A vinyl record here, a flower crown there—the ‘60s were all about experimenting, especially with music and fashion. Bold colors and patterns made up much of the latter half of the decade, which became all about nonconforming to the trends of decades prior. After the British Invasion of the mid-60s, music transformed into more of a rock-and-roll landscape.

This culturally rich decade makes for one fun party theme, and it doesn’t hurt to know more about the history of what you’ll be wearing and listening to!

Fashion trends

Bell-bottoms
Capris dominated the early 1960s, but with a new sense of stylistic freedom came a new trend—bell-bottom pants. This more casual approach to dress stemmed from the youth culture wanting to go against the norm of the times, which typically included more modest attire.

Sandals
High heels took a bit of a dip in the late ‘60s, with women opting for more practical shoes for festivals and everyday wear. Sandals became the standard for music events, as did flat boots, slip-ons, and even clogs.

Statement pieces
The late ‘60s brought with it a new attitude, and one that didn’t include the modest, simple designs of the past. People became bolder, which translated to their colorful clothing, such as patterned shirts, skirts, hats, and jackets.

Looser clothing
The shapes of the ‘60s were reminiscent of the 1920s—shorter hems, looser fits, and flowing silhouettes. This was strongly inspired by the hippie movement, which caused people to want more comfortable clothes to dance in.

Music festival history

Newport Folk Festival (1965)
This famous festival is known for being where Bob Dylan merged folk with rock and roll, choosing to play part of his set with an electric guitar instead of with his signature acoustic guitar. The crowd had mixed reactions, and Dylan didn’t play at the festival again for another thirty-seven years.

Monterey International Pop Festival (1967)
This festival jump-started the careers of artists like Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, and the Grateful Dead—who at the time were relatively unknown. Before Woodstock was the talk of the town, Monterey was the place to be.

Woodstock Music Festival (1969)
It’s the festival that brought us memorable performances from the Who, Jimi Hendrix, Creedence Clearwater Revival, and many more. The crowd was energetic and the performances historic, making this one festival that embodied the spirit of the ‘60s wholeheartedly.