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The Sixties: Fashion

This guide covers the decade 1960 - 1970

Fashion in the 1960s

It was the decade of fashion when models became international celebrities. And the theme for fashion was that it was for everyone, not just the rich and famous. As Mary Qant, the British boutique owner and fashion designer said, "We wanted to increase the availability of fun for everyone. We felt that expensive things were almost immoral and the New Look was totally irrelevant to us." (Reed, loc. 714) And the center of the fashion world was not Paris, Rome or New York. It was swinging London, home of the Beatles and everything "fab".

Fashion trendsetters

  • Richard Avedon, photographer
  • David Bailey, photographer
  • The Beach Boys (surf culture)
  • The Beatles
  • Carnaby Street
  • Julie Christie, actess
  • Ossie Clark and Celia Birtwell, designers
  • Andre Courreges, designer
  • Catherine Deneuve, actress
  • Faye Dunaway, actress
  • Granny Takes a Trip, a boutique
  • Audrey Hepburn, actress
  • The hippies, a counter-culture movement
  • Marsha Hunt, African-American model
  • Janis Joplin, musician
  • Jackie Kennedy, First Lady
  • Ottavio and Rosita Missoni, knitwear designers
  • Jean Muir, designer
  • Emilio Pucci, designer
  • Mary Quant, designer
  • Armi Ratia, textile designer and co-founder of Marimekko
  • Bridget Riley, British painter
  • Yves St. Laurent, designer
  • Jean Seberg, actress
  • Jay Sebring, hair stylist
  • Edie Sedgwick, actress and model
  • Jean Shrimpton, model
  • Vidal Sassoon, hair stylist
  • Elizabeth Taylor, actress
  • Twiggy, model
  • Diana Vreeland, editor Vogue

Source: Fifty Fashion Looks That Changed the 1960s by P.  Reed.

Fashion

Songs about fashion

  • Itsy Bitsy Teenie Weenie Yellow Polka dot Bikini by Brian Hyland (1960)
  • Surfin' USA by the Beach Boys (1963)
  • Boots of Spanish Leather by Bob Dylan (1964)
  • Rag Doll by the Four Seasons (1964)
  • This Diamond Ring by Gary Lewis & the Playboys (1965)
  • Dedicated Follower of Fashion by the Kinks (1966)
  • Devil With a Blue Dress by Mitch Ryder & the Detroit Wheels (1966)
  • These Boots Are Made For Walking by Nancy Sinatra (1966)
  • Hombug by Procol Harum (1967)
  • San Francisco (Be Sure To Wear Flowers In Your Hair) by Scott McKenzie (1967)
  • Judy in Disguise by John Fred & His Playboy Band (1967)
  • Hair (from the Musical) by the Cowsills (1969)
  • I Love My Shirt by Donovan (1969)
  • Almost Cut My Hair by Crosby Stills Nash & Young (1970)
  • Bell Bottom Blues by Derek and the Dominos (1970)

Source:allmusic.com
Songs found on Spotify

Fashion trends

  • afro or 'fro
  • art deco
  • art nouveau
  • baggies (surf culture)
  • "Black is Beautiful"
  • bell bottoms
  • berets and bobs
  • body painting
  • the Bonnie and Clyde look
  • bouffant hair style
  • capri pants
  • clashing colors and loud textures
  • go go boots
  • granny glasses
  • homespun
  • hot pants
  • Huarache sandals (surf culture)
  • The London Look
  • long hair
  • love beads
  • the midi
  • miniskirt
  • Nehru jacket
  • pantyhose
  • peasant blouses
  • pencil skirt
  • Pendleton shirts (surf culture)
  • pillbox hat
  • Poor boy sweater
  • preppy style
  • shift dress
  • tie-dyed t-shirts
  • thrift store chic
  • turtle neck sweater
  • ugg boots
  • Vidal Sassoon bob
  • "wheat" jeans

Source: Fifty Fashion Looks That Changed the 1960s by P. Reed

Additional References

Reed, P. (2012). Fifty fashion looks that changed the 1960s [Kindle]. Retrieved from Amazon.com.
Strodder, C., & Phillips, M. (2007). The encyclopedia of sixties cool: A celebration of the grooviest people, events, and artifacts of the 1960s. Santa Monica, CA: Santa Monica Press.

Retrieved from Amazon.com