“If you’re going to San Francisco be sure to wear some flowers in your hair”. These lyrics from the song, “SanFrancisco”, give us a glimpse into what we might expect to see a young hippie 1960’s type, wearing back in those days. They would often give flowers to people on the street and in the parks, hence the name “flower child”.
To this description of course we could also add hip hugger bell bottom jeans, a Pocahontas headband, maybe a chain belt, and a peasant top. Instead of jeans, a granny dress or long afghan dresses. Maybe a halter made of macramé with some beads about the neck. And maybe too fashionable for the early hippies, but popular later with a more sophisticated look, was a velvet top with tiny mirrors embedded into the embroidery. Everything was natural fabrics. The jeans might be patched, with fringed bottoms. Shirts, vests and jackets, could also be fringed. Boots were cool, but not those go go boots. The hippie didn’t want to look ‘fashionable’.
Also no heavy make-up. This would go against what the hippie 1960’s culture believed. Anything that was too manufactured or artificial was not cool.
Remember there was a rebellion going on against the establishment. The children wanted to turn away from what they saw going on in their parents world; war, greed, selfishness, hypocrisy. They thought all that mattered to their parents was a good job and a house in the suburbs.
The ‘Hippie 1960’s Movement’ was supposed to show the rest of the world how to live in ‘Peace’, and that your clothing wasn’t important, because we should look inside of a person for their true value, not at the clothes they wear, or how much money they have, or the college they attended.
Brotherly love would get you through the hard times. So, “do your own thing” and be yourself. Some people made their own clothes.
Of course with this said, we shouldn’t forget that the sixties fashions world was exploding with new and exciting stylish innovations, popular among other sectors of the population, but here we’re mainly discussing hippies.
However as the decade progressed, we will see how certain “hippie” styles did become fashionable.
And there was one designer who mixed it all up into a fresh look that was very fashionable. His name was Bill Gibb.

Many notables wore his fashions; Elizabeth Taylor, Twiggy, and many more.
He was known to put it all together, lace and patchwork, kind of a mish-match of things, but that was the point. A clash of color.
The inventor of the so called “hippie look”. He got many of his ideas from medieval clothing, and African influences.

These hippie styles have made a come-back in recent years. People are buying hippie costumes for Halloween parties and special occasions, and the hippie wedding dress is popular again.

Author; D.A. Grosshans

RESOURCES:
Hollywood Style Vintage

Who invented the miniskirt? Was it Mary Quant or Andre Courreges?
Well I have to tell you Andre is given the credit. However Mary Quant brought the miniskirt onto the world stage.Infact she was way ahead of her time, and opened a boutique in Chelsea in 1955 called the Bazaar.
She was later able to offer her colored tights and miniskirts to the masses at a price they could afford, by contracting with JC Penney, and agreeing to four collections a year.
Certainly we can say Mary Quant introduced the sixties fashion world to the miniskirt.
She was born in London, England on February 11, 1934. At an early age she took to sewing, and making clothes. Once when in bed sick, she cut up the bedspread with her nail scissors and visualized making a dress from its wild colors.
When she was older Mary had to persuade her parents to let her go to art school, they said yes, but only if she would agree to become an art teacher. She attended Goldsmiths College of Art in London. And it was there that she met her business partner, and future husband Alexander Plunket Greene.
She has an autobiography QUANT BY QUANT

Author; D.A. Grosshans

A mod costume is the perfect solution for Halloween. Retro parties are also popular; you’ll be a hit if you show up in a costume influenced by the “mod” era, or 1960s British culture. This culture of the 1960s and 1970s was said to incorporate anything “modern.” Originally a subculture, the mod look spread to many different groups both in Britain and in the United States. This popular vintage style experiences a resurgence every few years, and today the mod look is a trendy style for everyday wear as well as costumes.

 

When assembling a mod costume, stick with very bold colors. Black, white, and bold shades of primary colors should be your inspiration. Your costume should not use any pastels, grays, or other weaker shades; choose the brightest ones you can find. The one more subdued shade that was worn during the mod era was camel, a tan color often seen in suits or other basics, particularly on men. Patterns seen during the mod era were very bold. These graphic designs often included blocks of color or plaids in very contrasting tones.

 

One way to style a mod costume is to pair very dark-wash denim jeans with several colors of bright tops, for example a dark red shirt and a sunny yellow cardigan. Corduroy is another style that was popular during the mod era; guys can pair a corduroy suit with a bright shirt. Another type of suit that could be worn for a mod costume is a bright color, such as red. A very bright white shirt with a smaller collar can be worn with any of these looks, especially with a contrasting pair of pants in any bright or dark shade. The belt worn with any of these styles should be skinny, not wide. If you want to wear a skirt as part of your costume, it should be short, and worn with a pair of flat boots. It should not be a denim miniskirt, however, but a bright color, in keeping with the mod style. Tights are acceptable to wear under the skirt, and should be in a color that contrasts both the boots and the skirt, if possible.

 

Mod costumes can also incorporate some very retro accessories. One of the most popular mod accessories is a pair of flat leather boots, particularly in white or black. Jewelry should be very chunky, almost caricature-like, and incorporate very large plastic baubles in all of the colors popular elsewhere in mod style. Secure your hair with a bright headband. If you want to wear a wig with your mod costume, find one in a very blunt style, such as a short bob, or wear your hair long and straight.

