Posted on 03/08/2005 12:23:28 PM PST by pissant
1960-1970: Youth predominated the culture of the 1960's. The post World War II Baby Boom had created 70 million teenagers for the sixties, and these youth swayed the fashion, the fads and the politics of the decade. California surfers took to skateboards as a way to stay fit out of season, and by 1963, the fad had spread across the country. Barbie dolls, introduced by Mattel in 1959, became a huge success in the sixties, so much so that rival toy manufacturer Hasbro came up with G.I. Joe, 12 inches tall and the first action figure for boys. Another doll, the troll or Dammit doll (named for it's creator, Joseph Dam) was a good luck symbol for all ages. Slot cars overtook toy trains in popularity.
In fashion, the 1960's began with crew cuts on men and bouffant hairstyles on women. Men's casual shirts were often plaid and buttoned down the front, while knee-length dresses were required wear for women in most public places. By mid-decade though, miniskirts or hot pants, often worn with go-go boots, were revealing legsl bodywear was revealing curves, and women's hair was either very short or long and lanky. Men's hair became longer and wider along with beards and moustaches. Menswear too had a much needed renaissance; bright colors, double-breasted sports jackets, polyester pants suits with Nehru jackets, and turtlenecks were in vogue.
By 1964 the teenage influence caused the hemlines to creep up, and most teenagers were wearing mid-thigh length shifts as daywear. The sweater-dress was also very popular with young girls from 1961 onwards, until the mid-60s when other innovative designs were introduced. 1965 saw the premiere of culotte dresses in op-art or vibrant coloured patters (think Peter Max or Pucci) and these were most popular as evening or party wear; culottes had the freedom of trousers but the look of a full skirt. 1966’s dress was the tent, or "baby doll dress", sometimes in transparent chiffon, worn over a contrasting slip, and often sewn-in.
1966 was the year of the mini-skirt! Widely acknowledged as the brainchild of designer Mary Quant, within a year anybody who had the body to pull it off was wearing a mini, many of whose hemlines were 4-5 inches above the knee in New York and 7-8 inches above the knee in London! Throughout this time skirts were often paired with a matching sweater and matching set of tights for a uniform look. 1965 and 66 also saw the mini-coat, perfectly straight and virtually shapeless; also the pop-inspired dyed furs and PVC designs. By 1967 capes were popular, and were often made with matching deerstalker hats.
In the fall 1967 collections, the paper dress made its debut. Made of paper blended with nylon or other cellulose material, it was intended for everyday wear but was only ever widely used as holiday or lounge wear, due to its tendency to crease and also its, er, flammability.
In ladies' tops or blouses, from 1960 onwards the turtleneck, or polo neck, sweater was common, especially under a collarless jacket, and in 1966 Aran sweaters, with their thick knit, became trendy. Sleeve length was usually ¾ length, with long sleeves often pushed partway up the arms for a ¾ look (think Jackie O style suits and jackets). Sleeveless tops did not become popular until the mid 1960s.
By the end of the decade, men's ties, when worn, were up to 5" wide; most were patterned even when worn with stripes. Women wore peasant skirts or granny dresses and chunky shoes. Unisex dressing was very popular, featuring the bell bottomed jeans, love beads, and embellished t-shirts. Clothing was as likely to be purchased at surplus stores as boutiques. Blacks of both genders wore their hair in an afro; whites of both genders wore their hair either big and frizzy or long and straight.
http://www.inthe80s.com/pictures/gallery5.shtml
That's I on the right; not a great pix (too dark, not to mention why am I showing my nose?) but I loved spikes - DID EVERY1 FORGET SPIKED HAIR? Guys had it always and lots of us girls did too.
My "punk" pal on the left shows a pretty typical girl for her type. Often she had the red or purple tinge in the hair, too.
My "average" pal in the middle probably shows a bit more on the "tame" side of normal (as opposed to the normal popular girls). I was my own beast w/a mix of some things.
to this mess called hair 
That's right! I forgot that it stopped changing colors after it had been washed a number of times. I still wore the shirt even after the fact. It ended up getting ripped into smaller pieces and my Mom used the pieces for dust rags. LMAO!
I thought the shoes were by Sperry, at least in my neck of the woods.
you were trouble, I can tell by your pic. :o)
Everything then was Blue Horse notebooks and loose leaf binders. Had two different styles of notebook paper, big lines and mini-lines. Cut out the Blue Horse coupons for free stuff.
Homework and other papers were handed in to the teacher folded lengthwise in half.
Maybe Sperry was a left coast brand, east coast had Bass Weejuns.
Yeah, we all wore ours after they stopped changing color, too. We just couldn't give up hope.
We were bored. LOL
I just hope perms don't come back. They were horrible. I had a perm from about 11-15 years old. I was cleaning out some things and found my old yearbook. All the girls have gigantic, crispy looking perms.
High school kids would never be caught dead wearing a pair of blue jeans to school. Only the nerds, squares and FFA kids wore jeans.
Great picture :)
I went to broadcast college after high school, and there was a guy in my class who looked exactly like Jon Bon Jovi, so I gave him the nickname Bon Jovi, and it stuck to him. Eventually everyone called him that. LOL
He wasn't a musician or even a singer, but he seemed to live the lifestyle. LOL
My hair was never the same after all those perms.
I had a lopsided perm- one side way shorter than the other, and permed to the hilt. 80s!!!!
What's the airhead supposed to represent? '90s?
Hey, you're a guy, you should know what you like in women! ;-D As a woman, perhaps I have slightly different views of what's good.
Audrey looked good, of course. I just didn't like most of the hair styles then - when the hair looks like it's had a bicycle pump stuck to it and blown up (doesn't apply to "big hair" in the '80s cuz it was more of a "mess" and couldn't possibly look like a real balloon...).
Of course you could be concentrating too much on the actual woman (who would want that airhead wimpy bimbo anyway?) instead of the style by itself. ;-)
And I'm not saying that airhead's hair is good - yes, that is just a mess (albeit not terrible, IMO). Looks like she just got out of the shower and is letting it "air" dry....
I BEGGED for a Trapper Keeper. You would have thought I needed it to live the way I begged for it. I finally got one and it was black and white checked- the height of 80's cool.
Everyone in our preppy school wore jeans. The fashionable gals had tight jeans with no back pockets and the seam really crept up the 'ol crack. The cool chicks (that liked to hang out with me) wore Levis, and I'll always have fond memories of such.
Oh! I forgot, the head janitor's name at that college was Bud Wiser, so I nicknamed the assistant, Bud Light.
Have you seen the price of trapper keepers on Ebay? wow
Trapper Keepers were cool! I don't think I remember anyone who didn't have one.
They were the worst! Mine were all Toni home perms, too.
The horror. The horror...
Just my opinion that styled hair looks better than the "purposely styled to look messy". That's all. And putting Audrey next to Meg Ryan is very unfair...
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.