The 1960s were greatly transitional. The decade opened with a continuation of the 1950s silhouette but ten years later the look was the virtual opposite.
In the U.S. in 1961 John F. Kennedy took office as President, bringing with him a beautiful, young and fashion-inspiring wife as First Lady. Jackie Kennedy’s innate sense of style and dress soon made her ‘Queen’ of American fashion. The American designed short-jacketed sheath suits (at which U.S. based designer Oleg Cassini excelled) captured her passion for French couture style.
As the first wave of baby boomers came of age, the market shifted towards a more youthful silhouette. Teens dominated the fashion scene and in time adults adopted some of the looks of their offspring. The French ‘baby doll’ look personified by Brigitte Bardot comprised shorter skirts and big hair. Eventually this gave way to the ‘British Invasion’ or ‘Youthquake’ movement, with teens embracing the free and fun fashions of their London contemporaries. The “It” girl Twiggy was seen on the covers of most fashion magazines, slinking about in colorful shifts and space-age prints. This helped convince the majority of women in the mid 1960s to try the new styles.
The movement towards modernity was conscious and international. Italian designers like Pucci created psychedelic palettes of color, transforming wearers of simple silk knit gowns into walking works of art. American designers excelled in casual, uncomplicated sportswear chic. French couture (mostly under the influence of Yves Saint Laurent) explored other ideas; one of these borrowed pants and tuxedo jackets from menswear for the hip, liberated fashion-conscious woman. Some British designers even attempted to borrow the new mini skirt from women’s fashion for menswear. This met with considerably less success, if not a stony silence.
The times “they were a-changing” and fashion needed to follow suit. By 1967 the new fashion was scandalously baring more of the body than ever before – less is more, the modernist’s creed, was now true. Even the most conservative suits were cut above the knee. The old etiquette (remember gloves and hats?) was out the door. Balenciaga even gave up his house in 1967, proclaiming “Fashion is dead”.
Written by The Vintage Fashion Guild
Next 1970 to 1980
Back Fashion Timeline
1960s screen print dress
Courtesy of vivavintageclothing.com
1960s one shoulder party dress
Courtesy of denisbrain
1960s Bill Blass organza gown
Courtesy of pastperfectvintage.com
1960s brocade cocktail dress
Courtesy of vivavintageclothing.com
1960s Givenchy couture silk dress
Courtesy of pastperfetvintage.com
1960s Mr. Dino dress
Courtesy of pinkyagogo
1960s Ceil Chapman silver brocade dress
Courtesy of pinkyagogo
1960s Jean Muir silk dress
Courtesy of poppysvintageclothing
1960s Louis Feraud linen dress
Courtesy of poppysvintageclothing
1960s Marjon Couture Lurex gown
Courtesy of leonardodavintage
1960s Kiki Hart alaskine collar dress
Courtesy of vivavintageclothing.com
1960s Lilli Diamond cocktail dress
Courtesy of vivavintageclothing.com
1960s Norman Norell wool dress
Courtesy of pastperfectvintage.com
1960s Norman Norell wool dress
Courtesy of pinkyagogo
1960s pop art dress
Courtesy of vivavintageclothing.com
1960s Brenner Couture dress
Courtesy of pinkyagogo
1960s Ungaro dress
Courtesy of poppysvintageclothing
1960 Oleg Cassini wool suit
Courtesy of frockofages.com
1960s Bonnie Cashin cashmere sweater
Courtesy of denisebrain
1960s sequin blouse
Courtesy of magsragsvintage
1960s Norman Norell silk dress set
Courtesy of pastperfect.com
1960s Safari faux ocelot coat
Courtesy of denisebrain
1960s Irving Posluns Leopard jacket
Courtesy of fallsavenuevintage
1960s Courreges jacket
Courtesy of endlessalley
1960s Lilli Ann wool knit dress
Courtesy of denisebrain
1960s Bonnie Cashin canvas coat
Courtesy of denisebrain
1960s Whiting & Davis metal mesh and lucite purse
Courtesy of vivavintageclothing.com
1960s tapestry purse
Courtesy of fallsavenuevintage
1960s Leather School Italy handbag 24k gold trim
Courtesy of pinkyagogo
1960s vinyl purse
Courtesy of cur.iovintage
1960s Emilio Pucci purse
Courtesy of cur.iovintage
1960s patent leather gogo bag
Courtesy of pinkyagogo
1960s vinyl purse and hat set
Courtesy of cur.iovintage
1960s Christian Dior hat
Courtesy of cur.iovintage
1960s tall crowned hat
Courtesy of denisebrain
Taj of India silk shoes
Courtesy of pinkyagogo
1960s Rayne patent leather shoes
Courtesy of leonardodavintage
1960s Miss America suede shoes
Courtesy of noblevintage.com
1960s boots
Courtesy of pinkyagogo
1960s canvas and patent leather boots
Courtesy of pinkyagogo
1960s lace up boots
Courtesy of magsragsvintage
1960s Vanity Fair girdle
Courtesy of pinkyagogo
1960s earrings
Courtesy of linnscollection
1960s William de Lillo amber & rhinestone set
Courtesy of vivavintageclothing.com
1960s rhinestone necklace
Courtesy of linnscollection
1960s bathing suit
Courtesy of pinkyagogo
1960s Sinz swimsuit
Courtesy of vivavintageclothing.com
1960s Sunmodes sunglasses
Courtesy of vivavintageclothing.com
1960s glasses
Courtesy of pinkyagogo
1960s Emilio Pucci sunglasses
Courtesy of pinkyagogo
1960s B&L Ray Ban sunglasses
Courtesy of pinkyagogo
1960s Italian bug eye sunglasses
Courtesy of pinkyagogo
1960s round eye sunglasses
Courtesy of pinkyagogo
1960s B&L Ray Ban 'Playtime' sunglasses
Courtesy of pinkyagogo
1960s B&L GF Aviator Sunglasses
Courtesy of pinkyagogo
1960s B&L Ray Ban Aviator sunglasses
Courtesy of pinkyagogo
1960s Hardy Amies 3 piece suit
Courtesy of poppysvintageclothing
1960s sharkskin suit
Courtesy of pinkyagogo
early 1960s Jomaz brooch
Courtesy of linnscollection
early 1960s Luis Estevez dress
Courtesy of cur.iovintage
1961 Hardy Amies suit
Courtedy of poppysvintageclothing
1964 Trifari brooch
Courtesy of linnscollection
1964-65 George Halley lace dress
Courtesy of antiquedress.com
1965 Emilio Pucci jacket
Courtesy of kickshawproductions
1966 tent coat dress
Courtesy of poppysvintageclothing
1967 Campell's soup paper dress
Courtesy of kickshawproductions.com
1967 Marimekko dress
Courtesy of denisebrain
1967-68 'Youthquake' dress
Courtesy of fuzzylizzie.com
1967-68 leather mini dress
Courtesy of pastperfectvintage.com
1968 Universal Studios paper dress
Courtesy of kickshawproductions.com
late 1960s silk Pucci sundress
Courtesy of vintagetextile.com
late 1960s Emilio Pucci dress
Courtesy of kickshawproductions
late 1960s Emilio Pucci wool dress
Courtesy of pastperfectvintage.com
late 1960s Henry Margu velvet & feather hat
Courtesy of pinkyagogo
Question or Comment? Enter it below.