1960S AMERICA: A DECADE OF CHANGE
THE JOURNEY OF A BOOMER
No one did fashion quite like the boomers, during the 60s. This new era of fashion was something that teenagers in the 60s exclusively experienced.
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"This was, most particularly, a decade in which the extraordinary changes in fashion and style, and in attitudes towards the body, expressed shifting concepts of individuality and identity in a newly consumerist culture".
Mark Armstrong
60S STYLE
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Swinging london
The Swinging Sixties was a cultural revolution in Britain, which reached its peak in the 60s. It was a youth-led phenomenon which emphasized freedom and modernity, through fashion, music and art. If you were a teenager in Britain during the 1960s, you were part of the first generation to be free from conscription. This change alone embodied ideas of freedom and hope. Of course, fashion resembled these social changes that were taking place, with London at the centre of this cultural revolution.
Check the video out on the right which shows the famous Kings Road, in West London. This road was a mix of trendy boutiques and the most fashionable people in the world (during the 60s, of course). Even fashion designers such as Mary Quant, who was the retail pioneer of the ‘mini skirt’, had boutiques open on this road.
The ‘Swinging Sixties’ scene quickly moved west to America, with teenagers in the US picking up the new trends. By the late 60s, what would have been socially unacceptable to wear, became the norm...
Source: The Kino Library - 'Late 1960s King's Road London, 60's Fashion, Street Style, 35mm Archive Footage' on Youtube
Early 60s
Boomer fashion throughout the 60s was constantly evolving. The early 60s saw some slightly different trends before the psychedelic Hippie Movement made its way to America.
THE CONSERVATIVE LOOK:
​Fashion was inspired by the likes of Audrey Hepburn and First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy, who demonstrated a much more conservative look. They wore skirt-suits, midi skirts and always paired with gloves and hats. For a male boomer, it was also a clean and professional image during the early 60s, with tailor-made suits. This quickly transformed into retro, bright clothing.
If you are interested in dressing like a teen in the early 60s, check out the different types of clothing pieces below.
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LATE 60S
From 1965 onwards teenage fashion in America really transformed to psychedelic patterns, bright colours, long hair and beards. Boomers began to defy the idea of maintaining a conservative appearance to please their parents and the rest of society, and instead wanted to express their freedom, through the new trends that were coming their way, from Britain and the East.
The HIPPIE AESTHETIC:
American teens dramatically changed the way they dressed, in line with the 'Hippie' lifestyle and counter-culture movement. Clothing was an expression of yourself and the freedom you embodied. This was also furthered by the increasing influence of music icons, such as The Beatles (see the picture on the right), who inspired many boomers to follow the Hippie aesthetic or Mod fashion, especially as the British invasion of the US continued.
American teens dramatically changed the way they dressed, in line with the 'Hippie' lifestyle and counter-culture movement. Clothing was an expression of yourself and the freedom you embodied. This was also furthered by the increasing influence of music icons, such as The Beatles (see the picture on the right), who inspired many boomers to follow the Hippie aesthetic or Mod fashion, especially as the British invasion of the US continued.
Check out this page that shows how designer brands changed their style, in line with the 60s fashion revolution.
If you are interested in dressing like teen during the late 60s (I mean, why not), look the different types of clothing pieces below.
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