1960s Fashion Essay

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In its history, America has been one of the most influential, and influenced cultures of the world. So many different people, ideas, and products have been in and out of this country that American culture is one of , if not, the most diverse social structure of its time. Although it has been through many evolutions and revolutions, a certain time in this nation’s history can be pinpointed as its most drastic. The cultural movement of the 1960s was one of the largest evolutions of its kind that America has experienced thus far as it separated the rebellious youth from the traditional norm practiced by their well-seasoned elders. The 1960’s was the first time in history that clothing was geared towards the youth market. In result, the industry broke many fashion traditions and ignored many other “social laws”. In the past, fashion houses designed for the mature and elite members of society; however, many agents began to realize that the power of the teenage and young adult market was too great to ignore and they were too smart not to capitalize on such an opportunity. As a response to this information, new and radically innovative fashion styles were introduced into modern society. Prior to the 1960s there were the silk bows, small buckles, and dark colors of the 1900s, "Flapper" fashion took over the 1920s Among these were the little girl/woman androgynous looks for women, the pillbox hat, suits (usually in pastel colors) for women, short boxy jackets, over-sized buttons were used, simple/geometric dresses (or shifts). As for everyday styles, full-skirted formal gowns which often had a low decolletage and had close-fitting waists were worn as evening wear and outfits paired with capri trousers were worn as casual wear for women... ... middle of paper ... ...x hats, and buckle shoes, with gold or silver heels to match the buckles. There wasn’t just one style that everyone stuck to, the idea was to find your own style and make it an expression of the self, and make it yours. Not so much stress was put on status or wealth, people were more consumed in making their clothes a liberation of their generation. Despite how much the world had previously evolved, the 1960s was the biggest shift into a passive aggressive rebellion the United States had yet to see. The fashion movement of the 1960’s was a cultural one, incomparable to any other. Not only did we see a change in the way people dressed, but there was also a change in the way people thought and chose to live. Empowered by its nature of deliberate actions, this cultural rebellion fueled the uprising that burned in the hearts of America’s youth for many years to follow.

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