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Lingerie and the Swinging Sixties

It’s no secret that the Sixties were the most important decade of youthful exuberance and fashion revolution in the twentieth century, and styles of lingerie changed as dramatically as the clothes worn over them.  The rigid, ultra feminine body of the 1950s was replaced in the 1960s by a young, natural, and almost girlish ideal. With the sexual revolution in full swing, young women were showing off their bodies more than ever before.

Sixties Femininst Protesting Brassieres

Brassieres were no longer necessary under the fashions of the sixties for several reasons.  Youthful models like Twiggy and Jean Shrimpton (aka ‘The Shrimp’) were so thin their tiny bust lines did not even require a brassiere.  Some feminists believed the bra was a symbol of female oppression, and many young radical women abandoned it altogether. The hippie culture of the late 1960s promoted a natural lifestyle and beauty ideal, and even embraced nudity.  It seemed to many that the brassiere was an outdated trapping belonging  to an older generation.

Lesley Hornby, aka Twiggy

In order to stay in business, many bra manufacturers developed less rigid styles in brightly colored prints (inspired by the Pop and Psychedelic art movements), or in light and sheer fabrics.  Some companies teamed up with young fashion designers to produce trendy undergarments, such as Rudi Gernreich’s famous skimpy and sheer ‘No Bra’ for Exquisite Form, and Emilio Pucci for Formfit-Rodgers.  These collaborations were hugely successful with young consumers, and, in the case of Pucci, continued to the late 1970s.  Today, these special bras are collectors items found in museums around the world.

Rudi Gernreich No Bra Ad, 1965

The sixties saw the development and introduction of the Spandex, a revolutionary new fiber that helped modernize all women’s lingerie and undergarments.  Bra manufacturers jumped on this new fiber to use in youthful designs due to its ability to control and provide support with a minimum amount of bulk and weight.

Emilio Pucci Bra circa 1960s

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2 COMMENTS

  • Lonnie

    Hi Alexis,
    I enjoyed reading your article on the sixties. I am a product of that era I was high school age then. I remember seeing the pic of the lady holding the bra and hearing of “Bra burnings”. Hmm! I never did burn mine!! i won’t tell you online what my mother thought of that ! Back then I probably didn’t give it much thought that the manufacturers would have to get creative to “keep women in bras”. I am now at the age were I am grateful for spandex ! I never realized that this came out of the sixties. thank goodness it did !! Alas, I am not youthful and (Ahem) thin anymore. I would easily qualify as “full figured”. But I do enjoy vivid prints and bright colors in my lingerie. Thank you for a delightful article, Lonnie

  • alexiswalker

    Glad to hear you enjoyed the post, Lonnie. Sixties fashion is so fascinating and fun; my favorite decade style-wise!

    Best, Alexis

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