Evolution of Fashion in the Decade of 1960
Fashion got a new face in the decade of 1960. It went through
innumerable changes and modifications in this era. Fashion went through
many stages in this decade.
Early 1960: how did it start?
 Suits were very common. Woman preferred to wear suits in pastel shades.
Short, boxy jackets were in fashion. The jackets came along with big
buttons. In the early 1960, women had not started exploring new and bold
clothes. They used to wear plain dresses which were known as shifts.
These dresses had geometrical patterns and were mostly sleeveless. But
when the women went to parties they wore waist fitting ball-gowns. The
teenage girls and the women also wore casual Capri trousers. Stilettos
were also popular.
Men used to wear plain shirts with slacks as casual wear. Colorful,
broad ties of vivid patterns were worn with shirts. Leather boots and
collarless jackets were liked a lot by the men of early 1960s.
Mid 1960: the change
This is the most important period of the whole decade. The era of
Mid-1960 modified the look of fashion completely. It was one of the
biggest steps ever taken. Women became bold. Designers designed some of
the best clothes. This period was a landmark in the history of fashion.
Miniskirts were designed for the first time in this era. A-line mini
dresses were also worn frantically by the women. Colors played a huge
role. Designers and the common mass started experimenting with bright
(You can term it even wild) colors. Florescent colors got a place in the
fashion world. This change was brought about by the British. They were
leading the whole world in terms of fashion.
 Velvet mini dresses, wide tent dresses, micro minis replaced the age old
simple dresses. Cocktail dresses also got modified. Women wore chiffon,
baby doll dress to parties. These dresses had provocative hemlines. Bell
bottomed trousers had abolished Capri trousers. The bell bottomed pants
were worn with chiffon blouses, polo necked sweaters etc. The Nehru
jacket came into being in 1966. Men wore suits of various colors. But
the suits that were worn were smart and fitting. Gone were the days when
men used to wear oversized clothes. Men looked strong and handsome in
their slim suits.
Women wore “go go” boots and low heeled boots as footwear. “Beatle
boots” were also quite famous. These boots were inspired from the rock
band “Beatles”. Young boys and girls wore these Beatle boots a lot.
Leather shoes and leather bags were also in fashion in mid 1960.
Late 1960:
The hippy fashion had comfortably settled in the society by the end of
1960. Women and men wore bell bottomed jeans and tie and dye shirts.
Work shirts were also worn. The look was completed with the help of
headbands. Many women experimented with new kind of clothes. Some women
even sported clothes without wearing a bra.
 Teenage girls wore caftans, Mexican peasant blouses, fringed vests and
scarves, skirts. They would often wear bangles as accessories. There was
a famous combination of a mini skirt with a French polo neck top which
was worn by the women a lot. Paisley prints along with animal prints
were also popular. A “Woodstock” look became very popular in this era.
Thus, this was the evolution of the fashion in the decade of 1960.
Clothes were reinvented, hemlines were reduced and new looks were tried.
Fashion changed forever after this era. The bikinis also became famous
in this period. Women wore clothes like never before. Men also were not
far behind. They started wearing smart and cool clothes that make the
women gape at them.
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