Clothes of a Hippie
Hippie clothing, also referred to as "retro" clothing, was worn and sometimes even made by "hippies," a group of people comprised of both young and old who believed in a simpler way of life. The Hippies made their own unique style popular in the 1960s through the early 1970s. They had their own music, lifestyle and social beliefs.
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Pants, Skirts and Dresses
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Hippie clothing styles included jeans for both men and women. Two main styles were hip-huggers and bell bottoms. Hip-huggers were tight and sat just above the hip similar to the low-rise jeans of today. The bell-bottom style was a flared or bell-bottom leg wider at the bottom and covering the shoes.
Skirts were long and made from natural fibers such as cotton and linen. One mark of the Hippie movement was the use of natural and organic materials. Granny skirts and peasant dresses were very popular items. Dresses were both long and short, sundresses being very popular in the summer.
Men's Shirts and Women's Tops and Blouses
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Shirts for men included tie-dyed T-shirts and vests worn over a long-sleeve shirt or on a bare chest. The vests were leather with fringes and beads. Tops for women were puffy peasant blouses, bikini tops, and black turtleneck sweaters. Macrame and handmade crocheted tops became popular with the Hippie generation. A lot of clothing items were handmade to support the belief in being self-sufficient and living off the land.
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Shoes and Accessories
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Shoes for men and women were very basic open-toed leather sandals. Women also wore go-go boots emulating the style of '60s icon Nancy Sinatra. Bare feet were acceptable too.
Fashion and Philosophy
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Clothing colors and patterns were often big flowers and large prints. The trend was to be different from everyone else. Bright colors, a flower tucked behind one ear, flower headbands and tie-dyed clothing was considered fashionable. The Hippie philosophy was very similar to what we now call "going green." The idea was for materials to be natural and biodegradable, and clothing was often handmade on a sewing machine or crocheted. Everything was recycled for another use, and living off the land in a sustainable way was what Mother Nature intended.
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References
Resources
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