The 1960s was a remarkable decade in history that produced significant cultural shifts. Music and fashion thrived in that decade, with new movements and trends emerging through those remarkable 10 years.
If you remember some of the trends from the 1960s, you’re officially old, but you were also extremely privileged to have lived through such an incredible period.
1. Hippies
There’s a saying that if you remember the 1960s, you didn’t enjoy them, and this is attributed to the hippie movement and its lifestyle. The Woodstock Music Festival in 1969 saw the movement peak, and it began to die out as soon as the next decade began. Other youth cults have mimicked the trend, but none can match the style and experiences of the hippie generation.
2. Lava Lamps
The lava lamp is a genuine child of the 1960s. It was invented in 1963 by Edward Craven Walker and sold well throughout the decade. Lava lamps are bright and colorful, but I recall safety concerns in the 1970s, likely leading to this trend dying out. New, safer models are available, and this is one ’60s item I’d like to see return.
3. Peace Signs
The hippie movement spawned a host of fads. They were anti-war and all about peace and love. The hippies had a gesture that summarized their outlook. The peace sign involves raising two fingers — index and middle — and having your palm facing outwards. Don’t reverse the sign in the UK, as it’s highly offensive and won’t be met with a peaceful, loving reaction.
4. Bell-Bottomed Jeans
The 1960s delivered many fashion trends that we’d prefer to forget. Bell-bottomed jeans, also known as flares, were all the rage, and you couldn’t look “hip” with a pair of straight-leg jeans. Bell bottoms occasionally attempt a comeback, but wearers soon realize they look ridiculous.
5. Smiley Face Stickers
Younger readers may think the smiley face has only existed since the dawn of the emoji, but it’s not the case. Smiley stickers also tie in with the era of peace and love that emerged in the second half of the 1960s. These bright yellow circles appeared in various settings and were perfect as iron-on patches for your bell-bottom jeans.
6. Instant Mashed Potatoes
Instant potato flakes emerged in the 1960s, although many argue they enjoyed their heyday in the 1970s. Cooks add water for a bland taste, and it requires a truckload of seasoning to make it edible. These products still exist and have improved, but powdered potato remains a 60s “thing.”
7. Miniskirts
While miniskirts have never completely gone away, they are a 1960s phenomenon. Society had never seen such short skirts, and they revolutionized fashion for women throughout the decade. A genuine 60s miniskirt should be slightly flared at the bottom. It was the style at the time, and many adaptations have followed.
8. The Space Age
The Space Race enjoyed its most significant landmarks in the 1960s. At the start of the decade, the first human went into space. We also saw the first humans in the moon’s orbit and the first spacewalk before the period ended with the moon landing in 1969. The term “Space Age” was attached to many 1960s designs, from clocks to furniture, fashion, and more.
9. Beatlemania
The first half of the 1960s saw music fans copy the style of the Fab Four. The Beatles sparked a revolution and have inspired many bands since. While Beatles songs will never die, the suits and the mop-top haircuts are unlikely to return.
10. Tie-Dye Clothing
Tie-dying is a fabric process that produces results synonymous with 1960s fashion. Swirly, “groovy” patterns emerged, and T-shirts carrying this style were a favorite among the decade’s hippies. Tie-dyed clothes are another 60s trend that occasionally reappears but rarely emerges beyond the underground.
11. 8-Track Tapes
In the 1960s, we had many different ways to access music. Eight-track cartridge players originated in 1953, but the ’60s saw their heyday, and if you had an 8-track player in your car, you’d arrived. Only ancient tech enthusiasts use 8-tracks today, and this is one trend that is never coming back.
12. Groovy Chairs
Models such as Twiggy were often photographed in classic chairs from the 1960s. I recall one piece of furniture that hung from the ceiling, with style taking precedence over safety. Sputnik chairs were among the more popular models from the decade, while other manufacturers produced egg and bubble-shaped models.
13. Mods
The hippie movement was a memorable period of youth culture, but many of those original hippies had originally been “Mods.” The term is short for “modernist,” and followers wore smart clothes, short hairstyles, and rode motorized scooters. Mod bands included The Who and The Kinks. There was a brief mod revival in the late 1970s, but this movement mostly stayed in the 60s.
14. Beehive Hairstyles
What the beehive lacked in style, it made up for in height. Those who wore this memorable cut had to bend down to get through doors as they suddenly gained a few inches. The beehive briefly reappeared in the 1980s, but it’s essentially a 1960s trend.
15. Action Dolls
Barbie made her debut in the 1960s, and she wasn’t alone. In the UK, every little boy wanted an Action Man figure for their birthday after the toy’s launch in 1966. Action Man derives from America’s G.I. Joe figure, which emerged two years earlier. The 1960s was the prime time for movable action figures.
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