The British Invasion and 1960s Women's Fashion

The 1960s were a time of change, for throwing out the past and creating a bold new future. The music became progressively more psychedelic, societal norms turned upside down, and fashion was no exception with bold new colours and shapes replacing those of earlier eras. The first part of the decade was characterized by ladylike fashions with clean shapes and bright colours a la Jackie O's iconic fashion. As the decade continued, the mod look with its short hemlines and pop art influenced patterns became widely popular. Britain, and most especially London, was the unarguable leader of the 1960s fashion revolution.

If there is a quintessential 1960s look, it might possibly be Mary Quant and the daring miniskirt which revolutionized fashion. Quant popularized the look by hiking the hemlines up 6-7 inches and pairing them with simple accessories that only emphasized their youthful attitude. Quant's design became known as the Chelsea Look and was widely worn by "it" girls throughout Britain and eventually all over the world. The popularity of miniskirts meant that women needed leg wear that would help cover their legs as well as keep them warm. Tights or pantyhose were invented in the 1960s and quickly took the place of stockings as the leg wear of choice for fashionable women across the globe.

Mod often paired pop art colours and patterns with simple shift dresses or pinafores to make a new statement. They often chose go-go boots in vinyl and other modern materials to accompany their short hemlines. Eventually, boots went above the knee and hemlines rose even higher. The British Invasion was twofold, taking the world by storm via their music and fashion.

By the late 1960s fashion trends changed again towards a more natural “hippy” look. The women’s liberation movement took flight and encouraged the burning of bras and girdles which seemed to represent women’s previous oppression. Peasant skirts, granny dresses, love beads, halter tops, and blue jeans became de rigueur for college students as well as burgeoning fashionistas. For the first time in fashion history women began to wear blue jeans and trousers on a regular basis.