Celeb Outfits From The '60s That Define The Era's Style

As several 1960s-inspired fashion trends make their way back into the mainstream, we're taking a look back at the origins of those iconic looks. America in the 1960s was experiencing large scale upheaval; societal norms were challenged as activists fought for civil rights and social justice and young people protested the U.S.'s involvement in the war in Vietnam. Whenever a society goes through major shifts in values, politics, and youth culture, a fashion revolution is typically on the horizon. As such, the '60s saw a lot of subversion in terms of beauty and fashion expectations; hemlines got shorter, makeup more editorial, and hairstyles more dynamic.

Designers began to play with androgynous dress shapes, which was a noted departure from the exaggeratedly curvy, ultra-feminine silhouettes favored in the decade prior. Women began wearing heeled Mary Janes, stylish skirt suits, oversized sunglasses, and daring miniskirts. Many of those trends can trace their origins back to '60s fashion icons like Cher, Diana Ross, and Twiggy. Celebrities from the film, music, modeling, and political worlds alike challenged style norms and inspired women around the world to do the same.

While performing alongside husband Sonny Bono throughout the 1960s, a very young Cher rocked many over-the-top looks; the singer often donned feathers, fringe, and bold patterns on and off stage while coordinating with Sonny. One of her best '60s looks comes from a television performance. Cher wore a crocheted minidress with long bell sleeves and a pair of Mary Janes. This look combined two of the biggest trends of the decade: preppy, round-toe Mary Jane shoes and bell-sleeved shift dresses.

We've tracked Diana Ross' gorgeous evolution since her '60s breakthrough. Ross, alongside fellow Supremes members Florence Ballard and Mary Wilson, was one of the defining style figures of the decade. The three performed in glamorous gowns, with their hair in voluminous bobs and beehives. But, off stage, they regularly took part in more casual trends. In one iconic picture of the Supremes, they all donned miniskirts, with Ballard and Wilson each wearing a skirt suit. Ross looked especially trendy in knee-high boots and a mod turtleneck.

Twiggy is undoubtedly the most iconic model of the 1960s. After seeing a photo of Twiggy modeling a hairstyle for a salon, Daily Express fashion editor Deidre McSharry featured her in an article that dubbed the young woman "The Face of '66." In one promotional photo for her fashion line, Twiggy posed in a long-sleeved shift dress with breast pockets and a dramatic collar (predicting the statement collars of the '70s), which she paired with understated white loafers. 

In addition to her award-winning performances on stage and screen, Hollywood groundbreaker Diahann Carroll was known for her beauty and style. In one iconic photoshoot dated in 1960, Carroll posed at the Watts Towers in Los Angeles in a fabulous cream and orange ensemble. The star wore a cream turtleneck and trousers beneath a bright orange button-up midi dress. She completed the trend-setting look with a wide-brimmed cream hat.

While many remember Sharon Tate for being one of the Manson cult's murder victims in 1969, we're choosing to focus on a more positive aspect of star's life: one of her best looks. The "Valley of the Dolls" actor had a lasting impact on the fashion world; Tate was best known for her teased-up beehive, cat-eye liner, long false lashes, and love of miniskirts. In one such look from 1966, Tate wore a trendy striped minidress with a neck tie, black trench coat, and, of course, rocked her iconic moody eye look.

Jane Fonda, who now has one of the best friendships in Hollywood with Lily Tomlin, was an influential figure in the '60s and '70s. Fonda was a prominent actor and activist, starring in cult classics like "Barbarella" while advocating for the Civil Rights Movement. In one of her most iconic photos, Fonda is pictured alongside husband Roger Vadim leaving Paris' Belvedere Hospital with their first daughter, Vanessa. The new mom and fashion icon looked as fabulous as ever with teased-up hair, a red coat, miniskirt, and knee-high boots. 

One of First Lady Jackie Kennedy's looks sparked a fashion movement. The FLOTUS was known for her love of Chanel skirt suits and, most famously, pillbox hats. Even an accidentally dented hat she wore became a trend – women ran to purchase pillbox hats in droves, denting them purposefully just to look like her. In one official visit to Paris, Jackie stunned in a trendy butter yellow skirt suit and matching hat. The elegant first lady kept her other accessories classic, with three strings of pearls and a pair of crystal earrings.