1960s bridal fashion
Jun 6, 2014 | by Becky Oeltjenbruns
1968 bride in a mini dress
The 1960s brought us tremendous social change; from civil rights to voting rights, tension was high nationwide. Youth culture was driving the world of fashion as well as politics. With JFK taking the Presidency in 1961, the country channeled post war optimism into technology, science, and space. Weddings were impacted by these events as brides reflected the latest fashion and attitudes. The mini dress by Mary Quant, short skirts, and the Pop Art/Mod movements left their influences on formal events.
1960s bridal fashion
The 1960s silhouette evolved from long, lean lines to short hemlines as the years edged closer to the funky 1970s. Maxi dresses that stopped at the ankle, simple sheaths, and empire waist gowns defined the early part of the era. Even once the mini dress craze took off, the desire for a lack of adornment remained. A few motifs were popular however. When you start looking at dresses from this era it will be easy to identify them: daisies and bows. Although we’ve discussed the relative length of these gowns, the collar style was more conservative in nature. Peter pan collars were a popular choice. Yet sleeves weren’t always as subdued. The puffy sleeves we enjoy in the 1970s established their roots here.
Abby Dalton as Martha Hale, 1962
As we work our way through the complete bridal look for this decade, let’s first consider the hair and veil realm. Veils were less popular during this time as hair-styling became more and more prominent. Beehives, a simple chignon, or bouffants remain the classic trio of hair looks for this time period. However, if you do want to include a veil we recommend one that either stops at your shoulders or goes the length of your gown (whether that’s mini or long!). Much like during war-time weddings, hats were in vogue. Pill box hats like the ever-stylish Jackie O. made famous or even the decidedly more exaggerated floppy hats were common accents.
During the previous decade brides would wear bolero jackets, but in the 1960s the jacket took on a more impressive transformation. Flowing capes were popular and gloves were typically added to bring a certain dramatic flair to the ensemble. Building off the gown’s minimalist style, the bouquet remained small and simple. (And yes, you guessed it – you can’t go wrong with a quaint bundle of daisies!) Opaque tights, low heeled shoes, or knee boots would complete your look. In terms of makeup, the 1960s brides places all her emphasis on the eyes. Keep your lip color pale and subtle. Play up your eyes with eyeliner, mascara, and vibrant eye shadow colors.
Cause A Frockus would like to thank their tremendous resources: “Vintage Wedding: Simple Ideas for Creating a Romantic Vintage Wedding” by Daniela Turudich, “Style Me Vintage: An inspirational guide to styling the perfect vintage wedding” by Annabel Beeforth, and the people who post their images without restriction.
For our readers: What is your favorite vintage wedding decade? If it’s the 1960s… what do you love about it the most?