 

Unlike when assembling your everyday wardrobe, a mod costume should be over-the-top. Make sure that your ensemble says “mod” from head to toe. This quintessential 60’s look is also known as the Mary Quant and Vidal Sassoon looks. The Beatles can also be considered mod. Looking at pictures of the mod style can help inspire you to come up with your own mod look.

 

Author; D.A. Grosshans

 

 

 

 

 

In vintage clothing, 1960’s fashions are very popular. Although many people have an image in their head when they think of clothing from the 1960’s, in fact this decade encompasses several diverse clothing trends.

 

At the beginning of the 1960s, clothing lines were still similar to the quintessential 1950s style, including full skirts (the “poodle skirt”,) and pastels or lighter shades of color. These elegant styles included the pillbox hat worn often by Jacqueline Kennedy, skirt suits, and capris for women. Popular shoes included very high stiletto heels.

 

In the mid 1960s, fashion broke from these traditions to embrace social movements happening during this time. The bikini first became popular in the mid 1960s. In clothing, 1960’s trends closely mirrored what was happening socially, including hippie styles and the “mod” style of bright colors and go-go boots which came into style along with British pop bands like the Beatles. The new 1960s footwear included flat styles rather than the stiletto heels of the 1950s.

 

In clothing, 1960s styles differed from 1950s and early 1960s styles in the hemlines, which became very short “mini” styles after 1964 rather than the longer skirts of decades past. The unique “micro mini” was a very short skirt, well above the knee. Another popular shape was the shift dress, a simple sleeveless dress extending to the knee or just above the knee.

 

Another difference in 1960s fashions was the color; 1960s clothing is known for bold prints and bright colors rather than subdued solid shades. New synthetic fibers like spandex, nylon, polyester, and acrylics were being used in clothing; 1960s styles use much less wool and other natural fibers than in decades past. PVC was even used as a textile for clothing. These new styles helped fashion to celebrate modernity; this fact is mirrored in the clothing designs themselves.

 

Menswear of the 1960s is known for being bright and visually interesting, with wide printed ties, collarless jackets, and bright colors for the suits themselves. Some of the popular styles of the 1960s included unisex styles worn by both women and men, particularly in the “mod” era. Both men and women could wear a pair of trousers along with a brightly patterned blouse or button-down shirt.

 

By the end of the decade, pants were beginning to widen at the bottom, flaring into what would become bellbottoms by the 1970s for the true “hippie era.” Although the 1970s is known for hippies, in clothing 1960s trends clearly paved the way for these hippie styles.

 

Before the 1960s, the “teenager” group had not yet become distinct, and most fashion trends were seen on those young and old. In clothing, 1960s styles were more youth-oriented and closely followed music and social movements. Designers focused more on the teenage age group than ever before, resulting in some very fun and playful styles. The first supermodels gave women inspiration to follow these trends. The decade of the 1960s is known for quickly changing fashion trends or “fads”, which continues to the present day.

 

Author; D.A.Grosshans

 

60’s vintage clothing is one of the best loved retro styles, and pieces can be incorporated into nearly every style today. If you want to incorporate 1960’s clothing into your look, be sure that you are doing it right.

 

First, start with just a few pieces. If you change your wardrobe to a complete 1960s look, it may end up seeming like you are wearing a theme costume every day. 60’s vintage clothing should be found piece-by-piece, and incorporated into the everyday look that already fills your closet. Vintage jewelry, including bright plastic beaded necklaces and bangle bracelets, is a great way to start the transition without breaking the bank. Then, add a few key pieces like a bright cardigan, fun flower-print shirt, shirtdress, or pair of flat boots. These versatile looks can easily be worn with modern styles without looking out of place.

 

Be sure to consider today’s styles when choosing your 60’s vintage clothing. Miniskirts are one 60’s fashion that is considered very stylish today. Another 60’s trend currently experiencing a resurgence are flat boots in bright colors, including white, blue, and red. Printed shirts, especially those with bold patterns or floral designs, are another popular way to add the 60’s look to your wardrobe. There are many different ways to use 60’s vintage clothing along with the clothing you already own that will give you a bit of vintage flair while still staying true to your personality.

 

When buying 60’s vintage clothing, it’s also important to think about how the style works with your personal style and on your body. Don’t wear it just because it’s vintage. It has to fit right and look good on you. Some vintage clothing styles, just like some modern styles, won’t look right on all body shapes. Approach 60’s vintage clothing as you would appraise modern styles when determining whether you want to incorporate an item into your wardrobe.

 

When choosing vintage clothing rather than modern designer looks, you’ll need to consider quality and condition. Unlike new looks that you purchase from regular retail stores, these fashions have been worn for several decades already. Make sure that they look like they’ll stand up to several more. Paper dresses were very popular in the 1960s, but they had a short-lived existence. Even if you find one today, you shouldn’t try to wear it. Instead look for 60’s fashions that will hold up to frequent wearing and aren’t already showing stains or other signs of wear.

 

Besides the condition of the clothing, always make sure that it fits your body exactly right. Many 60’s clothing styles were meant to be tight fitting, but of course you don’t want them to be too tight. If possible try the clothing on to see how it fits you.

 

60’s vintage clothing is a very fun fashion style that is classic, retro, and very entertaining to wear. When choosing vintage fashions, be sure to consider your personal look, what’s popular this season, and of course, inspect the clothing you see.

 

Author; D.A.Grosshans