How to Put Together a Sixties Look From Your Wardrobe

The 1960s was one of the most revolutionary decades in fashion. A vibrant youth culture, combined with sweeping social movements and an increasingly global influence, created an explosion of new styles and trends, many of which became fashion staples through the years. Because of the '60s wide variety of style, and because many of today's clothes use inspiration from the '60s, it's super easy to create a 1960s inspired look out of your closet. So whether you're a hippie or a square, we've got you covered! Read on for outfit ideas, then put all that newfound sartorial inspiration to good use and join our New Virtual Games for a 1960s night to remember!

Coming out of the 1950s, silhouettes became a little slimmer, moving towards a chic and streamlined look, a la Audrey Hepburn in Breakfast at Tiffany's, or Jackie Kennedy's incredibly elegant suit sets. To mimic this look, pair a boat neck top in a solid, neutral color with a sleek updo and big sunglasses. Or, pair a pastel suit jacket with a similarly colored blouse - Jackie’s matching suit sets were all the rage in the early ‘60s. For dresses and skirts, think sheath dresses or A-lines - no need for the poofy petticoats from the previous decade!

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Moving into the mid-‘60s, the fashion world got all shaken up with a “youthquake” brought on by the increasingly socially active young adults from the post-war baby boom. Combined with the British Invasion of heartthrob musicians and new teen supermodels, the conservative hemlines and color palettes of the early 60s didn’t stand a chance. Hemlines skyrocketed up into the new miniskirts, riotous colors swept the runways, and fashion took inspiration from the Space Race with shiny futuristic fabrics.

To capture the perfect Mod It Girl look, look for bright patterns and colors—the bolder, the better! A-line and sheath dresses took off even more, so look for pieces with less structured waistlines and a bit of a flare. Accessorize with a cute, wide headband, colored or patterned tights, and ankle boots. Or, for a more casual look, capri pants and skinny jeans were both massively popular in the mid 1960s - pair with a comfy striped turtleneck or a blouse with a Peter Pan collar, throw on some loafer or ballet flats, and you’re good to go!

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In the late ‘60s, Western fashion adopted a lot of Eastern influences, especially from Southeast Asia. Nehru jackets were a very popular unisex item, and silhouettes became long and flowing, with bright patterned paisleys and beaded accessories. Rock stars like the Beatles, Rolling Stones, and Jimi Hendrix proved color and extravagance was for everyone, and men’s fashion quickly caught up with bold suits, lacy and frilled tops, and patterned everything. For a perfect hippie dippie outfit, pull anything with fringe, beads, and frills - layer a pashmina shawl over a patterned maxidress, or pair a cropped eyelet shirt with wide-legged, flowing pants. By the end of the 60s, LIFE magazine stated that “the latest rule in…high school fashion is that there isn’t any,” so embrace the counterculture and have fun with patterns and textures!

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