Is there any decade which invokes images of glitz, glamour, Fashion, and style than the sixties? Carnaby Street, Mary Quant, mods, rockers, and mop headed Beatles. The mini skirt, swinging London, and iconic cars. Not to mention Woodstock, Isle of Wight, and the summer of love. England even won the World Cup. Oh. Man walking on the moon was pretty cool as well.

It wasn’t all golden, for a time the world was on the brink of nuclear war, but still, aren’t you absolutely gutted you missed it all? Actually, I’m sure some readers of this blog will already be recapturing their misspent youth but the majority will only be aware of the 1960s through old films, great pop bands, and, of course, the sixties incredible legacy of fashion icons.

Photo credit

Mary and the mini

We’ve given the sixties quite a buildup in that opening paragraph but, if there is one thing which characterises the decade more than anything else, it is the mini. Whether the garment or the car is open to debate but my vote goes to the skirt, which was, incidentally, named after the stars of The Italian Job.

Designer Mary Quant is usually credited with inventing the garment and she was certainly the person who mostly influenced its popularity with young people who flocked to her Kings Road shop. Quant was also the driving force behind the coloured tights and high boots which women wore to complement the skirt. Her experiments with rising hemlines also led to another iconic design which has spanned the decades; Hot Pants.

Hot pants and mini skirts were symbolic of the new liberated approach to fashion with young people embracing the work of a whole army of creative designers who were tapping into the changing face of Youth Culture.

Mods and rockers

It was a youth culture which revolved around two main movements. The classy looking mods with their sharp suits, Italian if you could afford it, and anoraks were the opposite of the rockers. They sported leather jackets and jeans, a look which is still popular. There were of course plenty of sub groups and the hippie bell-bottoms and tie-dyed shirts are as much a symbol of the 1960s as were the hordes of mods and rockers on Brighton beach.

1960s Vintage clothing

But it wasn’t just the younger generation who were driving change in fashion. Film stars such as Audrey Hepburn and Brigitte Bardot were huge influences on women as was the sophisticated Jackie Kennedy.

Although styles were changing the real revolution was driven by the willingness of fashion conscious men and women of all ages and sub-cultures to wear the designs of new designers and small studios rather than slavishly following the stale offerings of established fashion houses.

Back to the sixties

It was then, the decade that had it all. Now, thanks to the retro boom and specialist suppliers such as Brag Vintage, we can all revisit those halcyon days and wear the wonderful, iconic, and everlasting clothes which characterised those wonderful carefree years.

Why not check out the women’s Vintage Clothing section and put together a stunning 60s outfit? Though it may not feel like it summer is just around the corner so get ready for the sun with a fabulous mini or a pair of daring hot pants. For a more formal look take your inspiration from Jackie O and pick out an elegant evening dress or go all Breakfast at Tiffany’s with a classic black number. Heading to Glastonbury? Hippy chic is perfect for spending a few days in a field. They invented it after all, so a peasant blouse and bell bottoms are ideal for festivals.

Men looking to recreate a retro sixties outfit should look for slim fit trousers and a button down shirt or how about combining a pair of classic Levi’s with a black biker jacket? Mod or rocker you will find plenty of vintage gear on our shelves. You will have to provide your own Lambretta or Triumph though.

The post What The 1960s Has To Offer appeared first on Brag Vintage Blog.