A Century Of Style: The Challenge (1960 - 1970)

I'm back! Thanks for the lovely comments you left whilst I was away on yet another hedonistic weekend. The Big Chill was as fabulous as ever and I promise to share my tales of pyrotechnics, stage invasions and public nudity with you later in the week. In the meantime the Century of Style challenge continues with 1960-1970, the Swinging Sixties.

During the early years of the decade Jacqueline Kennedy's elegant way of dressing dominated fashion. Pastel-coloured suits with cropped jackets and oversized buttons, pillbox hats and simple shifts were worn with the stiletto heels first made fashionable in the Fifties.

Inspired by a 1964 design by Courrèges, Mary Quant adapted a shorter-style skirt for her boutique, Bazaar.  By 1966 she was producing short waist skimming mini dresses and skirts set almost seven inches above the knee. With the introduction of tights and the freedom they offered the mini was adopted by most stylish women of the Western world and changed the face of fashion for ever.

It's difficult to know which came first the skirt or the tights but what is certain it is unlikely the one could have existed without the other as no groomed young lady ever went out bare legged then.

 

Kitten heels became an alternative to the stilettoes of the earlier part of the decade and they eventually gave way to the low-heeled go-go boot which went perfectly with the shorter skirt. Dr Scholl sandals also became popular during the era.

Vintage shift (Jumble sale), Biba bangle and Biba sunglasses, Biba Go-Go boots (All inherited), Vinyl vanity case, emerald leather driving gloves and PVC mac (Car boot sale)

The Sixties also saw the birth of many new synthetic fabrics by both ICI and DuPont. Nylon, polyester and crimplene all held their shapes well and were ideally suited to the cut of the clothes and the vibrant colours worn in the 1960's. PVC was a popular choice for macs and jewellery was often perspex or lucite.