hippy clothes 1960s hippy clothing
1960s' Hippy Clothing
Despite the fact that the hippie culture was all about being non-conformist and self-expression, there are some recognizable trends to the fashion styles that hippies followed. We take you back in time to discover these very trends.
A youth movement that started in the US during the mid sixties, the hippy subculture is one that is talked about even today. They heralded the power of peace, believed in universal love, and fought for the right of the self. The impact of this subculture has been far-reaching and wide. Probably one of the biggest influence that hippies have left behind has been that on fashion. While the culture was all about defining one's own individuality, there were some common themes in the way they styled themselves.
Vibrant, wacky, original, and colorful; these are just some of the keywords that define the hippy clothing of the 1960s. After the extremely fashionable and suave fifties, the fashion in the sixties showed a radical change.
The Way the Hippies Dressed Themselves
If you study fashion history or even just closely observe the styles that preceded and succeeded the hippie movement you will see a prevalent theme. These cultures often took inspiration from cultures that were till then considered 'developing' to exude a sense of style that was often vagabond-like. The hippie movement was all about challenging set molds and this trend was reflected in their clothing as well. The fashion was to a large extent, unisex. Both men and women maintained long hair, wore jeans, and roamed around bare-feet. Hippies chose to wear colorful clothing and unusual styles influenced by Native American, Indian, African, and Latin American motifs and patterns. A lot of their clothes were self-made. This was a statement to defy the existing corporate culture. The illustration below is a representation of some of the biggest trends that arose from the hippie culture.
The names used in the image are for representational purposes only
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Sonya shows us how many hippie chose to wear loose, flared pants known as bell-bottoms with cotton t-shirts. Accessories were often big-framed, rose-tinted glares, several bangles, and long chains.
Jo epitomizes the look that many women flaunted in this period. Mini dresses and skirts were a vogue. Floral prints and polka dots were preferred prints. Minis were more often than not teamed with boots.
Tom embodies the notion that many men of this era were in touch with their feminine side. He embraces colors like purple and green and wears his hair long. Like many men of his generation, he also has a beard which was quite a trend in the hippie movement.
Jerri showcases the tie and dye fashion that was the biggest influence of the subculture. A lot of hippies chose to tie and dye their clothes to make them more vibrant. Also note the style of his pants; the very definition of fashion-forward.
Sasha wears her hair in another style that was quite popular during the sixties, the Afro. She also accessorizes herself with the peace symbol, the omnipresent sign of the era. She also wears a sleeveless shift dress which gained popularity in the sixties.
Hazel wears a long maxi skirt and adorns her hair with a headband. Skirts that were calf-length were also quite popular. Many women choose to wear peasant blouses with these skirts.
These were some of the most popular fashion trends of the hippie culture. Many hippies also chose to adorn themselves with headbands and scarves. Macrame craft was very popular and used to make jackets and vests. Fringed jackets were also in vogue for men. Most hippie wore sandals or just went about bare-feet.
Today, all most people remember about the hippie culture is their fashion. The religious and cultural diversity that we enjoy today is a legacy of the hippie movement as is the sense of individual freedom and expression.