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Fashion in the 1960s
The early
sixties were similar to the 1950s — conservative and restrained with a classic
style and design.
The late 1960s were the opposite. Bright colors, Psychedelic, tie-dye shirts and long hair and beards were ordinary. Woman wore extremely short skirts and men wore tunics and capes. Oval shaped shoulders and tapered hemlines were replaced by straighter, wider shoulders, joined by a slight inward curve at the midriff and a flare at the hem. The high rounded hat and the low, square-toed shoe were the most popular accessories of the 1960’s. Alligator, crepe or satin was worn every day, and the women wore heels of moderate height, even with ball gowns. 1962 mostly focused on 3 styles: 1. Sleek and slender 2. Softly bloused with muffled neckline 3. “Natural” outline, which fell in a form-fitting line Any type of artificial look was discarded. Large amounts of makeup and high heels were worn in 1963. Tweeds, leather and furs were the rage. Boots varied from ankle to thigh-high. Vests, kerchiefs, textured cotton stockings, turtlenecks and paisley ascot scarves were mixed and matched to create a “sportive look.” The phrase became the motto of 1963 fashion. The mod look involved miniskirts and pale colored fishnet or lacy textured hosiery, cut-out low heeled shoes, masculine jackets, and ties. Accessories included over-the-shoulder handbags and showy jewelry, which varied from old-fashioned pins to contemporary styled geometric earrings. Young men wore wide belted, skinny, fitted pants, and added, loud printed ties that contrasted with the wallpaper floral prints of their shirts. Boots, vests, London caps and narrow jackets were also worn by the young men who rebelled against traditional men’s clothes and conservative ways. The long, slant line was the most obvious fashion trend in 1969. “The Skinny Sixties” closed fittingly as women searched for clothes that would give them a tall, slim body. The tall appearance was created by extended skirts, long, straight-cut pants or by sheer dark tights. Slender tunics, skinny long sleeves, low-rise pockets and belts, hip-hiding weskits and body-length cardigans were other trendy fashion choices in the 1960’s. Super-scarves also became popular. Rectangle in shape, some were 10 feet long. Long, extreme decorated shawls were worn by women. Feather boas, red fox stoles, and mink tails extended the body by falling below the hemline. |