The 1960s were one of the most influential decades in fashion! It was a time of great change in society and the clothes really reflected this, with bold statement prints and eye-catching colours. The style was all about wearing bright garments with block shapes and psychedelic patterns. From Twiggy to The Beatles influencing fashion – we’ve picked some of the key styles of the decade. Even even now, you’ll notice that so many of our clothes are inspired by 1960s trends.
Bell bottom trousers
Bell bottoms, aka flares or wide legs, are trousers which get wider from the knee down. They’re called bell bottoms because the shape of the leg somewhat resembles the shape of a bell! This style first became popular for both men and women in the 1960s during the move towards the hippy era. They were made even more popular by a number of rock stars, including the likes of Elvis Presley.
Go-go boots
Go-go boots are the most iconic shoe of the 1960s. They are typically low heeled boots that come up to around the middle calf and were originally in white. They got their name from the “go-go” dance that was popular during the time, where women would wear them with short skirts out dancing. The show-stopping shoes were originally designed by french fashion designer André Courrèges and worn by stars like Nancy Sinatra! In this photo, they are worn by the band The Lennon Sisters.
Mini skirts
Mini skirts are probably the most iconic trend of the sixties because they were so controversial at the time! The mini skirt got its name from being – well – pretty short! Known for sitting above the knee, around the middle of the calf, the skirt was much shorter than clothes worn in previous decades. Designed by British designers like Mary Quant, the skirt became a fixture of the decade and was worn by famous models of the time like Twiggy. It is a trend that lives on today and is still going strong.
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Afghan coats
You’ll most likely have seen people wearing Afghan coats out and about today, but believe it or not, these were originally worn in the late 1960s! The Afghan coat, which is a long style coat with a fluffy trim around the collar, was first imported to London in 1966. They were originally sold in small boutiques and were popularised by bands like The Beatles. These luscious jackets continued as a trend right through into the 1970s, and are now back in fashion again!
Tights
Have you noticed that coloured bright tights have made a bit of a comeback? Well, they actually originated in the 60s. Made to be worn with mini skirts or a-line babydoll dresses, coloured tights were a big phenomenon during this decade! Tights were a breath of fresh air for women after they’d been wearing stockings for years, which needed holding up with garter belts which are fiddly! We can thank this era for tights of all colours and patterns, including fishnets and printed tights too!
Polo-necks / Turtlenecks
Polo necks, also known as turtlenecks or roll-necks, are tops or sweaters that roll up to the top of the neck. Although this item of clothing is still very popular today, they were originally fashionable in the 1960s, and worn by both men and women. The style was adopted by Mods and Beatniks who wore the turtlenecks as a rebellious statement, rejecting fashion norms at the time. Not just a sweater hey! They soon became popular with celebrities too and associated with a cool, sophisticated look.
