Liz Sonneborn - Far Out Fashion: Bringing 1960s and 1970s Flair to Your Wardrobe

I f youre like most girls, theres probably more than one miniskirt, T-shirt, andpair of flared jeans in your closet. All of these items first became popular in the1960s and 1970s. This period saw some of the biggest changes ever in fashion.

In the 1950s being fashionable was easy. If you were wealthy, your clothes came fromFrench designers. If you werent, you bought cheaper copies from department storesand small clothing shops. How old you were mattered little. Women of all ages dressedin very similar styles.

In the 1960s and 1970s, everything changed. Suddenly, French designers were no longerin charge.

Designers in England and the United States started to influence how women dressed.They increasingly drew their inspiration from everyday people with a certain styleor flair. Designers looked to stylish young women who wanted to break free from thepast. More youthful fashion options allowed younger people more room for personalexpression and rebellion.

From year to year, styles changed so fast even the most fashionable women struggledto keep up. These two decades were an exciting, dizzying time. And they changed thefashion world forever.

I n November 1960 John F. Kennedy became the youngest man ever elected presidentof the United States. The next year he and his family moved into the White House.Almost immediately, Americans became fascinated with the young and glamorous Kennedys.They were especially drawn toward the presidents wife, Jacqueline, who was oftencalled Jackie. She was refined, beautiful, and most of all, stylish.

Raised in a wealthy family, the first lady had a flawless taste in fashion and aclassic style. Before her husbands presidential win, she often bought her clothesfrom the finest fashion houses of Europe. After his election, however, Jackie turnedto American designers to show her support for U.S. businesses.

PUT IT TOGETHER

In the early 1960s, movie star Audrey Hepburn, like Jackie Kennedy, had enormousinfluence in the fashion world. Stars such as Anne Hathaway and Natalie Portman haveimitated Hepburns famous look from the movie Breakfast at Tiffanys (1961) in recentfashion magazines. You too can re-create the style with items you probably alreadyown.

Take a plain, sleeveless black dress.

Add a chunky beaded necklace.

Style your hair into an updo.

Wear a pointed black heel.

To take the look to the extreme, put a comb decorated with fake diamonds in yourhair, pull on a pair of long black gloves, or wear large, round-brimmed sunglasses.

ANNE HATHAWAY

Jackie asked French-born American designer Oleg Cassini to help her establish anindividual style. Together they created the first ladys new look. Inspired by severalEuropean designers, he dressed Jackie in shift dresses. These sleeveless garmentshung straight from the shoulders without a defined waist. Cassini also favored A-lineshift dresses with skirts that slightly widened at the base.

Some fashion journalists did not approve of this new style. They said the A-lineshift dress was shapeless. They called it the sack. But American women instantlyloved this modern, elegant look. Shift dresses were easy to wear and flattered manydifferent figures. Shift dresses never went out of style. Today modern celebritiesGwyneth Paltrow, Jennifer Anniston, and Anne Hathaway have been spotted wearing thistimeless look.

Another fashion trend Kennedy popularized was the pillbox hata small brimless roundhat with a flat crown and narrow sides. She famously wore a pillbox to her husbandspresidential inauguration. Lady Gaga, Kate Middleton, and Paris Hilton are just afew of todays celebrities who have been seen wearing pillbox hats.

Long after she was first lady, Jackie remained a fashion trendsetter. But she isbest remembered for the simple and chic look she made popular in the early 1960s.Even today, Jackies look is considered the height of classic American style.

Get the Look

Scarves were a trademark Jackie Kennedy accessory. To copy Jackies signature style,look for boldly patterned scarves in a discount store or vintage shop.

USING A SQUARE SCARF:

1. Fold the scarf diagonally to make a triangle shape.
2. Place it over your head, with the middle tip in the back, and tie the two remainingends under your chin.

USING A LONG RECTANGULAR SCARF:

1. Fold a colorful, long scarf into a headband.
2. Tie it at the back of your head under your hair.
3. Pull the knot to one side so that the ends of the scarf dangle over your shoulder.
4. Add sunglasses to complete the look.

Leopard prints were all the rage.

A mong sophisticated women in the 1960s, leopard prints were all the rage. Coatsand hats in faux leopard fur were very popular. Leopard skin patterns also appearedon just about every accessory, including purses, scarves, gloves, and jewelry.

In recent years, leopard and other animal prints have made a comeback. As animalprint fans such as Sarah Jessica Parker, Mary-Kate Olsen, and Ashley Argota know,a little leopard print can make a look seem both retro and current.

Get the Look

Try adding leopard print fabric to an accessory you already own.

SUPPLIES

• leopard print fabric
• handbag or wallet
• scissors
• fabric glue or tape

1. Measure the area of your handbag or wallet that you want to cover in leopard print.
2. Cut the leopard print fabric to size.
3. Glue or tape the fabric onto your handbag or wallet.