Hippie Chic: The Lecture

The Hippie Chic lecture at the MFA was one of the most memorable indoor events of the summer. The curator of the exhibit, Lauren

Whitley, analyzed the variety of trends, styles in 60s fashion and put them in context. In the 60’s the Baby Boomers swelled the teenage population to 11 million. This youth culture rejected the materialism of the establishment, along with the fashion mandates of the Paris houses of couture in favor of wearing vintage clothing, making their own clothes, and expressing their individuality culturally and artistically. The mod and futuristic fashions of the early 60s represented by Pierre Cardin and Chanel gave way to a grass roots fashion movement created by the youth.

The curator named these style trends: “Trippy Hippy” represented by psychedelic colors, organic prints, and textures; vintage inspired: maxi dresses for women, and ruffled collars for men; Arthurian fantasy: with flowing sleeves, indigenous and gypsy styles, which became very popular after the Beatles visited the Maharishi in India, and crafts styles: tie dyed t-shirts, macrame, and patchwork. Before ripped and faded jeans became a fashion statement, they were a symbol of rebellion. London became the fashion center of the world, and the houses of couture began to copy the street style of the hippies and sell more expensively made versions of these styles in upscale boutiques. The legacy of the 60s to us is that now we have license to wear a variety of styles and express our individuality, rather than adhering to a rigid set of fashion rules in most contexts. The curator will give another talk on this exhibit in September: http://www.mfa.org/programs/special-event/hippie-chic-talk-and-tour-curator. Don’t miss it!