Costumes Go Full Swing into the Sixties

Brad Culver, Dan Donahue, Sarah Moser, Claire Warden, William Connell and Helen Sadler in One Man, Two Guvnors. Photo courtesy of mellopix.com

The 1960's. It was a time of revolution. Counter-culture, individualism and skirt lengths were on the rise. The British had invaded the world through music and fashion. It was a time filled with short hair and infectious style that pushed boundaries.

Fashion model, Twiggy helped popularize the mini-skirt

After the conservatism of the 1950s, the following decade broke free from it and pushed the envelope on style. The mini skirt was introduced and women's fashion was forever changed. "Shorter was better" could have been a slogan as women fell in love with the mini skirt. Dresses from the shift style to baby doll kept it above the knee. New materials—including plastic—were being used for clothing to create more interesting and daring options for women.

 Throughout the '60s, men's clothes softened to a more effeminate look. Pants got tighter, hair got longer, turtlenecks were popular and by the end of the '60s, seeing a man in a silk scarf wasn't that unusual. Bright colors and intricate prints, for both genders, were wholly embraced.

The Beatles

Straight out of London, the Mod style was increasingly popular in England and the United States—in due part to the mop-top foursome, The Beatles. Clean, straight lines and tighter-fit suits dominated menswear. For the rest of the decade, John, Paul, George and Ringo would continue to influence men's styles as their own tastes shifted throughout the decade.

SCR's season opener, One Man, Two Guvnors, transports audiences to 1963 England, an epicenter of fashion at the time. The 1960s comes to life with colorful costumes designed by Meg Neville. Since it is the early '60s, it was a time of transition, just the beginnings of go-go boots and ascots. Neville's designs give both a nod to the 1950s and display the revolutionary styles of the 1960s.

Check out Neville's costume renderings and a few production shots below to spot the 1960's looks:

Photo Gallery by QuickGallery.com
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