What Are Some Clothes That Women Wore in the 1960s?

Houndstooth was a print in women's clothing in the 1960s.

Women's fashion from the 1960s is full of memorable looks, styles, colors, and prints. These looks have transcended time and can still be seen in the fashion trends of today. Two different styles were prevalent for women in the 1960s. The hippie trend focused on bright colors, floral prints, and flowing dresses and tops. The mod trend influenced from fashion on the streets of 1060s London featured colorful, geometric, and Pop Art prints on mini-skirts and dresses, paired with go-go boots. The hippie and mod trends will forever represent 1960s fashion.

Pants

In the early part of the 1960s, women wore skinny capri pants. Skinny capri pants were perfect for women who were homemakers, preparing the family's meals and cleaning house. The skinny capri pants offered a comfortable yet stylish look with a hint of sexiness. The capri pants came in a variety of colors and prints, sometimes with a matching top. Culottes were another 60s trend. Theses loose-fitting trousers resembled a skirt when worn on the body.

The latter part of the decade offered a wilder trend in pants. Gone were skinny capri pants, in favor of pants with wider legs and lower waistlines. Bell bottoms, hip-huggers, and a bolder version of culottes called "hostess pajamas" became the rage. All of these styles offered the brightest colors and prints. Lime-green bell bottoms or daisy-printed hip huggers were worn by all women, from homemakers to college girls.

Tops

Traditional tops in the 1960s included blouses that were often sleeveless and featured a pretty color or print that could be paired with pants or a skirt. Blouses became less-fitted and more billowy as the decade progressed. 1960s sweaters were generally tight and usually ribbed. Sweaters were paired with skirts or pants.

Dresses

Dresses in the early 1960s were an extension of dresses from the 1950s. These were ladylike, conservative, and delicate. Styles reached the calves, featured full skirts, and often required petticoats and girdles. Dresses often featured frills and pastels and floral prints. Women wore dresses everywhere -- home, school, church, social occasions. Shirtdresses and Jacqueline Kennedy's sleeveless A-lines became the rage.

Dresses in the latter part of the decade became more daring and vibrant. Fitted dresses in longer lengths disappeared. Shifts featuring a looser silhouette and short hemlines appeared. Bright colors and vibrant prints replaced pastels. Women paired shift dresses with black tights and go-go boots, or bared their legs in mini-skirts.

Mary Quant, a fashion designer in London, introduced the mini-skirt in 1965. The mini-skirt's hemline fell well above the knees and was often paired with go-go boots. At first shocking, the look quickly went from London street fashion to an international trend.

Hippie versus Mod

Major fashion trends in the late 60s were the youthful and stylish hippie and mod looks. The hippie look was loose-fitting and free-spirited, while the mod look was sexy, slim, and sleek.

The hippie look used lots of bright colors, floral prints, and accessories such as peace-signs. Girls wore voluminous blouses in floral prints, hip-hugger or bell bottom jeans, sandals, and straight hair loose and free.

The London model Twiggy influenced the mod look. Mod girls were often interested in fashion and conscious of the trends. One iconic mod look was a boldly-colored and printed short shift dress paired with and go-go boots. The attire was usually slim-fitting. Women's hair was often ultra-short or straight and long with blunt bangs.

References

• The Fifties Web: Sixties Fashion
• The People History: 1960's Fashions including prices