1962 - Missiles and starlets shake things up
We start the decade with traditional values and feminine fashions but end the decade in more relaxed, psychedelic and unstructured styles.
It’s amazing how and why these changes happened. It happened so quickly.
In 1962 the influences of fashion that started in the 60s persisted. Circle skirts remained in style but the influence of Jackie Kennedy soon saw tailored, elegant and sleek looks. Women wanted what Jackie was wearing … and the designers of the time were happy to oblige.
Teens wore cute matching skirts and sweaters. Style-conscious women did the same. Dress and coat, pants and tops all matched. Pastels and pink were in style for the spring with darker, primary colours for the fall and winter. Plaid and gingham were popular along with a bigger check pattern called buffalo gingham. The styles were neat and tailored.
Gloves, a staple since before the 1900’s, were still being worn as part of daily attire. But, during my research, I noticed the ungloved hand more and more, especially with more relaxed clothing.
One look I love are the capris with tailored and cropped sleeveless tops. This look is seen in the late 50’s but remained popular in 1962. Wearing a little collared sweater over a sleeveless top gives that iconic 60s look and still looks wonderful today.
But amongst this tailored and organized outward appearance the world in turmoil. The Cuban Missile Crisis and an ongoing cold war between the USA and Russia wrecked havoc with North American psyches. In Canada, our Prime Minister at the time, John Diefenbaker, refused to put Canadian Forces on alert in support of the Cuban Missile Crisis. This angered the US government. Our ally was angry, which was not a good situation to be in. The unease of WW2 was creeping into daily life.
On August 4, 1962 one of Hollywood’s starlets was found dead in her bed. The scandal of Marilyn Monroe’s death remains mysterious though it was deemed a suicide. How could such a well loved style icon and fashionista die so young?
Scant months before, she had sung “Happy Birthday” to President Kennedy on national TV. Scandal was starting to ruminate. Rumours of an affair circulated. How could it be possible? I mean, look at America’s (the world’s) sweetheart, Jackie. How could this be true? And then Marilyn is found dead. Could the shock of her death be one of the contributing factors to the changes that started to evolve?
Marvel Comic’s Spiderman debuted in 1962. Did the citizens of 1962 need a new superhero? Well, considering Marvel created many more in the 1960s, I’m thinking “yes, indeed”! Could this friendly neighbourhood spiderman save us from what was happening around us or did we need to take matters into our own hands? Stay tuned for my next blog to find out.
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