Women's fashion of the 1960s was inspired by the hippie movement, which advocated for peace and love. At the same time it was also characterized by other factors: a music scene that enjoyed great protagonism (just think of events like Woodstock), love for nature, ecology, an unconventional attitude that questioned authority. Whether you want to try to reproduce the hippie look for a costume or adopt it in everyday life, find out how to dress like an authentic 1960s girl by choosing the right clothing and accessories.
Steps
Method 1 of 3: Choose Sixties Style Hippie Clothes
Step 1. Get soft-lined or knot-dyed sweaters
Shirts should be long-sleeved, with a comfortable, soft fit. Stock up on tunics and caftans. Alternatively, you can wear knot-dyed tops, tank tops and turtlenecks.
- Choose shirts in white or earth tones, such as brown, green and camel. This was the trend of the early 1960s. In general, only at a later stage of the hippie movement and in the seventies did colors and patterns become brighter.
- You can also wear a bodysuit, tank top, sportswear or underwear.
- You could avoid wearing a bra - many hippie women didn't wear it.
Step 2. Choose long skirts, mini skirts and dresses
Wear a mini skirt or flared skirt for a perfect sixties-style look. Alternatively, wear a long, loose skirt made of cotton or some other lightweight fabric. Also choose light and cheeky dresses in earth tones or flowers.
- If you are wearing a mini skirt, combine it with black, colored or printed tights.
- Soft maxi dresses that came to the feet were quite common, but so were short dresses with long sleeves in the caftan style.
- Try dresses and skirts with floral, animal print or paisley prints.
Step 3. Choose flared jeans or corduroy trousers
You can wear flared trousers with flared hem or simple jeans with soft lines. You can also wear corduroy or curly velvet pants.
Wear pants in earth tones or bright colors, such as brown, dark green, yellow, or garnet red
Step 4. Look for jackets and vests with fringes
Complete the outfit with a wide waistcoat or suede jacket with fringes on the sleeves and back.
- Jackets, coats and sweaters should be nylon, velvet / cotton velvet, batik, satin, fur, chiffon, hemp and polyester.
- If you want to stay warm, try wearing a long maxi coat or poncho. To have a look that recalls the style of those who protested and made fun of the army in the sixties, wear a military green or camouflage jacket.
Method 2 of 3: Accessories and Hair
Step 1. Put on a headband or scarf
Tie a colorful headband or scarf around your head so that it crosses your forehead horizontally.
Use beads, flower garlands, braided cords of thread or leather, or any other accessory you can wear such as a headband or headband
Step 2. Wear original jewelry that stands out
Choose trendy accessories from the 1960s, such as colorful beads and the peace symbol, or opt for colorful and eye-catching accessories made of natural materials such as wood and leather.
- Put on an anklet with bells to add a touch of sparkle and musicality to your outfit: it was the most popular at the time.
- If in doubt, bring accessories that portray the sign of peace!
Step 3. Let your hair grow and don't pay too much attention to it
Your goal is to have a hairstyle that is as natural as possible and that requires very little care, almost messy. Keep your hair loose or gathered in pigtails. If you can, grow them.
- If you have straight or wavy hair, let it grow out as much as possible, part the center and consider the bangs. If they're curly or afro, they need to be voluminous and wild.
- Wear a real flower in your hair or create a flower crown to fit your head size to complete the look.
Step 4. Bring round sunglasses and a large hat
If you have to go out in the sun, choose a pair of glasses with a large, round frame. On your head, wear a handkerchief, a wide, floppy sun hat or a Stevie Nicks-style top hat.
While not going out in the sun, try wearing John Lennon-style glasses, which were often light colors, such as pink or orange. They were not very functional, it was more like a nice accessory
Step 5. Put on a large belt
Choose a wide or chain leather belt. You can combine it with any model of trousers, dresses or skirts.
If you don't have a belt or want to try on a different accessory, use a thin scarf instead
Step 6. Choose leather sandals, boots or loafers
Wear a pair of sandals or leather boots, including cowboy boots. Choose comfortable loafers or fringed boots.
You can also avoid wearing shoes! For an authentic carefree hippie look, go barefoot
Step 7. Put on little or no makeup
For a relaxed look, avoid makeup. If you decide to do some makeup, use a pencil to outline the eyes and a mascara, to apply on the upper and lower lashes.
- Avoid heavy lipsticks or foundations: they are not good for the hippie look, light and natural.
- Do not use artificial perfumes. If you want to carry a fragrance, choose essential oils like patchouli and sandalwood.
Method 3 of 3: Finding or Making Sixties Clothes
Step 1. Look for vintage and second-hand outlets
Keep an eye out for thrift shops or stores that specifically sell vintage clothing from the 1960s and other decades.
- If you want to find authentic items from those years, inquire about brands and styles to find out when they were made. You can also ask a vintage clothing expert to help you figure out if a garment is original.
- To find a good assortment of accessories and clothing (maybe even some treasures), take a tour of the private sales of used items and flea markets.
Step 2. Take a look at the online listings of private sellers
Consider sites like eBay and other internet stores where individual sellers post ads for vintage clothing or personal items dating back to the 1960s.
There are also numerous online stores, such as ModCloth, which offer modern retro-style clothing, including hippie clothing
Step 3. Create knot-dyed articles
Knot-dye a t-shirt, headband, any other item of clothing or accessory. You have to use rubber bands or cords to tie white fabrics, in order to create geometries with tints of different colors.
Create different types of geometries with knot dye, such as spirals, stripes, polka dots or cockades
Step 4. Sew clothes and accessories
If you like to create clothing or want to learn how to do it, you can buy fabrics in earth tones and floral prints. Choose patterns to sew your favorite clothes, such as flared pants or mini skirts.
Some fabric shops sell retro patterns. You can also check out online or vintage stores to find patterns from the 1960s
Step 5. Change the clothes you already have
To give a particularly hippie air to any piece of clothing, embellish it with fringes, embroidery, patches or beads on the hems, sleeves and seams.
- Transform any pair of pants to flare. Just cut the seam along the outside of the calves and add a triangular piece of fabric. You can also enlarge the sleeves of a shirt by sewing a circular shaped piece of fabric at the hem.
- If you don't want to buy clothes or change the ones you own, just combine different fabrics, colors and geometries that you already have in your wardrobe, but which you would usually never wear together. Having a hippie style means dressing in complete freedom, the important thing is that you like it.
Step 6. Emulate a 1960s icon
Study some women who have made the history of hippie fashion, get some ideas to understand what to buy and how to wear it. Search for pictures online or in books to get an idea of their styles.
- Try wearing disheveled hair and round, chunky-rimmed Janis Joplin-style glasses. You can also wear afro hair and Marsha Hunt-style maxi dresses or Stevie Nicks' soft-lined shawls and sweaters.
- Finding a fashion icon can help you figure out what kind of hippie style you want to emulate specifically, be it as a folk singer, blues rocker, or psychedelic beauty.
Advice
There is no universal way to dress in sixties hippie style. At the time and for that type of style, there were no rules in terms of clothing, so wear what you like and that makes you comfortable
Warnings
- Don't confuse the hippie look with other styles from the Sixties, like Mod, refined and structured, or Jackie Kennedy's. The hippie style was much more relaxed than the fluffy dresses, tambourine hats and heavier makeup that characterized these looks.
- The hippie style took a lot of cues from Native American prints and styles, but it also had African influences, such as dreadlocks. Be careful not to misappropriate styles or important icons of a culture you don't belong to, as this can be quite offensive.
