The 1960s is a decade that is known for stunning and inspiration fashion. Some of the styles that were developed during the era remain to be inspiration for a lot of modern fashion. There was a marked shift from couture high fashion to casual and wearable street style. Nonetheless, many new trends emerged during the era. If you are planning to dress up in 1960s fashion, whether it is for a play, a costume party, or for research purposes, you should know about the basics and the styles that serve as the hallmark of the decade.
Here are some of the most important things that you need to know about 1960s fashion.
First, some of the leading fashion icons of the time are Jackie Kennedy and Brigitte Bardot. The two have very contrasting personal styles, but both were very influential figures for fashion in this decade. Jackie Kennedy’s style is characterized by clean, simple, and well-fitted lines. Accessories such as the 1960s hats also perfectly match her outfits. She stood for simplicity and modesty. On the other hand, Brigitte Bardot was often seen seen wearing bold, cheap, seemingly tacky clothes. She popularized the use of gingham and lace as clothing materials.
Second, the 1960s was characterized by a strong push for more youthful styles. Women were often seen wearing oversized collars, bows, and shapeless dresses. Such styles de-emphasized their natural form, made them appear smaller and younger. This characteristic also extended to footwear. Shoe styles that are commonly worn by children, such as kitten heel pumps, Mary Janes, and sneakers became very popular during this era. This push for younger fashion is driven by the fact that an overwhelming majority of the population were below 25 years of age.
Third, 1960s dresses were patterned after the tight bodice and full skirt that were very popular during the 1950s. However, it didn’t take long until shift dresses became even more popular with women. The norm was for looser fitting dresses that exemplified casual wear. Women who are running errands, going to the beach, or staying at home are often seen wearing such shift dresses. These dresses also featured shorter hemlines. In fact, the shorter the dress, the more confident the woman is perceived to be. Shorter hemlines were not associated with wanting to attract men, but were regarded as a tool for women sexual power.
Finally, the palette for the decade was very bright. In fact, most of the colors and prints featured on clothes sought inspiration from the pop and modern art movements. Some of the common prints include the Campbell soup can, polka dots, checkerboards, and stripes. People didn’t consider over the top dressing as being too much. However, at the latter part of the decade, the colors did eventually soften down in pastels to create a more girly feel. With the emergence of the hippie movement, there was also a greater demand for clothes in earth tone colors such as browns, mustard yellow, and moss green.