What was 1960s fashion like

The maxi skirt came about at the end of the decade too. Women and girls of all ages loved them. They were gathered at the waist, sometimes with a tie bow, and hung down in a column shape. They took inspiration from prairie dresses and were made in hippie loving calico prints or swirly psychedelic eye poppers. In the evenings, they were quilted or made with shiny taffeta fabrics.

The s style skirt has returned to fashion this year. Shop mini skirts, A-line skirts, long maxi skirts, denim skirts, and more. Jax pants with a very high waist, shaped hip, and slender leg continued to be favorites from the s. They were usually lined, with side zippers and no waistband. They could be worn with blouses tucked in, but more often had longer tops untucked.

The stretch pant and stirrup pant took advantage of a new kind of knit fabric. Easy to sew and wear, the elastic stirrup under the foot kept pants smooth and straight. When ankle boots came into fashion, suddenly visible stirrups were taboo. Boots must be worn! They also still zipped up the back or side for most of the decade, but moved to the front for trousers and jean styles.

They were more popular in Europe than America, and very trendy with the Mods and Beatniks. Denim jeans followed the fit and style of slim pants: high waist, tapered leg, ankle crop, and in many more colors than just blue. White was especially trendy. Blue jeans were not as common as you might expect. They somewhat disappeared in the s, only to return with a vengeance in with a flared boot cut. There were a few casual flared leg pants designed as early as , but for the most part, flared jeans and bell-bottom pants were not part of the s.

Even the hippies wore straight-leg pants in the s. Learn more about s pants, capris, jeans and culottes. Shop s style pants here. Shop s pants, trousers, jeans.

They were the most professional choice for looking polished and lady-like. Mature women liked the tailored suits with pencil skirts and cropped jackets, while young women embraced the knit suit with an open cardigan style jacket or light blazer. As shocking as a mini skirt was to society, there was an equal confusion over the new pantsuit. Some work offices and establishments forbade women from wearing pantsuits. While s fashion magazines debated, women flocked to the stores to buy them.

They were already wearing casual pants everywhere else, so wearing dressy pants seemed only natural. With legs now fully exposed by short hemlines and the youthful girl look on-trend, shoes took a drastic turn from high fashion with high heels to street fashion with low to no heels.

Flats were in. Cheap was in. Color was in. Sophistication was out. Thanks to new materials, notably PVC Vinyl , shoes could be mass-produced for cheap and come in a lot of bright colors to match dresses. The low heel made them easy to walk and live life in. Tall and skinny stiletto heels were still an option for evenings. The single strap Mary Jane came back in fashion, as did the slingback with cutouts on the sides.

Even boots had flat heels. Thanks to an interest in all things futuristic looking, tall boots in white or silver became the new black. Everyone wore them. They looked great with short dresses and skirts. The tall white boots were called go-go boots, named after night club dancers in LA who wore them.

Teens loved them and wore them with mini skirts to school if they were allowed. Both tall and short styles were worn with short shift dresses. Booties could be worn with long pants too.

In the summer, it was the sandal heel, flip flop, and mule that had women feeling cool in the heat. Colors were bright and the straps were either very wide or very skinny. Sandal heels had a closed square toe, whereas casual sandals had a large open toe.

Whether you fashion one out of a simple square scarf or invest in one made to be worn specifically as a bandana, there are a few different ways to embrace the trend. Not to mention, it can also double as a slinky top on your next warm-weather vacation. Along with the rise of the micro mini, the two-piece suit was a great balance between being polished and feminine, without having to rely on a dress. A popular style for women during the time, the cropped trousers came in an array of fabrics and prints that were perfectly suited for off-duty outings.

And they do the same today. A precursor to the '70s, the late s were all about chic accessories. From quirky hats and eyewear to boldly designed jewelry collections, models and everyday women alike were finding new ways to take their looks to the next level. With the help of strategically layered basics and design details, color-blocking is a lot more intentional than the mod-inspired trend leads on.

White trousers are an easy way to experiment with color-blocking without being too literal. Just add a coordinating top with light-colored details to complete the look.

