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Cilla was one of the most famous faces in music during the sixties.[/caption]
This week, the long awaited the three part ITV drama, Cilla, starring Sheridan Smith will finally hit our television screens and we cannot wait to step back in time and explore the fashion, music and Dressmaking Material of this particularly exciting and fashion influencing decade. Cilla charts the rise of Liverpudlian superstar Cilla Black from a cloakroom attendant at the famous Cavern Club to number 1 in the charts; those who know her only as the queen of saturday night TV may be surprised to learn that Cilla was the best selling British female artist of the sixties. Of course, the swinging sixties was an extremely exciting decade in our home city of Liverpool and despite the industrial decline and social depravation which blighted the city during this time, Liverpool flourished with the explosion of the Merseybeat music scene. Taking their inspiration from the American rock n roll groups of the era such as Buddy Holly and the Crickets, musicians including Gerry and The Pacemakers and The Searchers broke onto the scene with their distinctive, upbeat fusion of rock n roll, doo-wop and rhythm and blues and so began what is still known today as 'The British Invasion'. A phenomenon which was largely attributed to the some 350 bands which were active in the city of Liverpool in the early part of the decade, with the meteoric rise of The Beatles in 1963 placing Liverpool firmly on the map.
[caption id="attachment_7737" align="alignright" width="224"]
Goldie Hawn was one of the American 'it girls' inspired by the British Invasion of the 1960s.[/caption]
Of course, where music leads fashion follows and The British Invasion did not stop with The Beatles. For the first time all eyes of the fashion world were on London, not Paris. The distinctive style and Dressmaking Material of the 1960s reflected the renewed sense of hope and community spirit which had seen Liverpool and the rest of the country through some very difficult times in the preceding years. The swinging sixties brought us an array of British fashion icons including the world's first 'supermodels' Twiggy and Jean Shrimpton whose influence saw hemlines getting shorter and shorter as the decade progressed. Possibly the most recognisable fashion movement of the decade was The Mod. Originating in London during the late 1950s, the mod subculture reached its peak during the mid sixties. The mod fashion was aimed towards being smart, neat and ultra-hip and often saw women embracing the androgynous style of dress however, by the time this movement had reached the mainstream it was characterised by heavy eyeliner, long luscious lashes and mini skirts crafted from Dressmaking Materials featuring bold, graphic prints. It was not long before American stars began to adopt the mod style of dress with 'it girls' such as Edie Sedgwick and Goldie Hawn becoming famous for their quintessential sixties style haircuts and almost cartoonish make up.
[caption id="attachment_7738" align="alignleft" width="300"]
The mini skirt is the item most synonymous with sixties fashion.[/caption]
The sixties is the decade remembered for breaking with fashion tradition and of course, the fashion most synonymous with this period is the mini skirt. Credited to British fashion designer, Mary Quant the fashion trend took off with the younger generation who no longer felt the need to follow the rules and were only too willing to try out the controversial new style. Mini skirts were mostly sewn from bright and bold Dressmaking Material and were often paired with clashing, coloured tights. The mini skirt was in important piece which featured heavily in the signature style of the sixties and helped to pave the way for a different kind of fashion for women. Gone were the uptight, matronly styles of years gone by and in came the opportunity for women to explore a more adventurous style of dress and not only where women making changes in their fashion choices but this period also saw a dramatic increase in the number of women attending university and entering the workforce. The younger generation were starting to rebel and with more disposable income than they had ever had before, were becoming important and influential consumers who were demanding more daring, adventurous and youthful fashion which matched their spirit and passion for life.
The fashion of the 1960s continues to be one of the most enduring and influential of all time with many fashionable designers and consumers still emulating the outrageously unique styles of what was one of the most important decades in fashion. We carry a wide selection of printed Dressmaking Materials which are perfect for injecting some sixties inspired pieces into your modern wardrobe.
Cilla was one of the most famous faces in music during the sixties.[/caption]
This week, the long awaited the three part ITV drama, Cilla, starring Sheridan Smith will finally hit our television screens and we cannot wait to step back in time and explore the fashion, music and Dressmaking Material of this particularly exciting and fashion influencing decade. Cilla charts the rise of Liverpudlian superstar Cilla Black from a cloakroom attendant at the famous Cavern Club to number 1 in the charts; those who know her only as the queen of saturday night TV may be surprised to learn that Cilla was the best selling British female artist of the sixties. Of course, the swinging sixties was an extremely exciting decade in our home city of Liverpool and despite the industrial decline and social depravation which blighted the city during this time, Liverpool flourished with the explosion of the Merseybeat music scene. Taking their inspiration from the American rock n roll groups of the era such as Buddy Holly and the Crickets, musicians including Gerry and The Pacemakers and The Searchers broke onto the scene with their distinctive, upbeat fusion of rock n roll, doo-wop and rhythm and blues and so began what is still known today as 'The British Invasion'. A phenomenon which was largely attributed to the some 350 bands which were active in the city of Liverpool in the early part of the decade, with the meteoric rise of The Beatles in 1963 placing Liverpool firmly on the map.
[caption id="attachment_7737" align="alignright" width="224"] Goldie Hawn was one of the American 'it girls' inspired by the British Invasion of the 1960s.[/caption]
Of course, where music leads fashion follows and The British Invasion did not stop with The Beatles. For the first time all eyes of the fashion world were on London, not Paris. The distinctive style and Dressmaking Material of the 1960s reflected the renewed sense of hope and community spirit which had seen Liverpool and the rest of the country through some very difficult times in the preceding years. The swinging sixties brought us an array of British fashion icons including the world's first 'supermodels' Twiggy and Jean Shrimpton whose influence saw hemlines getting shorter and shorter as the decade progressed. Possibly the most recognisable fashion movement of the decade was The Mod. Originating in London during the late 1950s, the mod subculture reached its peak during the mid sixties. The mod fashion was aimed towards being smart, neat and ultra-hip and often saw women embracing the androgynous style of dress however, by the time this movement had reached the mainstream it was characterised by heavy eyeliner, long luscious lashes and mini skirts crafted from Dressmaking Materials featuring bold, graphic prints. It was not long before American stars began to adopt the mod style of dress with 'it girls' such as Edie Sedgwick and Goldie Hawn becoming famous for their quintessential sixties style haircuts and almost cartoonish make up.
[caption id="attachment_7738" align="alignleft" width="300"] The mini skirt is the item most synonymous with sixties fashion.[/caption]
The sixties is the decade remembered for breaking with fashion tradition and of course, the fashion most synonymous with this period is the mini skirt. Credited to British fashion designer, Mary Quant the fashion trend took off with the younger generation who no longer felt the need to follow the rules and were only too willing to try out the controversial new style. Mini skirts were mostly sewn from bright and bold Dressmaking Material and were often paired with clashing, coloured tights. The mini skirt was in important piece which featured heavily in the signature style of the sixties and helped to pave the way for a different kind of fashion for women. Gone were the uptight, matronly styles of years gone by and in came the opportunity for women to explore a more adventurous style of dress and not only where women making changes in their fashion choices but this period also saw a dramatic increase in the number of women attending university and entering the workforce. The younger generation were starting to rebel and with more disposable income than they had ever had before, were becoming important and influential consumers who were demanding more daring, adventurous and youthful fashion which matched their spirit and passion for life.
The fashion of the 1960s continues to be one of the most enduring and influential of all time with many fashionable designers and consumers still emulating the outrageously unique styles of what was one of the most important decades in fashion. We carry a wide selection of printed Dressmaking Materials which are perfect for injecting some sixties inspired pieces into your modern wardrobe.