The 1960s gave rise to a hippie subculture which was originally a youth movement throughout the US. Not only did it spread to other countries, but it has had resurgence in recent years for young and old alike. Such shows as That 70s Show are no doubt partially responsible, but the fashion industry has taken note, and we are seeing hippie headbands, and fashion everywhere these days.
Both men and women in the hippie movement wore jeans and maintained long hair, wore sandals or went barefoot. Men frequently grew beards and women refused to wear makeup and bras. They wore brightly colored clothes in unusual styles which included bell bottom jeans, vests, tie dyed clothes, dashikis, peasant skirts and blouses, and those famous hippie headbands which they adopted from the Native Americans. Additionally they adopted styles from Asian, Indian, African and Latin American cultures.
Hippies were known for wearing handmade clothing because their beliefs included defying corporate culture. Because of this they not only learned to make clothes; they bought them from flea markets and second hand shops.
Many may not know that the hippie scene actually rose from the beatnik scene of the 1950s. The ideologies were originally the same as well as the values.
Hippie fashions and values completely changed our culture, influencing music, television, literature and the arts as well as morals and religious beliefs. As you might imagine, tons of hippie clothes, ideals and other aspects of hippie culture have become part of our mainstream culture today. From church movements to cultural diversity, the concepts have been accepted more and more over the last several decades.
The hippie music festivals is only one of the many celebratory ways we embrace the effects of the hippie culture in modern times.
At these festivals hippie symbols and iconography are everywhere including the peace sign which can be seen on peace clothing, tie dye clothing, hippie jewelry, other forms of hippie fashion, and even the occasional peace sign tattoos.
Girls are known to wear gypsy skirts, which are peasant skirts, or broomstick skirts, often tie dyed and hippie dresses of similar fashion. Hippie tapestries are often draped or cut and sewn into dashikis or dresses as well.
In particular there were a myriad designs of hippie headbands. These bohemian headbands were often braided out of leather or fabric of most any type. The chic headbands of the 1980s were a throwback to them, but the 60s headbands were not typically elastic like those of the 1980s. The fashion trend included the use of bandanas or a simple cord tied around the head in various styles. These boho headband accessories didnt have to match an outfit in particular, and therefore often had personal meaning or were worn as either a statement or to commemorate something in many instances.
The sight of the hippie headband was a sure sign in the 60s that a hippie was in your presence. This often brought derision from those who withstood the morals of the hippie movement. Their hippie clothes and head wraps were then seen as the costumes of foolish youngsters. Now people want to know where they can find a hippie store!
The hippie bands at the festivals wear clothes and headbands often made more modern with some type of new fashion flair. The popular piercings add a new twist to the hippie look, as well as dreadlocks often sported by neo-hippies these days.
Fashion changes, but hippie headbands, fashion, clothes and music are here to stay!