40 years after Woodstock, hippie-inspired clothing, accessories remain
Loud music. Peace signs. Free love. Mud sliding.
These vivid memories of Woodstock remain 40 years after the world-changing music festival. Hippie-inspired apparel has returned to the fashion scene to celebrate the anniversary of the 1969 free-for-all party.
"Hippie-inspired style evolved from the music and fashion of that time," says Amy Gordon, style expert and founder of ArtfulWears.com , an online retailer that launched a Woodstock Boutique and introduced a new line of jewelry commemorating the anniversary. "But the difference with today's style is you don't look like you stepped out of a Woodstock concert."
The Woodstock-inspired pieces helped create a lasting impact on the culture of this country and heightened awareness of major social change, Gordon says. Designers continue to create pieces inspired from this recognizable era.
The hippie movement enhanced the world of fashion by projecting sexuality and freedom through clothing -- especially encouraging the mixing of colors, patterns and designs. Moreover, hippies played a big role in popularizing second-hand shopping, ModCloth stylist Vasil Tsarev says.
"It is a time that people will never forget," Gordon says. "We certainly haven't, and that shows through in what we have in our store. We carry some pieces with glitter and some with Swarovski crystal and mixed metals. Those things weren't around 40 years ago, so that is what makes this jewelry different from other jewelry during that time."
Diane von Furstenberg's spring-summer collection epitomizes the perfect way to pull off a modern hippie-inspired style, says Lindsay Taylor Huggins, senior market fashion editor for Self magazine.
Designers often look to past decades for inspiration, says Gregg Andrews, fashion director for Nordstrom. These designers create a modern interpretation of iconic pieces from that particular time period such as maxi dresses, gauzy scarves, boots with fringe, and tunics.
"This point in time was about peace, joy, love and music," Andrews says. "And we need that kind of a renewal of optimism in society today. Woodstock was nice because it was a major event that didn't involve violence."
When putting together a Woodstock look, combine a hippie item with something more structured. Accessorizing with a headband, piece of jewelry or handbag helps you wear the trend correctly, Taylor Huggins says.
"You don't want a boho skirt, a tank top that is tie-dyed and a headpiece, because that will be too much," Taylor Huggins says.
The hippie look constantly is being updated and reinvented in the fashion world, says Kate Ciepluch, fashion director for Shopbop.com. She says customers are drawn to the free-spirited aesthetic that includes moody prints, bell-sleeved mini dresses, flared jeans, beaded headbands and fringe handbags. They often find inspiration in a mini-boutique on Shopbop.com that features a bohemian attitude.
Woodstock-inspired clothing and accessory lines incorporate today's fashion while keeping the original vibe of the hippie era, says Eileen Lewis, director of fashion strategy for Zappos.com .
"The boho/hipped trend is perfect for late summer, easing into a fall mood," says Christa Schuman, creative director of The Limited. "The key is to not take the hippie thing too literally. Don't make it too costumey. To keep it modern, think more 'luxe boho,' with touches of leather, suede, premium denim and long-layered chain necklaces.
"Other details, such as light-wash denim, liberty floral-print blouses with peasant details and vests, are totally chic right now, so you can get away with them. I think some military touches here and there, like a jacket or cargo pant, can add a harder element and creates a new mix for the softer, flowy blouses and dresses to play off of."
