Hello, ladies and gentlemen! Welcome to another post about the unique lifestyle of the 70s, this time, we'll be discussing the Hippie culture! Or should I say, their wardrobe?! And now you ask: "why is that so important for you to write a whole post about it?". To what I reply: "shall we see?". Too mysterious, huh?! Well it's not a state secret, but still it can surprise you!
First things first, we need a little bit of context... as many of you may already know, the Hippies first appeared in the United States in the early 60s, and eventually spread around the world, like a disease... a colorful, and slightly crazy, disease!. If I had to define this revolution in one sentence it would be: young people take a stand against conformity (that came out nice!).
"Never doubt that a small group of thoughful, committed individuals can change the world, indeed it's the only thing that ever has." - Margaret Mead (American cultural anthropologist)Â
One way Hippies showed their dissatisfaction with society was by their appearance. This was a visible way to represent their beliefs, it was their identity card!... Is it getting more interesting now? But we'll get there in a minute, there's a small video I'd like you to see first!
Now, let's get down to business! (hahaha... sorry, but I couldn't resist!).
With the Hippie movement, came a huge change in fashion: the highly structured wardrobes of the 40s - 60s were replaced by the bold, revolutionary Hippie style. And it wasn't just women who enjoyed these fashion trends, men were empowered to wear flares, long hair, beads and bright kaftans.
Hippie clothing was often loose and made of natural fibers like cotton and hemp. Men and women grew their hair long and eschewed products and fussy styling (although, contrary to popular belief, they DID use shampoo!).
Hip hugger bell-bottom jeans, preferably with fringe at the ankle and flower patches, were seen everywhere. Peasant blouses, t-shirts, or just a skimpy halter top all went well with jeans. Anything handmade, whether sewn, knit or woven as macramé, was prized (many diy's included peace symbols, as the Vietnam War escalated). Gradually, this extended towards dyeing one's own clothes, and the colorful tie-dye style became popular!
In ladies' 60s fashions, the skirts and dresses were nothing like what was seen on runways! Not since the 1920s did fashion change so radically, and youth defined what was acceptable! The hemlines that shocked conservatives in the 1920s nearly gave some people apoplexy in the 60s, as girls with good legs sported mini, and even, micro mini skirts! Dresses were either short and skimmed the body, or they were long, loose peasant or granny dresses.
The most popular patterns in Hippie clothing were floral and tie-dye, but there were others that showed up time and time again in the free-spirited clothing they wore. There was usually quite a bit of color and the clothes could involve psychedelic designs, op art, paisley and stripes (even the bell-bottoms!).
It's been talked about so much that it's now a cliché, or even a joke, but flowers were very emblematic of the Hippie movement! Nothing represented "peace and love" so much as a flower, and they were everywhere! Flowers on tops, flowers on dresses, flowers on skirts, flowers on jeans, flowers in the hair... you got the idea, right?! They even painted flowers on their faces! Hippies argued that in the face of "the ugliness in the world", it was important to display as much natural beauty as possible.
Fun fact: the ankles received a lot of attention! Many Hippies, especially those living on the warm west coast, preferred to walk barefoot. This was definitely not a popular time for pedicures!
While this was not the first time in fashion history that a youth movement affected the clothing industry, it did have the strongest impact! Designers found themselves very much taking their cues from the young people, and never again would the majority of American women be dictated to by the fashion industry. Trends continue to come and go, but women who found their own style and individuality in the 1960s have never let it go and passed much of it on to their daughters.
From maxi dresses to peasant blouses, Hippie fashion is making a comeback. But how do you wear these out-there statement pieces without looking like you are geared up for a fancy-dress party? The trick is, unlike the 60s - 70s Hippie fashion, when "More was More", you should stick to the fashion rule: "Less is More"!
So rummage for vintage items in flea marets or your parents (or grandparents?) closets, or pick up a more modern interpretation of one of these many hippie style trends!
"If someone thinks that love and peace is a cliche that must have been left behind in the '60s, that's his problem. Love and peace are eternal." - John Lennon    Â
Main sources/pictures:
Photo by Vasilios Muselimis on Unsplash
Photo by Sarah Vombrack on Unsplash
Photo by Sharon McCutcheon on Pexels
william87/iStock.com