1960s Fashion Essay

The 1960s was a youth-oriented decade – the “baby boomers” were coming of age and defined the decade as their own. The youth had a big influence on fashion. Since the 1950s, the young had disposable income to hand and it was spent on looking stylish.

Makeup looks were at both ends of the scale, from the au naturel look of the hippie brigade to the dramatic black and white eyes of mod high-fashion, with pastel colours making their mark on the masses.

London had led the way with themod look (“modernist”) since the late fifties, and new stores catering to the fashion tastes of the younger generation popped up all over, notably in Carnaby Street and Kings Road. The mod look peaked between early 1964 and mid-1967. During this time, youth-orientated

A typical 1960s woman would then set her foundation with liberal application of a translucent powder to create a perfect matte finish.

However, as the decade progressed, Max Factor’s iconic Pan-Cake makeup became increasingly popular. The breakthrough formula – a foundation and powder in one – was applied to the face with a damp sponge to achieve a polished but natural complexion. This “less is more” ideal reigned supreme for the rest of the decade with women avoiding the previously acceptable cakey look at all costs. Much like today, 1960s girls relied on concealer to correct and conceal small blemishes and areas of redness.

C H E E K S

Believe it or not, blush was not a must in the 1960s. Those who did want to add a gentle flush of colour to their cheeks generally opted for delicate, peachy hues. Other fashionable choices included the subtle use of soft rose and warm brown blushers.

Pastel colours like corals, pinks and peach were the fashionable colours, and the look geared towards natural and