Photo Proof That the 1960s Had the Best Fashion

Many people would argue that the 1960s was the best decade for fashion. The 70s are remembered for jumpsuits, platform shoes, aviator glasses, and crop tops. The 80s are remembered for neon colors, shoulder pads, leg warmers, and tons of spandex. The 90s are remembered for biker shorts, jean jackets, low-rise jeans, and combat boots. The early 2000s are remembered for bedazzled handbags, trucker hats, belly chains, and cargo pants.

The 2010s are remembered for athleisure apparel, clear heels, skater skirts, and clunky jewelry. Fashion today is inspired by all the different trends that have existed over the last several decades. What was the fashion of the 1960s about, though? We've gathered proof that the 1960s had better fashion than any other era. There's a chance the current decade we're in will eventually come out on top someday in the future, but for now, it's best to reflect on the 1960s with respect and admiration.

Some of the most popular celebrities from the 1960s who paved the way in the fashion world include Sharon Tate, Barbra Streisand, Diana Ross, Twiggy, and Jackie Kennedy. These famous individuals defined the 1960s with fashionable outfits that were photographed nearly every time they would leave their houses. Along with these famous folks, there was much to focus on in the 1960s.

That includes Kennedy's assassination, the Cuban Missile Crisis, the Civil Rights Movement, the Bay of Pigs Invasion, and the events of Apollo 11. Still, fashionistas spent a lot of their time worried about putting together the perfect outfits. In the 1960s, people were hyper-focused on wearing the right shoes, pants, skirts, tops, jackets, hats, gloves, and jewelry. Fashion was a top priority. While we're on the topic of the 1960s, click here to uncover makeup trends from that decade that are making a comeback.

To gather iconic photos that prove the 1960s had the best fashion ever, 24/7 Tempo consulted several style-centered sources. These include Fashion History Timeline, Victoria & Albert Museum, The Fashionisto, Elle, and Recollections.

When women wore gloves in the 1950s, they often tried to model Marilyn Monroe's vibe with gloves that covered their arms from finger tips to elbows. Just one short decade later in the 1960s, little gloves became more popular than full-length gloves. Little gloves simply cover the hands from the finger tips to the wrists.

Eccentric hats were all the rage in the 1960s. The bigger the hat, the better! These days, women are more likely to wear sun hats or bucket hats that fit closer to the scalp. Wearing eccentric and tall hats in this modern era would potentially come across as of obnoxious

To this day, little girls enjoy playing with dolls. Little girls tend to have an undeniable love for dolls, and that love likely isn't going anywhere anytime soon. In the 1960s, parents would purchase dresses for their daughters that perfectly matched what their dolls would wear.

The suits that men and teenage boys would wear back in the 1960s were often made out of thick fabric that was sturdy and durable. Thick fabric suits had reputations for lasting forever. These days, suits are typically made with material that is much thinner and more breathable.

It's fairly common to see women wearing low-cut tops with V-neck or scoopneck hemlines in 2024. In the 1960s, tall spread color shirts were all the rage for women who were active in their daily lives. The level of modesty women got from tall spread collar shirts was the norm.

High-waisted pants have certainly made a comeback when it comes to trends in the fashion realm. These days, women wear high-waisted pants with crop tops to show off a few inches around their midsections. In the 1960s, women would tuck their tops into their high-waisted pants for classy results.

The pencil skirts modern women wear today are skin-tight and designed to hug every single curve. Pencil skirts were beloved back in the 1960s also, but they weren't nearly as form-fitting as what you'll notice in the fashion world today. Additionally, pencil skirts back then were a wee bit longer.

Dresses with symmetrical designs gained tons of traction in the 1960s. The simplicity of this dress style added to the charm and allure. Back then, women would make their symmetrical design dresses more special with accessories such as the right pair of shoes or a trendy hat.

Women weren't afraid to wear clashing colors back in the 1960s. The more colorful a woman's ensemble was, the more creative and expressive she came across to the world. Mixing and matching color schemes was normalized back then, and even praised. Brightly clashing colors showcased how bold and unapologetic a woman was.

While it's not too common to see people wearing checker print dresses anymore, this pattern and style was well-received back in the 1960s. Checker print dresses allowed women to look chic and sophisticated with little to no effort. Jackie Kennedy and Twiggy were both photographed in checker print dresses back then.

It's highly unlikely you'll catch anyone wearing Poulaine-style shoes in 2024. Still, these shoes certainly had their time to shine in the 1960s. Back then, wearing shoes with pointed toes was a status symbol that showcased a person's wealth. These days, this shoe style would be embarrassing and obnoxious.

The original Playboy Bunny costume was designed in 1960. It was meant to be a uniform for female workers at the Chicago Playboy Club. The costume consists of a corset-style bodysuit, sleek tights, wrist covers, a bowtie around the neck, and bunny ears. It's still adored now by young women who want to dress up like Playboy Bunnies for Halloween.

It was fairly common for women to pair their trench coats with hats back in the 1960s. Since this particular pairing often stemmed from staying warm in cold weather, it still exists today. Spotting a woman in a trench coat and hat at the same time is a trend that will continue resurfacing every winter.

Pins and buttons made it easy for people to advocate for their beliefs in the 1960s. Folks would boldly wear pins attached to their shirts, pants, and hats to represent their political views, their favorite bands, and their personal opinions on just about everything. These pins and buttons were real conversation-starters.

Children in the 1960s had tons of options when it came to their hat selection. The wide variety of hats for 1960s kids included beanies, flat caps, bowler hats, and newsboy caps. Parents wanted to make sure their kids stayed warm back then, which is a sentiment that still exists today.

Fabrics made out of lace and silk were beloved by fashionistas throughout the 1960s. Lace and silk are universally adored fabrics that they've successfully stood the test of time. In 2024, designers still create clothing made of lace and silk. These stunning fabrics are worn regularly, even without wedding bells ringing.

Fashion lovers didn't know how the world would eventually change, which means they could only make guesses and estimations about the future of fashion. Some women dressed in outfits that showcased their ideas of futuristic flair based on their creative assumptions.

Women who participated on swim teams, synchronized swimming events, or water aerobics clubs would often wear floral swim caps back in the 1960s. These swim caps helped them stand out as they splashed around in the water. These days, swim caps are simple, smooth, and tight to the scalp.

Along with wearing checker print dresses in the 1960s, women also loved wearing checker print swimwear when they could. Checker print swimwear was ideal for women visiting the beach or the pool for some swimming. As of now, there are still checker print swimsuits people can purchase, but the current variety of designs goes far beyond this basic style.

Wearing boring clothing wasn't praised in the 1960s. Back then, many people opted for clothing covered in unique patterns and designs. Whether folks were picking out new shirts, jackets, dresses, skirts, or something else, they were typically on the lookout for patterns and designs that were a bit quirky and rare.

Solid one-piece swimsuits were a staple in beauty pageants back in the 1960s. Women participating in beauty pageants, contestants didn't step out wearing anything too edgy or revealing when the swimsuit portion of the competition arrived. These days, one-piece swimsuits are still popular – but bikinis got a lot more attention.

With so many different swimsuit styles to choose from, women in the 1960s were good to go every summer. Strapless swimsuits were an additional option for women who wanted to avoid pesky tan lines on their shoulders. There's a lot to love about fashion from the 1960s, but what about musical artists? Click here to find out more about the forgotten artist from that decade who once dominated the charts.