The 1950s was a decade when most English people were seen in white and black. Technicolor made an entry only during the 1960s. In other words, the English’s 60’s style clothing had color like never before. In fact, during this period, London underwent a major transformation and became a more cosmopolitan city from being a conservative place. The 1960s would, therefore, always be the decade that majorly contributed to how the United Kingdom has turned out today.
Fashion during the decade mirrored several social changes and upheavals of the ’60s. The mini skirt became famous and epitomized 1960s fashion. The outfit was designed to make women feel liberated and free in the outfit, letting them to jump and run at will. The designs entailed simple geometric colors and shapes that provided women a fresh sense of femininity. The ladies had the freedom to wear more youthful, playful clothes, which would have been considered preposterous ten years ago. During the late ’60s, vibrant colors and psychedelic prints started appearing on outfits as the hippies came to being in the country.
Decade of the Icons
The 1960s also saw its fair share of fashion icons. From the beehive of Brigitte Bardot and geometric prints of Mary Quant, every fashion icon in the ’60s had a stamp of their own during the decade. The 1960s was the time when girl groups, gamine supermodel, and “IT girls” were in their full flow. And this trend or theme spilled over to the subsequent decade as well.
Modern designers still look up to the ’60s for inspiration. During the ’60s, several fashion traditions and rules were done away with, reflecting the decade’s momentous political and social changes. As aforementioned, it was the time when no beehive was too high or no skirt too short. In fact, today’s generation should be thankful to the ’60s for the geometric prints, culottes, and boxy silhouettes.
• Edie Sedgwick
Edie Sedgwick is considered by many the first IT girl. An IT girl is essentially a young lady who has attained celebrity-like status just for her social lifestyle. Edie was known for her eyeliner lashings, mini mod dresses, chandelier earrings, and a platinum hair crop.
• Twiggy
You cannot talk about the UK fashion scene of the 1960s and not mention Twiggy in the same breath. Lesley Hornby, also called Twiggy, was known for her pixie crop. Her boyish style and thick eyelashes gave her supermodel status, and she became the decade’s face almost overnight.
Some of the other fashion icons of the decade were Anita Pallenberg, the Rolling Stones, and Mary Quant.
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