We can talk and write about the fashion of the 1960s endlessly: I already have several posts about it, including several about exhibitions. This spring I visited another exhibition about 1960s fashion, "A Leap into the Future" at the Riga Fashion Museum. The exhibition explores the fashion of a vibrant "swinging sixties", from mini to hippie, from space-inspired outfits to sumptuous evening dresses.
Fashion designers work under the influence of visual art: Mondrian's neoplasticism, Pollock and Rothko's abstract art, pop art and esoteric mandalas are embodied in models and fabrics.
Polyester dress in the 1960s style with silver ribbon trim. Andre Courreges, France, Paris.
Wool dress with patent leather trim in style of Mondrian. Andre Courreges, France, Paris, 1960s.
Wool gabardine mini dress in Space Age style. Marinelli for Saks Fifth Avenue, France/USA, 1960s.
Conquering the space became the number one topic of the 1960s. The first space launch happened in 1961 and by 1969 astronauts have stepped the Moon. Cosmic style (Space Age) was very popular. It was most vividly embodied by Pierre Cardin, Andre Courreges and Louis Feraud.
Crimplene dress with contrasting Space Age trim. Louis Feraud for Rembrandt, France/UK, 1960s.
Space Age ensemble in wool. Andre Courreges, France, Paris, 1960s.
Silk evening dress embroidered with beads and rhinestones. Douglas Darnell, Great Britain, London, 1960s.
Short silk and metallic thread cocktail dress with pleats and belt. William Pearson, USA, Los Angeles, 1960s.
Shoes:
A futuristic top of plastic discs and metal parts. Paco Rabanne, France, Paris, late 1960s.
Brocade cocktail dress with stylized floral pattern. Yves Saint Laurent Rive Gauche, France, Paris, 1967.
Brocade coatdress with luxurious buttons and woven pattern. Elinor Simmons for Malcolm Starr, USA/Hong Kong, 1960s.
Coatdress with belt and woven geometric pattern. Elinor Simmons for Malcolm Starr, USA/Hong Kong, 1960s.
Silk dress with opart print. Mancini, USA, 1960s.
Printed silk dress in Rothko's abstract art style. Liberty house, USA, Hawaii, 1960s.
Silk evening dress embroidered with beads and rhinestones. Cristobal Balenciaga's fashion house Eisa, Spain, 1968. From the wardrobe of Balenciaga's former model, Francine Garcia-Trevijano. Cocktail dress and jacket in shantung (wild silk). Liberty of London, London, 1960s.
Accessories:
Silk cocktail dress and evening scarf with floral print. Dibal, Italy, 1960s.
Printed silk suit with bead and rhinestone embroidery. Emilio Pucci, Florence, late 1960s.
Silk mini dress embroidered with large sequins. Eloise Curtis for David Styne, USA, 1960s.
Silk cocktail dress with bead and rhinestone embroidery. Jacques Heim, Paris, 1960s. From the wardrobe of French actress Claude Gensac.
Evening dress with high waist and rhinestone embroidery. Jean Varon (John Bates), London, 1960s.
Silk satin cocktail dress with bead and rhinestone embroidery and decorative ribbon, 1960s.
Asymmetrical silk evening dress with fine pleats and beaded embroidery. Gres boutique, Paris, ~1960.
Shoes and cosmetics:
Hippie clothes were the complete opposite of the geometrical Space Age. Fundamentally not new, made from natural materials, handmade, it arbitrarily connected costume elements of different ethnic groups in a motley ensemble.
Velvet dress with floral embroidery in hippie style. Late 1960s.
Hippie ensemble: patchwork tunic shirt (Guatemala) and flared jeans with applique (USA), 1970s.
Suede mini dress with hippie fringe. Patricia Cole for Richard Rhodes, UK, late 1960s. Dress with embroidery of folk motifs. Late 1960s.
Wool dress for a little girl. Confezione Boutique dei bimbi, Italy, 1960s. Taffeta dress with buttons, Irene Galitzine, Rome, 1960s.
British fashion of those years influenced the world fashion industry. In the capital of the United Kingdom, conceptual street retail was emerging, centred around Carnaby Street and King's Road, where alternative boutiques with vibrant clothing for young people flourished. The miniskirt revolutionized the world of streetwear and became the symbol of the swinging sixties.
Asymmetric linen mini dress with decorative ribbon. Oleg Cassini for Tina Marini, USA, 1960s. Linen coat with stylized belt. Mary Quant, London, 1960s.
Printed "paper dress" made of cellulose and nylon. Hallmark, USA, 1960s. Jersey minidress in the 1960s style.
In the last hall of the exhibition, you can find a permanent exhibition, which presents moving costumes with music: fashion of the 19th century, 1920s, 1980s, Latvian national costume and others.
Also, in the museum you can dress up in clothes on the theme of the current exhibition, and in the café you can try delicious desserts, buy souvenirs and books about fashion.
I didn't leave empty-handed :).