Fashions of the 60s

Some 60s fashion trends have followed us to the 21st century.

The 1960s marked an era of fashion revolution and one of the most fashion conscious periods in recent history. Popular fashion items in the 60s included bell bottom jeans, tie-dyed clothing, paisley prints, Pocahontas headbands and miniskirts. Mismatched patterns, highlighter colors and psychedelic prints were also a trendy part of fashion in the 1960s.

Bell Bottoms

Bell bottom jeans

Bell bottoms were trousers worn in the 1960s that became wider from the knees down. Bell bottoms can be compared to flare jeans of today's fashion trends, as well as loon pants and boot cut jeans. These jeans are normally tight around the waist, hips and thigh area, and begin to loosen as the jeans reach the knee area. Bell bottoms became very popular in the 1960s and were worn by various celebrities such as Sonny and Cher, The Beatles and super group Derek and the Dominoes.

Tie-dye

Tie-dyed clothes were popular.

Tie-dyed clothing was a popular clothing item in the 1960s; it was a pattern of color made by twisting clothing to make a colorful splatter design. Tie-dyed shirts, bandannas, shorts and any other types of clothing or material that could be tie-dyed were tie-dyed in the 1960s. Tie-dyed clothing was worn with Pocahontas headbands and fashion beads of different styles.

Miniskirt

Wearing a miniskirt was a fashion risk.

Mary Quant, an influential designer in the 1960s, was the inventor of the miniskirt. Miniskirts became popular in the 1960s along with mini dresses, flat boots and short colored gloves. Most miniskirts were set 6 to 7 inches above the knee, and wearing one was a controversial fashion risk. Because the miniskirt was so short, you had to be youthful to pull off the miniskirt look.

Paisley Prints

Paisley prints were a popular fashion choice.

Paisley prints originated in India and Persia, and were popular in the 1960s in American culture as well as European Baltic states. Paisley prints are still a part of modern fashion culture in the form of rugs, clothing and curtains.

References

• Fashion Era: The 60s Mini Skirt - 1960s Fashion History
• Demon Buster: Paisley Print
• Fiftees Web: Sixties Fashion
• Baby Boomers Headquarters: Fashion in the 60's and 70's