What was men's fashion like in the 60s?

The 50s and 60s of the last century are considered one of the brightest fashion periods. The main direction that many famous couturiers followed was the creation of wardrobe items with a focus on the younger generation. Let's look at the characteristic features of the 60s style in men's clothing and how they were followed in the USSR.

Men's fashion trends of the 1960s of the 20th century with photos

Simplicity of cut, strict silhouette lines, elegance in everything - the main features of the minimalist style - these are the “three pillars” that fashionistas of the 60s followed. The mod subculture, which originated in London back in the late 50s (short for “modernists” - modern), set the tone in clothing of that time. Their motto was “Less is more.” She surprisingly accurately characterized the men's style of the 60s. Its features:

• single-breasted, fitted jackets;
• snow-white shirts with narrow collars;
• thin ties;
• jackets with stand-up collar;
• tapered trousers;
• White socks;
• boots with tapered toes.
  

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Casual clothing takes on more sporty features.

Reference. The style adopted by fashion was introduced in 1959 by Pierre Cardin and was called “neo-Edwardian,” that is, it replaced the “Edwardian” style of King Edward VII of Great Britain.

Members of the legendary group The Beatles contributed to the growth in popularity of the mod style.

Suede and corduroy were used to sew jackets and trousers; the elements of a stylish male look themselves could be different in color and texture. Cardigans have come into fashion.

A characteristic feature of clothing of the 60s was its so-called artificial origin. Synthetic materials have come into fashion. They did not wrinkle, were easy to wash and dry quickly, and were inexpensive. Practicality contributed to the demand for such fabrics for sewing fashionable wardrobe items. The stylish shirt of that period was considered to be a close-fitting model made of nylon.

The fashion of the late 60s was largely influenced by the hippie movement. Its supporters protested against existing class and social differences, racial discrimination, and war. They expressed their rejection in passive resistance to society by refusing all the benefits that civilization gives. One of the ways to promote an ascetic lifestyle was to wear deliberately careless and even sloppy clothes. Self-sewn or knitted wardrobe items were especially valued.

In 1967, in London, clothing in this style was first demonstrated on the catwalk. World fashion owes the emergence of many trends to the hippie movement. These include ethnic, retro, unisex and, of course, denim. The latter peaked in the 1970s.

Features of men's clothing of the 60s in the Land of Soviets

Fashion trends in men's clothing of the 60s in the USSR can only be called a timid attempt to follow global trends. But they still existed - even despite the global shortage. One of the most recognizable elements of the wardrobe of that period were tapered trousers, which were called “pipes”. These, like ultra-stylish narrow-toed shoes, were almost impossible to get in stores, so they were made to order and were quite expensive. Fashionistas were ready to give literally their last money for the opportunity to show off in trousers so tight that it seemed that they could be put on only after first soaping their legs.

Reference. What was really in short supply at that time were... panties. The thing is that before, Soviet men did not wear any other underwear except long johns, which, of course, could not be worn under clingy trousers. The blue half-boxes produced by the light industry also did not fit the “pipes”, and it was difficult to get them. The solution was to wear swimming trunks.

A bright shirt became a fashionable element of the men's wardrobe of that period. Equipped with a wide collar and slits on the sides, the model was considered stylish to wear untucked.

The latest in the outerwear category were raincoats in light shades of gray or beige. Their mandatory elements were a belt, a large collar and pockets with flaps. The “prototypes” for them were the models worn by the heroes of foreign films released on cinema screens at that time.

To complete the stylish look, a light-colored cap was called upon, which, like other fashionable elements, had been in short supply for a long time.

Soon, in the USSR, synthetic fabrics began to be increasingly used for tailoring. Almost any wardrobe item was made from artificial materials - from socks, which were called oversized, to coats.

The mid-60s was a period when nylon raincoats, called “Bologna”, named after the Italian city where this synthetic fabric was first produced, became incredibly fashionable. And although, in fact, this outerwear was an ordinary raincoat, wearing it (unbuttoned and with the sleeves rolled up) was considered very stylish.

Already towards the end of the 60s, bell-bottom trousers acquired the status of a fashionable wardrobe item.

These are the main features of men's fashion of this period.