WHEN I ARRIVED ON THE SET OF GLORIA MAG’S 60’S themed shoot a few weeks ago, I was greeted with an impressive tableau of swinging London style. It made me think: If I could somehow transport myself back to the era of free love, would I? In my opinion, the 60s were infinitely cooler than- does this era even have a name? Maybe we’re still stuck in the “naughty aughties”, but there’s nothing very “naughty” about an era that’s all about consumerism, recession, cheesy celebrity culture, and retrogressive fashion.
When I open my closet, I am confronted with a veritable rummage sale of vintage clothing from decades past, a clear sign of my yearning for past years of revolution and change- a time when things were new and exciting, when possibilities seemed endless. The 60s encapsulates this feeling more than any other decade. Martin Luther King, Jr. incited a shift in global consciousness with his seminal “I Have a Dream” speech. President John F. Kennedy pushed for social reform, men walked on the moon, feminists burned their bras and championed the pill, and gay liberation blossomed. Phew! A lot of shit went down.
Free from the cookie-cutter constraints of the ‘50s, when rock n roll was considered evil, the children of the revolution wore flowers in their hair and preached free love. Horrified parents looked on as their kids lived together in communes and ran off to the Woodstock festival – popping acid. While high school sweethearts in the ‘5Os wore poodle skirts, bobby socks, and cone bras, the ‘60s hippies were shoeless, tie-dyed and maxi-skirted to perfection. This era spawned other radical movements. Twiggy and the mods inspired a generation of women to chop off their hair and wear skirts so short they were first dubbed “mini” and then simply “micro”. Boys were sharp- suited, like the Revolver-era Beatles, or swagged out, inspired by Jimi Hendrix.
Today, this sort of independent creativity is non-existent. Instead of bands inciting fashion trends, we've got Justin Bieber and Demi Lovato. The voice of our generation seems to be Kim Kardashian, for God's sake. The rise of the Internet and consumerist culture has rendered modern youth totally jaded: We've seen it all.
So yeah, there's a part of me that longs to experience a time where things were fresh, radical and exciting. Then again, this is an amazing age-if we use the technology at our fingertips to connect with each other, rather than to alienate ourselves. We should take some cues from the youth of the '60s and be children of our own revolution. We should start new trends, incite change for the better and maybe put flowers in our hair again. Could this decade be the new '60s? If we join together, it just might be.
(Photographed from above: The Beatles, Dr Martin Luther King, Jr. a photo from Sam Haskins special edition Fashion Etcetera book and the infamous Woodstock festival)
For more bad ass images from the flower power era, check out this tumblr
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Simone
This article couldn't describe what I feel about the current times we live in any better. I yearn for that era too, I can't even tell you. Even though I didn't live through it, I feel a special connection to it. Sure, the music was revolutionary and the clothes were incredible, but that wasn't everything. People really cared...especially young people. Cared about each other, cared about the planet...cared enough to let others know through peaceful demonstrations and speeches. Bravo Diva ;)
I think Simone may be right about this new decade, being a revolutionary one. After the past decade of consumption, bling and "looking rich" only to have it fall apart, hopefully we can have a more spiritual approach to our lives rather than just a material approach. And by spiritual, I don't mean religious. I mean knowing who we are without our material possessions, from the inside out. Gonna miss your posts lady!
But I love Kim Kardashian. :(
@Tanlume... Ive really lost hope. Not to say I dont appreciate having been born in this era but *sighes* ... There's no originality anymore. People overhype semi-talented people. We idolise meaningless people aka The Kardashians. We're constantly being fed the same crap over and over again. There's no creativity. Hence all we see is the same reality TV shows remade for all countries in the world. Sentle sentle kante originality e kae??
Es el mejor!!!!!!!!!! *giggles*
I agree with Tanlume. We live in an era where worshipping money and celebrating fame is a way of life, an era lacking in spirituality and focus on things that really matter: Family, friends, helping others, togetherness - love. Honestly, I always feel somewhat hypocritical commenting on this situation because I am too caught up in these worldly ways somehow and ultimately have to change me before I can change others/the world. I think it's Gandhi who said: "Be the change that you want to see in the world.". So I guess it has to start with each and every one of us - on the inside.
Great article, Cat. Tanlume is right, we're surely gonna miss them! :-)
Our generation for some odd reason wants to live in the highs of the 60s-mid 80s. When we should be moving forward. Great read though, lovely images.
What advice would you have for girls (*cough* me) to help be original in the way they dress. Hope that made sense
I think just to be yourself is the most important thing, I mean, I think it’s kind of hard sometimes to filter out these trends because there’s so much online now and everyone’s gravitating towards the same things and I think that the most important thing is to just be yourself and wear what you feel naturally drawn to cause then you will naturally get that unique look in that sense. That’s what I try to stay true to and hopefully other people can too. :) Hope this is what u meant
Yep! the moral of the story is to be yourself ...
Sitting here shouting 'YES, YES, YES' while reading this. This is a wise piece. Our youth needs an eye opener.
I guess society was much less uptight in the 60s than society now. There are a lot less dreamers now. Alot less social activists who fight for justice. That laid back view of the world has faded. Its more about money & business now and less about ideas & creativity.
But we have studio83, so there's hope :-)
:)
Nostalgia that was not lived is usually through the eyes that retold the story, a pick of the best. Not to sound cynical about this piece, but these 60's are so foreign, so far away!