Women’s 1960s fashion was extreme style and attitude from the start of the decade to the end. In the early years, the fashion idol was Jackie Kennedy with her perfectly white pearls and tailored suit dresses. By the middle of the decade, supermodel Twiggy had women freeing their minds and bodies into clothing that didn’t require any extra thought or effort. From modest to “there is no such thing as too short,” 1960s fashion was in many ways like the 1920s flapper revolution. But it didn’t happen overnight.
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Women’s 1960s Fashion Summary
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Keeping the Status Quo- Early 1960's
Jackie Kennedy’s style was clean, simple, well fitted, with perfectly matched accessories. She wore dresses without collars and jackets that buttoned only with one large top button. She wore sensible low heel shoes (although many women still preferred high heels). She was the last woman to wear hats, a pillbox hat, as a necessary fashion. Jackie O’ put a lot of care into her look, and women in the USA and abroad copied her style with enthusiasm. Sadly, after her husband’s assassination, Jackie was no longer in the public eye. Women had to find a new 1960s fashion idol to be inspired by. |
Youth Culture- Mid 1960's
It was the whole idea of a return to youth that drove most of the fashion in the 1960s. Oversize collars, bows, and delicate trim miniaturized women and made them appear smaller. Shapeless mini dresses de-emphasized a woman’s natural form. Kitten heel pumps, Mary Jane strap shoes and flat sneakers were all childhood favorites returned to the the ’60s youth quake culture. It was no coincidence that a youth driven culture had a lot to do with half the American population being under 25 and with European countries having a similarly large youth population, too. After growing up in the ‘50s as “little adults” the youth embraced their fond early childhood memories and fashions. By children’s fashion, we mean babies and toddlers. The “babydoll” look was incorporated into dress, hair and makeup. |
Hippie Movement- Late 1960's
The Vietnam War in the late 1960s directly contributed to the Hippie movement, which shifted fashion away from the child-like into the psychedelic, loose, natural and the romantic. The Counter Culture Movement was anti-war and promoted peace and an acceptance of alternative lifestyles. The rise in psychedelic drug use was a direct result of the desire for escapism during these times. This affected fashion through the shift towards tie-dye, and the bright patterns. Fashion became loose and casual. Colors were not the only thing to be exaggerated. Clothes were of extreme proportions. Hats were big and floppy, vests hung down to the knee and coats to the floor. A return to folk arts meant beading was on clothes, not just jewelry. Ethnic details covered anything and everything. There were no rules to hippie fashion. Mix and match and develop your own beat was the 1960s hippie fashion mantra. |
Assignment # 1
Please answer the following questions about 1960's fashion in a new slide in your google slide presentations. If you need to do some internet research on your own to answer some questions, please do so.
Please answer the following questions about 1960's fashion in a new slide in your google slide presentations. If you need to do some internet research on your own to answer some questions, please do so.
- How were the 1960's similar to the fashion changes in the 1920's?
- What is the style of the early 1960's?
- Why was that the style and who influenced it?
- What did the Youth Culture style of the mid 1960's look like?
- Why was this the style of that time?
- What is the style of the late 1960's?
- What was the Counter Culture movement?
- How did it effect fashion at the time?
Assignment # 2
Create a mood board visually describing 1960s and include it in your Google Portfolios on a new slide. Include at least 10 photos. Include hairstyles and shoes! VIDEO TUTORIAL PIXLR E: www.youtube.com/watch?v=_OdQJFUoFLQ&feature=youtu.be |
Assignment # 3 You are to design your own original 1960's design. It can be in any style that was popular at the time) It must include the following:
PIXLR E VIDEO TUTORIAL BELOW:
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