When you picture the 1960's fashion scene, the first thing to probably come to mind is an array of brightly colored hippie-styled minidresses. While there's no denying that was a totally iconic look, there was so much more to the 1960's than dresses that look like they came out of pop-art. The 1960's gave us the boom of some of the most iconic designers of all time, and they created styles that still translate today. The 60's can really be divided into 3 mini-eras of fashion. Vintage brides, keep scrolling to get wedding dress inspo from each part of the decade.
1) The Age of Hepburn
We had no shortage of fashion icons in the 1960's. We had Twiggy, Jackie Kennedy, but most of all, Audrey Hepburn. Our brides today still come in looking for a wedding dress with an Audrey Hepburn level of elegance. While her flawless Givenchy style was already popular in the 1950's, when Breakfast at Tiffany's premiered in 1961, women everywhere were searching for the iconic little black dress. There's zero doubt that Hepburn dominated the first part of the 1960's. As the trends faded, Hepburn stayed true to her delicate and chic style through the rest of her life. Looking for a Givenchy-inspired dress for your big day? Check out Ivette by Jenny Yoo. This dress is fit for an elegant and timeless wedding, as well as looking through the Tiffany's window with a croissant in hand as Moon River plays in the background.
Jenny Yoo "Ivette" Breakfast at Tiffany's Promotional Jenny Yoo "Ivette"
Image, 1961. Christina Saint Marche.
2) Swinging London
By the mid 60's, it was all about the Beatles and the miniskirt. British designer Mary Quant kicked off a craze known as "Swinging London" when she opened her first shop, and suddenly, it was a new age of youthful styles. The stuffiness of haute couture went out the window and new colors and patterns were introduced. The more childlike and playful, the better - and this idea stemmed from changing waistlines. Your expert stylists at Miss Ruby will tell you that to find your true waist, you'll want to go a couple of inches above your bellybutton. In the era of Swinging London, Mary Quant lowered that waistline so the dress hugged the hips (known as a "drop-waist") and pleated the skirt. To try this fun, flattering, and comfortable silhouette, we'd recommend Mena by Madi Lane.
Madi Lane "Mena" Mary Quant Patterns, 1964. Madi Lane "Mena"
Metropolitan Museum of Art.
3) The Space Age
By the end of the 60's, the tables were turned. This was the birth of what is known as "street style," and for the first time, designers were drawing inspiration from the streets, rather than the masses determining their styles based on designers. The miniskirts dropped back to the ankles, sleeves became loose, and fashion became nearly scientific with the development of new, metallic fabrics. These fabrics penned this era "the space age." This look can be channeled in some of our newer lux charmeuse bridesmaid dresses, such as the style below by Dessy.
Dessy "LB008" Mr. Eric evening gown, 1969. Dessy "LB008"
Ink, marker; (9 x 11 in). New
York: Bergdorf Goodman
Very few decades can pack so many revolutionary trends into only 10 years, but the 1960's created a lasting impact on global fashion, and bridal fashion is definitely not exempt. For brides that want to add a vintage element to their wedding day, inspiration from this decade is always a fun touch!