London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Friday, Sep 11, 2026

60s fashion: 7 ways to wear the fashion of the decade now

60s fashion: 7 ways to wear the fashion of the decade now

60s fashion has to be one of the most playful and colourful eras of fashion to date. Here's how to wear these timeless trends today.

There's no denying that the 60s were one of, if not the most, influential eras for the establishment of 'modern' fashion. A transition to bolder shades, unconventional silhouettes and an adventurous and deeply youthful approach to styling, we have the 60s to thank for many of the pieces and styling cues we now can't live without.

It's no surprise then, that leading designers of the 21st century continue to return time and time again to the groundbreaking designs of this decade. The miniskirt, which first came to fruition in the 60s, has made a major return to the runway this season; with key brands such as Valentino, Chanel, Miu Miu and Maryam Nassir Zadeh slashing hemlines and baring legs in return. While 60s-esque suede cowboy fringing reigned supreme in Hermès' latest collection.

In anticipation of these style moments making their way back onto the sartorial roster, we're sharing seven of 60s fashion's most memorable trends and how you can wear them.

Mod fashion

Mod fashion in the 60s was more about an approach to dressing, rather than a specific item. Originally a subculture that was birthed in London in the late 50s, by the time the 60s swung on through, mod has solidified itself as a signature style of the era. What is it, exactly? Mod inspired trendsetters of 60s fashion to wear bold, innovative and 'modern' outfits which reflected their personal taste. No colour, texture, pattern or hemline was off-limits.


Chainmail

The fashion aficionados among us will know that Paco Rabanne's now-iconic armour first sprung to sartorial royalty in the 1960s. And with good reason. This was an era where no one took themselves seriously enough to wear a floor-length gown, but it didn't mean they had to compromise on drama. True to its staying power, chainmail is as covetable now as it was 60 years ago. If you're lucky, you may even be able to hunt down an original...


Miniskirts

What were the 60s if not a time to shake things up? When the miniskirt first debuted, it changed society's perspective on women's fashion forever. Both a political and sartorial statement, the original designers of the now commonplace hemline are said to be between London-based designer Mary Quant and the Parisian André Courrèges. Now, it's impossible to think we once lived without them.


Shift dresses

The audacity to wear an a-line, shapeless dress and make it look this good? The shift dress was a major wardrobe staple of 60s fashion; the loose, relaxed silhouette a welcome change for lovers of mod dressing who were used to more restrictive styles. Although not as prominent in the contemporary fashion roster, the shift dress still has its place. Italian coastlines, country clubs in the Hamptons. You get the idea.


Bold prints

60s fashion walked so that Gucci could run. Bold prints and fabrics were essential in the 60s. Photos of men and women dressed in dull shades were few and very far between. The unapologetic donning of colour is something we could all use a lot more of in our approach to fashion. But as the image above proves, it's important to balance these bright hues out. Case in point, we'll be printing out this look and framing it on our wall forever.


Coloured stockings

60s fashion was a head-to-toe commitment of colour, and we mean that quite literally. Colourful stockings and tights were a key part of women's fashion; complimenting the already bold colours in other elements of their outfits. While we might dream of sporting a monochrome purple look like the image above, the 21st-century approach is more minimal. Maybe a pastel shade or a clean white stocking to begin with?


Go-go boots

If it was fashionable and functional, trendsetters of this era certainly knew about it. Which, explains the popularity of the go-go boot. A familiar face in 60s fashion, André Courrèges was also credited for the creation of the iconic footwear. Traditionally, the go-go boot was fashioned as white, low-heeled and mid-calf shoe; but as the decade progressed, the heel and boot height began to change. Our ultimate source of inspiration comes courtesy of the ethereal Jane Birkin – low hanging belt included.

Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
English Councils to Gain Power to Introduce Tourist Taxes by 2028
Kemi Badenoch Reshuffles Conservative Shadow Cabinet
Firefighters Make Progress Containing Major Wildfires in South Wales
John Lewis Partnership Reports £124 Million Loss
Study Says UK AI Data Centres Will Create Only a Quarter of Forecast Jobs
UK Government Considers Higher Industrial Water Prices Amid Supply Pressures
Andy Burnham Holds First Call With Donald Trump as UK Prime Minister
NHS Records Busiest Summer on Record as Heatwaves Drive Hospital Admissions
Home Secretary Orders Police Crackdown on Far-Right Anti-Migrant Vigilantes
UK Supreme Court Rules Northern Ireland Religious Education Curriculum Breaches Human Rights Standards
Markets Price in Four Bank of England Rate Rises by Next Summer
House of Commons Prepares Free Vote on Assisted Dying Bill
UK Government Bans Trade With Israeli Settlements in Occupied Territories
UK Economy Grows 0.4% in July as Artificial Intelligence Investment Supports Expansion
Andy Burnham Becomes UK Prime Minister After Keir Starmer Resigns
John Lewis Partnership Loss Widens to £124 Million
UK Government to Put White Working-Class Social Mobility at Centre of Equality Policy
McLaren Plans £450 Million Technology Investment Creating 1,000 UK Jobs
UK Chancellor Faces Calls for Wealth Taxes and Public Ownership in Autumn Budget
English Mayors to Gain Powers to Impose Uncapped Overnight Tourist Taxes
JPMorgan’s Jamie Dimon Warns UK Government Against Bank Windfall Taxes
UK Air Traffic Control Outage Cancels More Than 2,000 Flights
UK Imposes Trade Ban on Israeli Settlements in the West Bank
UK Borrowing Costs Surge as Middle East Tensions Push Long-Term Gilt Yields to Highest Since 1998
Buckingham Palace Says Prince Harry and Meghan Will Not Resume Official Royal Duties
UK Treasury Faces Calls to Scrap £100,000 Childcare Support Threshold
Trades Union Congress Urges Labour Government to Rewrite Migration Policy
Riot Police Deployed After Anti-Migrant Protests Turn Violent in Portsmouth
UK Considers Replacing Some Disability Cash Payments With Direct Services
JPMorgan’s Jamie Dimon Warns UK Chancellor Against Higher Banking Taxes
UK Announces New Sanctions Targeting Israeli Settlements in West Bank
Metropolitan Police Investigate Alleged Illegal Donations to Reform UK
UK Charges Wiltshire Man With Assisting Russian Intelligence
UK Orders Urgent Review After Air Traffic Failure Cancels More Than 2,000 Flights
Merz Rebukes AfD Expansion in Saxony-Anhalt
King Charles Confirms Prince Harry and Meghan Will Remain Private Citizens
Labour Selects Former Child Refugee for By-Election in Keir Starmer’s Former Seat
Foreign Private Equity Accelerates Takeovers of London-Listed Industrial Companies
NHS Maternity Care Faces Scrutiny Over Support for Mothers After Caesarean Births
BBC Warns Staff Strikes Are Likely Amid Job Cuts and Programme Cancellations
English Housing Affordability Improves to Best Level in More Than a Decade
UK Health Commission Proposes Framework for Wider AI Adoption Across NHS
Labour Faces Pressure for Wealth Tax Ahead of Autumn Budget
Metropolitan Police Open Criminal Investigation Into Alleged Foreign Donations to Reform UK
UK Police Deploy Riot Officers After Anti-Immigration Unrest in Portsmouth and Dover
UK Defends Sanctions on Israeli Settlements Despite Diplomatic Retaliation
UK Air Traffic Control Failure Cancels More Than 1,000 Flights and Disrupts 65,000 Passengers
Compass Urges £10 Million Wealth Tax and Public Ownership Ahead of UK Autumn Budget
UK Government’s Devolution Plans Face House of Lords Scrutiny
Maldives Seeks New Chagos Sovereignty Talks With UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham
×