Perfect your 60s fancy dress outfit down to a T

13^th May 2014

Amanda Walters

Amanda Walters

13 May 2014

There’s something about fancy dress that puts people in the mood for a party. It’s fun, it’s outrageous and most of all it’s entertaining; so if you’ve been invited to a 60s night why not go all out and look your very best? You’ll find a great range of 60s dress ideas online and if you follow the tips below you’re sure to relive the flower power era like never before!

Costumes

The sixties was a time of significant change both socially and economically. Anti-war protests were rife and the slogan “make love not war” was commonly used among many liberal and politically minded people of the time. In short, the sixties was a decade of breaking free, exploring new trends and doing everything your parents wouldn’t want you to do. Hem lines grew shorter, shift dresses became tighter and bright bold prints were all the rage. Pastel coloured suits, pill box hats, short boxy-style jackets and oversized accessories were bang on trend, so dig these items out of your wardrobe once again or peruse the web for the perfect 60s dress.

In need of some more inspiration? Well, America’s first lady Jackie Kennedy was quite the trend setter wearing everything from chunky pearls to large bows and head ties. If you want to take 60s fancy dress to the next level you could even copy Audrey Hepburn’s classic look in the hugely popular film Breakfast at Tiffany’s and opt for a simple little black dress. According to an article in The Huffington Post, sometimes a simple frock is all you need to turn on the sixties style, so it’s well-worth rocking your bod in something tight and seductive.

What about the guys? Well, think Mad Men and opt for tight slacks, two-piece suits, skinny ties, boots and hats. Silk scarfs tied like neckties were also popular in the late sixties or you could ditch all that and go for a super hippy look with flares, brightly patterned waistcoats, necklaces and headbands.

Hair

If you’ve seen the hit musical Hairspray, you’ll know that the beehive was one of the 60s most popular styles. As reported by The Daily Mail, it was invented by Margaret Vinci Heldt when she was asked to create a new look for the decade by Modern Beauty Salon magazine. If you want to recreate this iconic look for your party, there are plenty of tutorials online that’ll tell you exactly how to bouffant your hair, but basically it involves a lot of backcombing and plenty of hair grips – not to mention hairspray. The bigger the better, so don’t hold back and keep adding volume to your heart’s content.

If the beehive isn’t your thing you could opt for a short bob, popular in the latter part of the decade (use a wig if you don’t fancy a cut) or you could straighten long locks for a super-sleek hippy look – the choice is yours! Men, it’s all about the side parting and gel, so grease up, baby!

Make up

To complete your look it’s essential to get your make up spot on. Take your lead from 1960s supermodel Twiggy who knew how to work the bright eye shadow and super long lashes. Lash extensions are perfect for fancy dress parties and nights on the town alike or you could just layer on the mascara to ensure you’ve got beautiful wide eyes for the occasion. Choose an eye shadow to match your dress and you’ll be onto a 60s winner in no time. Highlight your eyes with eyeliner, add a touch of blusher and you’ll be good to go.

Sixties is a fantastic theme as it’s not only simple but wonderfully effective and you’re sure to have great fun rewinding back to the free-loving era.

 Amanda Walters