were available in
many boutiques. There were various brands that also catered to such fashionable clothing
for women and men.

Footwear also had an important part to play in the 60’s fashion clothing. Women loved to
wear the kitten heel! Knee high boots worn with dresses were a rage back then. Hairstyles
were equally fashionable; women now could be seen sporting the beehive hairdo! Hats
were also around although the very funky bandanna was also a fashionable option. Thus
we see how fashion evolved in the 1960’s. The 1960’s fashion clothing was all about fun
and discovering new trends along the way!