I didn't receive notification of your reply. I'm visiting while watching it on TCM for the nth time. I originally saw it in the theater when I was about 16 heading on 17.
Styles were amazingly varied then and remained that way into the early Seventies (my years at a junior college). We weren't hung up on brand names and would have wondered why anyone would want a company's/designer's name plastered over everything. Jeans would have been an exception, with the brand name on a pocket label. All colors were "in", as were styles of all kinds. The flower child/hippie/urban hippie look was popular, as were all types of flowing gowns of velvet and/or gauze (the Romantic look); Carnaby Street and "dolly birds"; so much more. Many Sixties films showcase the variety, with leading ladies in a parade of fashions. We loved paisleys, lace, denim, miniskirts and maxi-/midi-dresses. We wore sandals (especially hurachis), flipflops, good old tennis shoes (plain canvas unless you decided to be psychedelic); boots of all types; platform shoes (I'm sure a lot of ladies would admit to falling off them from time to time)(I even had a pair of Sbica Rockers~well, I still have them!); the inappropriately named squaw boots, also called Monkee boots after Peter Tork popularized the style; ALL types. I don't recall anyone being teased about whatever style s/he chose.
Jewelry and fragrances were just as varied.
"Do your own thing" was pretty much the style, and there were some rather unique looks. We knew when conformity of dress was necessary (church, various ceremonies, weddings, funerals, even everyday at school, as there were dress codes). Honestly, I don't recall people being critical except for the inevitable Generation Gap (examples: length of hair, looking like a hippie or a narc. hawk or a dove). I'm not saying that it was an absolute wonderland, but there certainly was a lot of freedom in expressing yourself without it being objectionable (for the most part).
Oh, I'm probably making a muddle of this. You'll see the lead characters' generation looking a certain way; the hippies; the teens. It was a wild mixture. A lot of adults embraced the kids' style (Peter Sellers in "I Love You, Alice B. Toklas"); some were encouraged to explore ("Sweet November"); there are complete makeovers ("Pretty Polly aka A Matter of Innocence" and "Butterflies Are Free"); parades of styles ("Penelope" (1966), "Petulia", "Caprice", also with Doris Day). Then, there are dazzlers that include "Modesty Blaise" and the spacey "Barbarella". You could check out "Hair" (1979) for a film that shows the array of fashions.
I still love many of the styles, materials, etc., and my wardrobe definitely reflects that, as does my treasure trove of odds & ends of jewelry. Sadly, old, achy feet don't allow me to recapture that part of the era though I keep many of my favorites in a couple of drawers, knowing I should find new homes for them with adventurous ladies. I do wear fisherman sandals and, occasionally, the lace-up sandals that I often wore at Renaissance faires and other reenactment events. In fact, I sneak old styles in whenever possible.
People always seem to be ashamed of the Eighties and Nineties especially, along with the latter part of the Seventies. Most Baby Boomers will admit to loving the styles, including the "hair worship" aspect. I'd love to have the tapestry pants, the Nehru dress, and all the rest now because many items still might "pass". Back then, as a teen, I wasn't physically what was popular (hair, coloration, physical build), but I loved finding the clothing that appealed to me, never giving it a thought as to whether "they" would like it or hate it. It was, again, dazzling then! And, it was so much FUN!
(W)hat are we without our dreams?
Making sure our fantasies
Do not overpower our realities. ~ RC
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