Five Trendsetting Films From The 1960s
After I’ve finished watching a film, I often come away with a million different wardrobe ideas scribbled down on a notepad. For me, the best films are the most stylish ones (unless it’s anything like Emily In Paris). And it seems women of the sixties were similar in this respect.
A lot of the films released during the era sparked some major fashion trends from berets to traditional Asian dress. Although sixties fashion was inspired mostly by street style and local boutique designers, film still had an influence on fashion trends but only when they were really great looks. Here are five films that became fashion trendsetters.
The World Of Suzie Wong, 1960
Nancy Kwan portrayed a loveable prostitute in a smokey hotel in Hong Kong. She found herself as the romantic interest for the movie starring opposite William Holden. Although the story hasn’t aged well, Nancy’s look in a pale blue traditional style of Asian dress sparked a fashion trend at the beginning of the decade. After the film was released, boutiques began stocking cheongsam dresses everywhere and marketing them as the “Suzie Wong dress”. Not only did the film introduce the Asian style of dress into Western women’s fashion, it was one of the first Hollywood films since the 1920s to feature an Asian actress as the leading character. Nancy also sparked her own fashion trend when she got her hair cut by Vidal Sassoon after the film was cut. He shaped her hair into a pointed bob and it became known as “the Kwan”.
A Bout De Souffle (Breathless), 1960
This French Nouvelle Vague film was largely improvised and had a low budget but it all became a part of the movie’s charm. Actress Jean Seberg brought her own clothes to wear for the film which had a mixture of American and French pieces. Little did Jean know that her casual wardrobe would spark so much influence on fashion. Beatniks and mods rushed to the hairdresser to have their hair chopped off into a pixie cut and her collared striped dress became an iconic look in the sixties.
Breakfast At Tiffany’s, 1961
When Audrey Hepburn was cast for the role of Holly Golightly, it was already certain the film would make fashion history. Audrey was known for having fashion moments in Sabrina and Funny Face in the fifties. Especially with the help of designer Givenchy. There are many looks in Breakfast At Tiffany’s that are still copied and influence designers today. But the most famous look is when she wears a little black, form-fitting dress as she hops around New York. Not long after the film, it was reported that many Audrey Hepburn look-alikes could be found running around the city in little black dresses.
Faster Pussycat! Kill! Kill!, 1965
Director Russ Meyer created a movie around three friends who kill a man in the desert and try to cover it up. For his lead role and main protagonist, he cast Tura Santara. She played the feisty go go dancer that didn’t take any shit from men. Throughout the whole film, she wears her black skin-tight catsuit paired with dark eyeliner and iron straight hair. What really completed her look was that she was a strong and confident woman – which was not how women were typically portrayed in films during the sixties. Although the film didn’t sell well initially, Tura’s character has become a major icon ever since.
Bonnie And Clyde, 1967
Faye Dunnaway took over everyone’s dream role as Bonnie in the true crime film Bonnie And Clyde. She had an attitude, a gun and a wardrobe that was reminiscent of the 1930s, but with a sixties twist. The costumes were designed by Theadora Van Runkle who also dressed Faye for the Thomas Crown Affair. The film sparked huge popularity in bob cuts and berets. A small town in France where they made berets claimed their production doubled after the film was released. Faye also further promoted the film’s style moments by wearing a glossy white sequin beret to the premier.
So which trend do you love the most? Watch each of these films to discover more looks than just the trends that they sparked. Each one can help you find inspiration to add to your own vintage style wardrobe. If you want to discover more about trends, I write regularly on my sixties fashion blog or read my book How To Dress Like It’s the Sixties which is now available on Amazon.
Omg love this list! Some of these movies I need to watch pronto xxx