1960's Fashion

Top Left Photograph:

Unknown, _Kids in Front of TV_, Photograph, 1961, Greta Kenney Collection, Tucker, Georgia.

 

Top Middle Photograph:

Unknown, _Family_, photograph, Greta Kenney Collection, Tucker, Georgia.

 

Far Right Photograph:

Deirdre Clancy, _Space Age Plastic by Courreges_, drawing, 1966, From Coustume Since 1945-Couture, Street Style, and Anti-Fashion, Dahlonega, Georgia. Clancy, Deirdre. Costume Since 1945- Couture, Street Style, and Anti-Fashion. New York: Drama Publishers, 1996.

 

Bottom Left Photograph:

Kate Mulvey, _Untitled_, photograph, From Decades of Beauty, Dahlonega, Georgia. Mulvey, Kate. Decades of Beauty. New York: Reed Consumer Books Limited, 1998.

 

Bottom Middle Photograph:

Tom Kenney, _Mother at Easter_, Photograph, 1969, Greta Kenney Collection, Tucker, Georgia.

 

 

The 1960’s were revolutionary. The youth took the world by storm in fashion, protests, and new ideas. Protests against the Vietnam War, civil rights activists, and liberal ideas created a rebellious mentality that took the world by storm. Music became a huge influence on society, as well as social gatherings and concerts such as Woodstock. Pop art was incredibly popular and its simple and geometric designs influenced numerous designers throughout the 60’s. Sexuality was very open and abundant for the first time. The hippy culture arrived in the 1960’s but did not last very long. Its trends of free love and drug use brought bad light to the hippy culture, ultimately creating its downfall. The most famous fashion trend during the 60’s was the ideal of “Mod Fashion”. Mini dresses were the “must have” outfit. They were very simple, but came in a variety of colors and prints. Tights and Plastic jewelry were very popular, and worn by people throughout the United States and Europe. Space travel influenced the use of new modern fabrics that gave the appearance of a sleek, fresh image. Flared pants were also very popular with printed shirts. The 60’s marked the beginning of a time when the average person could wear the same clothing of movie stars and the elite. The Mod fashion scene was a look that was achievable for anyone and was affordable. Fake hair became popular in the 1960’s. Attachable sections of hair or full wigs were worn for variation in the hair. If desired, it was possible to wear a different hairstyle every day of the week. Short haircuts were very popular due to the model Twiggy, but very straight, long hair became common as well. Inspiration for make-up came from the youthful look of young children. An emphasis was placed on making the eyes stand out. Eye make-up was extremely bright and harsh and the rest of the face was simple and mostly without color. New metallic and frosted colors were popular. Fake eyelashes and mascara were worn to enhance the wide eye look. Plastic surgery was first discussed openly during the 1960’s, and the body image was very thin and child-like. Curves were downplayed in favor of a look that seemed to be pre-puberty. Street fashion was a powerful influence on fashion throughout the world and London was famous because of it. Fashion was created by the general public as opposed to designers and looks from the runway.

 

 

Clancy, Deirdre. Costume Since 1945- Couture, Street Style, and Anti-Fashion. New York: Drama Publishers, 1996.

 

Klein, Adolph I. "Fashion: Its Sense of History-Its Selling Power." The Business History Review (1963): 1-2. JSTOR. [Database Online.]

 

Mulvey, Kate. Decades of Beauty. New York: Reed Consumer Books Limited, 1998.

 

 

For more information on Fashions of the 1960's, go to en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1960s_in_fashion.

 

 

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