The Buzz traveled back in time this semester to the “swinging’ 60s” for a more bold and eccentric cover theme A period known for challenging conventionality and tradition inspired the styling behind the looks.

Text: Hanna’s dress is Zara. She accessorizes with a JASGOOD belt and Cider headscarf. She wears sunglasses and Go-Go boots from Amazon and earrings from Fashion Nova.

Text: Make way for the 60s! 

A period marked by sweeping social change holds significance not only in U.S. history but also in fashion history. With the dissolution of many old traditional hierarchies, the way for modernism was slowly paved.

How people dressed was a direct reflection of shifting attitudes surrounding personal identity. As with any social trend, The fashion industry was quick to respond by inventing designs that were more fun, young, fresh, and specially catered towards younger people. Heightened economic power fueled a newfound sense of industry, and the concept of designing for only the elite members of society became a thing of the past. Teenagers ruled the fashion scene; from more radical styles to brighter pops of color, the way of traditional dressing would be changed forever.Trends were characterized by high-impact color, dimension, and innovative linework. Designers fell in love with man-made materials to create eye-catching and color-popping garments including PVC, polyester, acrylic, nylon, and spandex, among others (definitely not the most environmentally friendly, but staples for the time).

This incredible transformation of style was something unlike anything seen before. Women were adorned in unbelievably short mini skirts and brighter garments, while men ventured into the realm of wearing tunics, capes, and bold patterns. Ideas like these would’ve been mere fantasy in the 1950s.But it’s not just the clothes that stand out—hair and makeup trends also got a big reset. Makeup was bigger, bolder, and brighter, and the hair got hotter, higher, and (bee) hived. Women tended to sport a middle path with bumped ends, large beehives, or dimensional bobs. Meanwhile, men frequently sported a more slick-back, “ducktail” style (one piece sticking up in the back).

So why go back to the 60s for the photoshoot?

The BU Buzz is committed to cultivating a fresh, dynamic, and unique spread; we want our style to be as bold as our team. Gathering inspiration from Pinterst, our team settled on a style that would not only photograph really well but was also really fun to piece together. We spent hours searching through closets, scouring thrift shops, and shopping online to find pieces that aptly represented what the 1960s was all about—a break from tradition and conventionality.

Text:

Mateen’s cherry sweater is thrifted. His neck scarf is amazon and his pants are gant.

Hannah’s blue turtle neck is French Connection. She pairs this top with an old Forever 21 plaid skirt. She accessorizes with thrifted earrings and pearls from Francesca’s. Her shoes are Aldos.

Kay’s sparkly dress is from Target. She accessorizes with flats from Sincerley Jules and earrings from Target.

Text: In a period dubbed “The Swingin’ 60s,” gogo boots became a style staple. With their plastic texture, shiny feel, knee-high cover, and square toe, these shoes ruled the scene. Often paired with a mini skirt or mini dress, these star-studded boots first gained popularity through singer Nancy Sinatra. Sinatra’s hit single “These Boots are Made for Walkin’' earned the boots a lot of traction. With any fashion staple, the true test of popularity can be found in how long the boots have remained in circulation.

While in 2023, many aren’t wearing traditional Go-Go boots, the main tenets of their style—the chunky heel and block front—have integrated their way into many modern-style winter and fall boots. These small details that have withstood the test of time prove the fashion of the 1960s was truly revolutionary.