Between the paperboy cap and slick jacket, the forever style muse balanced her micro-mini hem with tall knee-high boots, set atop a low stacked heel. Skirts got a little bit shorter in While worn with low-heeled shoes it placed more attention on the leg.

Sleeveless daytime shirts placed more emphasis on the arms. Collarless coats, suits and dresses created a long-necked effect. Some dresses had draped cowl backs to intensify the elongated look. Advertisement Designers embraced opulence, even in the most pragmatic clothing. Plaids of all sizes and colors were heavily favored. Abstract and expressionist art were big influences on printed silk designs. Wools were in style, but had to lightweight.

Coat and suit woolens were usually loosely woven and sometimes as porous as lace. Deep, darker colors were the rage in They especially covered the spectrum between purple, red and green. Colors like like grape, plum, wine red, garnet and olive green. In contrast, neon bright pink was also a very popular color for those looking to make a statement. Furs and hats maintained their popularity, as did fur and seal coats.

Evenings turbans of tulle swirled loosely around the head not only gained high fashion acceptance, but were sold in every hat shop. Jackie Kennedy Oval shaped shoulders and tapered hemlines were being replaced by straighter, wider shoulders, accompanied by a gentle inward curve at the midriff and a flare at the hem.

Skirts had risen to the middle of the kneecaps, but by the end of only the very young continued to wear them short. The hairdresser was of extreme importance in Beehive coiffures adorned by the likes of Princess Margaret, Jacqueline Kennedy and Brigette Bardot were imitated by women of all ages.

The bias cut gave a new fit to clothing, while keeping the comfortable softness women had to come to love. The bias skirt added grace and flare, while bias bodices molded the torso without feeling too tight. It was almost always sleeveless and slim, with low blousing or in a loose chemise shape recalling the flapper dresses of the s.

The high rounded hat and the low, square-toed shoe were the accessories of choice. The simple pump of calf, alligator, crepe or satin was worn morning and night, and the women of high fashion wore heels of medium height, even with ball gowns.

Audrey Hepburn helped popularize the high-bosomed, sleeveless dress in Shoulders were widened and the bosom received more attention. The waist was always accompanied by a belt, sash or wide inset bias band. Costumes dominated evening wear, complete with matching jacket or wrap. Later in the season the long, tweed dinner coat was showcased in several high-fashion collections.

Sleek and slender 2. A young designer by the name of Yves Saint Laurent, who had recently left the House of Dior, successfully opened his own establishment. The fashion world once again was crazy for Jackie Kennedy. Her gentle, high-bosomed coats and dresses, slender evening dresses, berets, breton hats, her impeccable jewelry and even her sports wear consistently dominated fashion headlines. Any type of artificial look was abandoned quickly.

Large amounts of makeup and high heels were too contrived for the fashionable woman of Fur-trimmed suits and coats were the most prevalent items in fall fashions. Two preferred furs were lynx and kit fox — long haired furs were back in style. Leopard, however, was the leading fur of all of them. Martin Luther King Jr. The growing popularity of the bikini represented women embracing their bodies while the black turtleneck like the one often worn by activist Kathleen Cleaver became an icon for the Black Panther Party.

Miniskirts, fringe, bold florals, crochet, tie-dye and more were birthed from this decade, so let this roundup of iconic style moments serve as your mood board now. American-born French actress, Marpessa Dawn eloquently wears a fit and flare dress; The silhouette is a '60s staple dress that will never go out of style.

The Supremes is the sixties' favorite girl group, wearing their nod to menswear style. These neckties were surely an inspiration for all of the cravats we saw down the fall runways. The '60s became a time for women to express themselves through clothing, which meant wearing pants more regularly, an item once taboo for women. When Mary Quant invented the miniskirt, I am not sure she realized the lasting effect it would have on fashion today.

Sister, sister! Jackie Kennedy and Lee Radziwill both had impeccable style in the '60s. File this under how to wear a headscarf in the daytime. Feeling feline? Elizabeth Taylor shows us how to wear head-to-toe leopard print with confidence.