With the appearance of the mini-skirt and the tuxedo, the 60s marked the fashion by revolutionizing considerably the wardrobe of women. Zoom on these flagship pieces of the sixties which remain timeless today.
The mini-skirt, a striking piece from the 60s
Symbol of the emancipation of women, the mini-skirt made its first appearance on French soil in 1964. While long skirts reign in wardrobes, Mary Quant, London stylist, dares to defy the prohibitions by inciting women of the whole world to show off their legs. Very quickly adopted, the mini-skirt becomes a real fashion phenomenon. And if some equate it to the pinnacle of indecency and vulgarity, others see in this new garment a way of rebelling and claiming their desire for freedom.
Simultaneously, four years after the founding of his haute couture house, André Courrèges also presented in March 1965 a line of mini-skirts which provoked many reactions in France. Perceived as a small revolution, the word "mini-skirt" also made its entry in French dictionaries from 1966. Today, it is an integral part of fashion collections and women assume it completely.
The gingham print, flagship print of the sixties
While the clothes were sober, they are now adorned with prints. Associated with the fashion icons of the sixties, the gingham becomes the flagship print of the sixties. Like Brigitte Bardot in the film A Parisian woman by Michel Boisrond, the gingham print takes hold of our midi skirts, tightened at the waist with a small leather belt. But today, the gingham print is found on almost all of our fashion pieces! Blouse, pants, dress … Its vintage touch appeals to all generations.
The pantsuit upsets the fashion of the 60s
Long reserved for the male wardrobe, the pantsuit is now part of our essential fashion. It was in 1966 that the feminine tuxedo officially appeared. It is imagined and reinvented for the first time by Yves Saint Laurent. Daring, even cheeky for the time, this garment which revolutionizes the genre and upsets the fundamental codes of fashion is not immediately unanimous.
Too innovative and daring, the costume was initially shunned by the haute couture clientele. But in September 1966, when Yves Saint Laurent inaugurated his first ready-to-wear boutique in the 6th arrondissement of Paris, on the left bank, Parisian women flocked in search of the famous tuxedo accessible at 680 francs. "For a woman, the tuxedo is an essential garment with which she will always feel fashionable because it is a stylish garment and not a fashion garment. ", declared Saint Laurent.
XXL sunglasses, symbol of the sixties
In the 1960s, sunglasses became a fashion accessory in their own right. Fashion becomes emancipated, women wear clothes that they were not used to wearing and take on their oversized sunglasses. Icon glamor par excellence, Jackie Kennedy popularizes XXL glasses with looks that could not be more chic mastered to perfection. Worn by Brigitte Bardot or Elizabeth Taylor, "cat eye" glasses are also in vogue. But in 1969, the Woodstock generation imposed their share of trends with them. Adopted by emblematic stars of the hippie movement such as Janis Joplin or John Lennon, the glasses round off and the lenses are colored for a fun and cool festival look.
The scarf, the accessory of the 60s
Another flagship accessory of this landmark decade for the fashion sphere: the scarf. For a retro look, the scarf covers almost all of the hair and ties at the back. We also love the way Jackie Kennedy wore it: on the hair and casually tied under the chin. She also liked to attach it to her handbag. For a B.B look, the scarf is worn as a headband. At the end of the 60s, hippies, largely from the numerous youth of the post-war baby boom, preferred to tie the scarf around their heads. He is now on the front lines, like their new idol Janis Joplin.
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