These stunning photos show London’s fabulous street style in the 1960s

 

Many people think that London was the best place in the world in the 1960s. Youth culture flourished and post-war austerity eventually gave way to a decade of optimism and exploration. In this decade, traditional hierarchies began to collapse, paving the way for the birth of the modern era.

During this time, London underwent a "metamorphosis from a gloomy, dirty post-war capital into a bright, shining center of style".

This phenomenon was caused by the large influx of young people into the city (due to the baby boom of the 1950s) and the post-war economic boom.

Following the end of National Service for men in 1960, these young men enjoyed more freedom and fewer responsibilities than their parents' generation, and "promoted changes in social and sexual politics".

"Swinging City" was defined by Time magazine on the cover of its April 15, 1966 issue. In Piri Halas's article 'Great Britain: You Can Walk Across It on the Grass', the magazine declared London the global center of youth creativity. , hedonism and excitement: “In a decade dominated by youth, London has blossomed. It swings; This is the scene", and was celebrated in the name of the pirate radio station, Swinging Radio England, which launched shortly afterwards.

In 1965, Diana Vreeland, editor of Vogue magazine, said that "London is the most visited city in the world at the moment."

Later that year, American singer Roger Miller scored a hit record with "England Swings", which revolved around progressive youth culture (both musically and lyrically).

New styles began to emerge from small villages and towns to urban centres, receiving publicity in the media, influencing the haute couture creations of elite designers and mass-market clothing manufacturers.

Examples include mini skirts, culottes, go-go boots, and more experimental fashions less often seen on the street, such as curved PVC dresses and other PVC fabrics.

Mary Quant popularized the mini skirt and Jackie Kennedy introduced the pillbox hat; Both became very popular. False eyelashes were worn by women in the 1960s.

Hairstyles were of a variety of lengths and styles. Psychedelic prints, neon colors and mismatched patterns were in style.

Additionally, the London "modernists" known as the Mods influenced men's fashion in Britain. Designers were creating clothes more suitable for young adults, which led to increased interest and sales.

In the late 1960s, the hippie movement also had a strong influence on women's clothing styles, including bell-bottom jeans, tie-dye and batik fabrics, as well as paisley prints.

Model Jean Shrimpton was another icon and one of the world's first supermodels. During this time, she was the world's highest earning and most photographed model.

Shrimpton was called "the face of the 60s", with many considering her "an icon of Swinging London" and "the embodiment of the 1960s".

Like Pattie Boyd, wife of Beatles guitarist George Harrison, Shrimpton gained international fame for her embodiment of "the British female 'look' – mini-skirts, long, straight hair and wide-eyed beauty" that defined Western fashion. Does it. The arrival of the Beatles and other British Invasion acts in 1964.

Other popular models of that era included Verusca, Peggy Moffitt, and Penelope Tree. Model Twiggy has been called "the face of 1966" and "queen of mod", a label she shared with Cathy McGowan, host of the television rock show Ready Steady Go! From 1964 to 1966.

The British flag, the Union Jack, became an icon aided by events such as England's home victory in the 1966 World Cup. The Jaguar E-Type sports car was a British icon of the 1960s.