Five decades ago, the 60s were in full swing. That was an era when tons of life-changing events were happening across America. Take a moment to think back on the Cuban Missile Crisis, the Civil Rights Movement, Nixon getting defeated by Kennedy, Kennedy’s assassination, and the Vietnam War. There’s no way the events of the 60s will be swept under the rug or forgotten. None of these events even touch on the topic of fashion, either.
Fashion was a magnificent deal in the 60s, which is the same as it’s always been for most generations since. Fashion is used as a form of self-expression, which means it’s always going to be a hot topic of debate. There will always be controversial trends rising and falling until the world ends.
The way a person dresses says a lot about their level of confidence, their social status, who they are influenced by, what they prioritize, and more. Fashion designers of the ’60s were dedicated to their craft when it came to their overall vision for collections they could display. For more insight into ’60s style crazes, click here to uncover fashion trends from the decade that should definitely come back.
To compile this list of ’60s fashion fads that we’ll never see again, 24/7 Tempo consulted several sources that focus on style. These include InStyle, Fashion Revolution, Who What Where, The Business of Fashion, and Glamour.
Tacky tights
Legs of crop anonymous lady in funny rainbow stockings standing on gray background in studio
Tacky tights are a ’60s trend that most likely won’t come back. Women still wear tights today, but they’re usually designed in solid colors or with basic designs printed throughout. Tacky tights are covered in obnoxiously wild-looking imagery that can be super distracting. Since tacky tights are liable to take attention away from the rest of your outfit, it’s best to leave them in the 60s.
Flag clothing
There’s nothing wrong with representing your country if you identify as an American patriot. Still, flag clothing is another outdated 60s trend and that we’ll likely never see again. Regardless of what political party you agree with, flag clothing can be incredibly polarizing depending on where you wear it.
Bellbottoms
Bellbottoms were all the rage in the 60s. Back then, it was common to see people wearing bellbottoms to nightclubs and regular outings with their friends and family members. These days, bellbottoms are no longer trendy. For a recent stretch of time, young adults insisted on wearing skinny jeans instead. Ironically, skinny jeans are the exact opposite of bellbottoms.
Bowler hats
There are tons of hat trends to consider, but bowler hats were definitely meant to be forgotten in the 60s. While it’s common to see people wearing sun hats, baseball caps, and fedoras in this modern era, no one’s itching to dig up bowler hats from the 60s. The reason why? No matter what head shape you have, they usually sit in an awkward position.
White gloves
White gloves were popular among the ladies in the 60s – until they realized how inconvenient white gloves actually were. Wearing white gloves meant women had to be extra careful before touching or grabbing anything. If their hair had gel in it, the white gloves would end up looking greasy. If a small spill needed to be cleaned up quickly, they white gloves would get stained. There’s a reason this fashion fad has been forgotten.
Pins and patches
Young adults of the 60s adored pins and patches on their outfits. Pins and patches gave them the opportunity to represent all the things they cared about most while they were on college campuses, socializing with friends, going on dates, and more. As of now, young adults can represent their favorite bands, artists, TVshow characters, brand logos, and more by wearing graphic design T-shirts.
Circle chain belts
Silver chain belt for woman dress, clothes accessories
Although circle chain belts might’ve looked cute and trendy back in the 60s, that doesn’t mean they will ever become popular again. The inconvenience of wearing a circle chain belt is enough to turn just about anyone off these days. Trying to pull them through the belt loops of your pants or jeans can be cumbersome and difficult.
Medallion necklaces
The 60s was an era of medallion necklaces. People loved wearing medallions to show off some sparkle and bling with the rest of their outfits. Now, medallion necklaces are considered a tad obnoxious. The only way this trend will ever resurface is if medallion necklaces are produced at much smaller sizes. As long as the charm of a new medallion is around the size of a quarter, fashionistas might give their stamp of approval.
Button-down dresses over trousers
Fashion model in transparent skirt over pants and in jacket
Fashion model in transparent skirt over pants and in jacket
Women wore button-down dresses over their trousers back in the 60s. The combination of male and female-gendered fashion for one outfit was show-stopping at the time. Women were proving that they could wear men’s clothing while still being feminine. Even though the message behind wearing a button-down dress over a pair of trousers was a positive one, the actual trend itself isn’t aesthetically pleasing.
Leather vests
Fashionistas of this modern era aren’t interested in wearing vests in general. That said, they most definitely aren’t interested in reviving the popularity of leather vests. Back in the 60s, leather vests were worn by plenty of folks who thought they were bringing an edgy vibe to their outfits. As of now, leather is reserved for jackets, belt, wallet, and other basic accessories instead of vests.
Head-to-toe leopard print
There’s nothing wrong with wearing a bit of leopard print as part of your outfit. The fad only becomes problematic if you’re wearing leopard print from head-to-toe. Women in the 60s would wear leopard print hats, coats, and shoes all at once. Adding more variety to an outfit while wearing animal print (of any kind) is the preferred way to go now.
Head scarves
Women in the 60s were often seen rocking headscarves when they were out and about. They would tie the head scarves around the base of their neck to the front of their forehead before leaving the house. These days, head scarves have been replaced with headbands for the most part. When modern people wear scarves the way women of the 60s used to, it’s usually alone in the comfort of their own homes.
Paisley print
It was easy to come across dresses, skirts, tops, and other accessories covered in paisley print back in the 60s. At this point, paisley printed pieces are seen as a highly outdated fad. Paisley print often went hand-in-hand with tacky color combinations like purple, orange, red, and green. If fashionistas were to ever bring paisley print back, it would likely happen with colors that are a bit more neutral.
Peter Pan collar dresses
The collar of your dress makes an impact on the overall appearance of your outfit. If you’ve got a scoop-neck collar, a V-neck collar, or a mandarin collar, different opinions will be formed based on the way your entire outfit comes together. Peter Pan collars were beloved in the 60s, but it’s unlikely they’ll ever make a true come back for that reason. Their popularity dwindled because they resemble a miniature bib around your collarbones.
Pageboy hats
Page boy hats were the 60s trend that fashionistas of today likely wont revive. That’s because pageboy hats don’t pair well with youthful looking outfits. Unless you’re the type of person who prefers dressing up like a grandmother or grandfather who smokes cigars and pipes, it’s unlikely you’ll make a pageboy hat fit into your wardrobe. For more fashion content, click here to uncover the most iconic style moments of the ’70s.