Mod, Youthquake, Rock Glamour — Fashion Experts Weigh in On the '60s Fashion Trends to Wear This Season
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As glamorous as the fashion trends of the 1950s were, maxi hemlines and closed-toe kitten heels prove that dressing conservatively was still the goal. However, by the time the 1960s rolled around, expressing yourself through exciting, eye-catching, and, yes, skin-baring clothing became all the rage: skirts got shorter and boots got taller, neck scarves became headscarves, and meticulously matching colorways were challenged by animal prints, vibrant metallics, and neons. '60s fashion gave women an opportunity to play with their looks and establish a sense of identity — so it should come as no surprise that this groovy era of experimentation is seeing a renaissance in 2022.
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I don't know about you, but after years of living in nothing but athleisure and loungewear, I can't wait to step outside my cozy comfort zone this spring. Who knew baggy sweats could feel so...restrictive? Although a pair of leggings isn't quite the same as a poodle skirt and pearls combo, transitioning to mod styles, like mini skirts and sleeveless dresses, sounds ideal — and I imagine that women of the '60s felt similarly.
According to California-based celebrity stylist Heathyr Wolfe, I'm not the only one itching to switch up my style and adopt '60s fashion trends.
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"The '60s was a playful era, kicking the conservative '50s to the curb and letting people have more freedom," Wolfe tells InStyle over email. "After years of being in conservative clothing, we want to be playful in our wardrobes again."
Fast forward to 2022, and the fashion stylings of the 1960s feel almost like a kind of escapist way of dressing, not unlike mood-board trends like cottagecore and regencycore, fairycore, and balletcore. But unlike in the 1950s and '80s, where one particular style dominated the entire decade, the 1960s encompasses all kinds of aesthetics, from hippie to Mod, Youthquake (more spirited, sexy, and pop culture-inspired styles), and rock glamour.
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"There were so many cool trends in the '60s, with fashion icons like Audrey Hepburn, Twiggy, Jackie O, and Bridgette Bardot leading the way," celebrity stylist and costume designer, Candice Lambert tells InStyle. And while you can (and absolutely should) look back on these women's styles for outfit ideas, McAndrews also recommends looking to celebrities like Ariana Grande, Anya Taylor-Joy, and Gigi Hadid for modern-day takes on 1960s fashion.
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"Ariana Grande as of late has really been serving '60s looks with her miniskirts and go-go boots, her ponytail with a bump, and that '60's eyeliner," Lambert says on the subject, adding that Anya Taylor-Joy and "her pink pillbox hat at the Venice Film red carpet" gave serious '60s fashion vibes. Gigi Hadid at the Met Gala this year, she reminisces, was also "the epitome of a '60s Queen."
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Another fashionista toying with 60s trends is Ciara. Fashion expert and celebrity stylist Cindy Conroy tells InStyle Ciara's latest onslaught of tigress leopard print dresses is essentially serving us '60s fashion on a silver platter.
"From her cascading Roberto Cavalli gown at the Billboard Women in Music event, to her recent vacay selections and short, flirty minidress while on vacation with Russell Wilson In St. Barts, chalk it up to nostalgia," Conroy says. But these sexy yet vintage-inspired looks "are the fashion world's way of flipping the script."
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So how can you incorporate '60s fashion trends into your own day-to-day wardrobe? Well, the good news is, there are plenty of options to choose from. For example, Wolfe's go-to '60s fit is a mini dress from Courrèges or a psychedelic shift from Trina Turk, while Lambert shared she recently bought a Maximilian cutout black dress and paired it with YSL go-go boots. Conroy loves a super leggy look, complete with a metallic micro mini skirt, checked wool coat, and gold knee-high boots. "I add a Jackie O approved pillbox hat for even more '60s renaissance, but with a neon twist," she says.
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From loud animal prints to a subtle bandana headscarf accessory, thigh-skimming skirt suits to psychedelic prints and mod leather, whichever '60s fashion aesthetic you choose to channel, give it your own personal style spin and it's sure to be outta sight.