The Psychedelic Dream of the 1960's - CUB STYLE

Lydia Southwood

The decade of the 1960’s is often associated with dreams. It was a time of civil rights movements, advances in science, and a popular culture revolution. The dream many young people held onto was one of hope and change. This is what inspired a wave of social and political movements, fighting to end war and promote peace. At its climax, 1967s ‘Summer of Love’ convinced these people that change was just around the corner. But by 1969, this dream came crashing down.

Just as the cultural wave was influenced by and reflected in the music of the time, fashion was equally as instrumental in shaping the course of history. These dreams of hope and transformation were materialised in the clothes worn by the people dreaming. It was a reaction to and against the order of the early 1960’s, and created a youth counterculture centred around freedom, heavy hedonism and psychedelics.

It’s no secret that psychedelics had a significant impact on the fashion of the late 60’s. Bright colours and eye dazzling patterns demanded the sensory attention of surrounding peers, as well enhancing the experience of the wearers. This engagement made psychedelic inspired fashion buzz with communal participation. The community, brought together via these visual stimulants of bright clothing, were sharing ideas of defiance and pushing boundaries. But as well as engaging, these ‘hippies’ were simultaneously disconnecting.

Tune in, turn on, and drop off

as popularised by Timothy Leary, was the mantra of 1967’s ‘Summer of Love’. It encourages participants to connect with one another, whilst detaching from the outside world. All that mattered was what was going on right there and then. Concerns and passions about politics, war and social justice remained, but were channelled through a new kind of resistance. Ultimately then, the fashion of this era was an important means of expression.

But it was not just in San Francisco, where the Summer of Love mainly took place, that psychedelic fashion was popular. London became the home to various boutiques, offering its residents a range of psychedelic inspired wear. The Apple store (founded by The Beatles themselves), Biba, and Granny Takes a Trip all contributed to a new counterculture this side of the pond in London. These shops made psychedelic fashion accessible

to London’s youth, creating a new hip, youthful scene in the nation’s capital. These clothing choices were a rejection of the early 60’s clean cuts and teddy boy looks, adding to the growth of the teenage rebellion idea that dominated the decade.

Finlay Hillman-Brown

The clothes of these boutiques were not only bold, brash and colourful. Some boutiques, including The Beatles’ Apple shop, popularised a mediaeval revival. These clothes adopted the style of mediaeval women’s clothing, with high regency-style waste-lines and bell sleeves. Rich, royal colours of purples and greens with gold trimmings were popular, reflecting the colours worn in royal mediaeval courts. This return to the style of ages past reflected part of the 60’s dream underlying the whole counterculture; a desire for a peaceful life.

Overall, the rebellious and alternative nature of psychedelic fashion meant it furthered the counterculture’s popularity, as well as its message. There was a dream behind all of this; one of peace and love, but also an appetite for a fundamental change in social order.