The ’60s called…they want their polka dots back! Celebrities are coming back in full ’60s glam. From homegrown American popstars to K-pop girl groups, everyone’s dipping their toes in classic A-line dresses and thick headbands.
But for the kids who happen to have been born past the summer of ‘69, how are we supposed to dress in beehives in the 21st century?
’60s fashion in a nutshell
Before anything else, we have to pinpoint what ’60s fashion actually is. If I were to describe it with one phrase, it would be “preppy as modern art”. Think about it! ’60s fashion is best known for boxy formal dresses alongside bright splashes of color and futuristic decals.
On one hand, you have the preppy, where women would dress to impress like they were Jacky Kennedy off to the white house. On the other hand, you have the modern art: the rise of funky colors in youth fashion, plus the historical space-race-inspired runways.
Does any of this sound familiar? Well, it should, because female icons all over the world are bringing them back! Let’s look at the biggest name of the year right now: Sabrina Carpenter.
2025’s Audrey Hepburns and Brigitte Bordots
Of course, Ms. Carpenter already cemented her ’60s/’70s aesthetic during her Espresso era. More recently, though, Sabrina pulled all the stops in her world tour, as she explains in her interview with Vogue.
Sabrina relies on Brigitte Bardot’s babydoll silhouette to open her show, wearing a lingerie set with a flowy, puff-sleeve, tulle cover-up. While it is a much sexier interpretation of ’60s fashion, it still keeps in line with the defined, triangular ’60s silhouette overall. The lipstick stain decals also add a more youthful flair, keeping the spirit of that era alive.
In her winning VMA performance, she also honed in on her ’60s reputation through an entire space-themed set and matching bodysuit. With her different interpretations of the ’60s, she is able to bring the fashion of that era back to the table.
But Sabrina isn’t the only artist to make ’60s fashion her own. All the way from South Korea, K-pop girl group Le Sserafim recently performed their new song, “Come Over”, with clear fashion references to the ’60s.
Their different stage outfits revolve around the recurring elements of shift dresses, capris, polka dots, and bright blue tights. But what really puts their looks together are their hair accessories – berets, chunky headbands, and Cinderella buns. These girls leave no rock unturned in dressing like walking ’60s art.
We have 60’s fashion at home!
This isn’t to say that only celebrities are on trend. People online have been putting their own spin on classic ’60s iconography – one of the most popular being Jane Birkin’s bag. While not necessarily an overarching trend of the ’60s, people have revived the late actress’ unique fashion during that era and made a much more celebrated movement.
The question now becomes how does Gen Z actually adapt ’60s fashion for the 21st century. Do we just rehash old trends, or incorporate new ones? What makes our ’60s different?
You always start with the basics. If you made it this far, you already know them: dresses, polka dots, bright colors, maybe even capris if you’re feeling adventurous in this day and age. Then what?
Retrofitting retro fits
Layering is your best friend
Arguably the best technique that came out of the last five years is layering, especially layering pieces that won’t normally fit. Layering is how we got aesthetics like Acubi and Blokett. Sometimes, they can be in your face, but that’s how the last year has stood out in our fashion memory.
Let layering be your first step. Personally, I would make the shift dress the center of your outfit, then add a simple pair of jeans under, to keep your formal fit grounded. Another big trend of the ’60s was mini skirts – perfect to pair over capris and a polka dot top. You can layer literally anything if you put your heart into it.
Rise and accessorize!
Then, accessorize, not only with ’60s headbands but with the current trend of putting trinkets on literally everything. Bringing in current trends through accessories is an easy way to blend your retro outfit with what’s in the times.
Some ways celebrities accessorize today is by bringing in charm-studded manicures that flash while they dance. Another way people have been doing it is by clipping their trinkets from trendy bling boxes onto their bags or the hooks of their pants. Not only does your ’60s look feel a little more current, but these little details help you stand out more.
Kiss and makeup
Last but not least is your makeup (if you use any, of course). You can always keep with the ’60s vibe and layer the eyeliner all over your waterline. But 2025 makeup, especially those in Asian trends, actually makes a great compliment to ’60s fashion with the more subdued color palette.
Korean makeup, for instance, puts a lot of emphasis on glass skin, natural smiling blush, and sparkle. This lets the polka dots and bright colors shine without too much going on. Douyin makeup, with all the blush and doll-like contour, also adds enough glam for your makeup to stand out, but not deter from the silhouette of your dress.
Long story short, trickling in current trends helps the ’60s vibe you’re aiming for stand out without feeling like you’re rehashing the past.
Fashionistas who time travel
Bringing back ’60s fashion, while it may seem repetitive, is really just giving new foundations for the next generation. The ’60s was an important era in setting unique standards in current fashion. Therefore, referring back to it every now and then is healthy for a fashionista breaking into the art world for the first time.
What’s vital in revisiting old trends is adding your spin on them to create something new. So don’t be afraid to experiment, and even go beyond what I told you to do here. Try something new with something old – maybe you’ll like it better! What else is fashion good for, if not to be bold!
