Cover Image: Fashion in the 1960s

Fashion in the 1960s

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A great overview of Fashion in the 1960s in the UK mostly. I think it is the perfect introduction to British fashion in the 1960s. I was hoping there'd be more photos in it, and really see some inspiring fashion but it was mostly text. There is also an additional section for those seeking more information on the fashion era in the back of the book with links to websites and other books you can look into!

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An interesting book, giving a concise overview of 1960s fashion. The focus is definitely on the U.K., but European and American fashion is mentioned as well. The decade is covered in an engaging style, and I found it difficult to put this book down. While I have a decent knowledge of 60s fashion, or at least a superficial knowledge, I learned some interesting new things, such as how much underwear changed over the course of the decade, how controversial pants on a woman could be (designer Betsey Johnson was forbidden entry into New York's City Hall for her wedding because she was wearing a red velvet pantsuit; it wasn't until she removed her pants, wearing the jacket as a dress, that she was allowed inside), and the different tiers of designer reproductions. This isn't a super-comprehensive tome, but it does give a good encapsulation of the era. Of course, there are photos throughout, and lists of books for further reading, and places to visit (or at least visit their websites).

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An okay basic introduction to fashion in the 1960s, if you don't know much already. I had really hoped for some more details, especially more photos. If you've already read a book or two on 1960s fashion you won't learn anything new.

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This book was fine but rather short and most of the information was very basic - Quant, the Mondrian dress, Jackie Kennedy. Some of the detail on menswear and accessories was interesting but only someone new to the topic would be excited about this book.

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Thank you to NetGalley for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review!

I really loved this book- I think it is the perfect introduction to British fashion in the 1960s. (I would have made it clear in the title that it is focusing on the UK, but I loved it regardless.) Milford-Cottam perfectly balances introducing a trend/designer and giving context without overwhelming the reader, which isn't always easy to do. The book also makes excellent use of pictures, a key aspect of any fashion history books. I would have loved for slightly more of an introduction to the "big" designers mentioned, but I appreciate that it was meant to be a brief text! I would absolutely buy this for someone new to fashion history.

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Thank you to NetGalley for the copy of this book!

This book is a great overview of Fashion in the 1960s in the UK mostly. While fashion trends happening outside the UK are mentioned, UK fashion is the focus of this book. That is something that I personally appreciated, because there was some context of trends happening in the US and other parts of Europe that were touched upon, but not overly so - just enough for context. This book focuses on trends, influential designers, influential celebrities, and some prominent shops.

Honestly, I would have absolutely loved to have read this before going to the Mary Quant exhibition at the V&A last year! It would have been the perfect amount of background for the exhibition. If you are going to go to an exhibition similar to the Mary Quant one, I would highly recommend this book!

Overall, a great overview and provider of background for more in-depth study or research on fashion in the 1960s. It's a great starting point for a lot more research into UK fashion of that decade (or even US or other European fashion, as it touches on some names and influential shops in other places).

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Chic, informative, and fun, FASHION IN THE 1960s offers a vibrant look at style in the age of the Beatles. Fashion historian Daniel Milford-Cottam reopens the door with smart text and vivid illustrations that capture the era’s vibe. Readers will learn about Minis, Mods, Twiggy, Quant, and so much more from this radical time. Groovy!

5 of 5 Stars

Pub Date 22 Sep 2020   

Thanks to Osprey Publications and NetGalley for the review copy. Opinions are mine.

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This absolutely delightful book covers the 1960's by looking at the development of fashion. While the book is British, it does not neglect important trends frim outside the UK including the rise of designer knock-offs, the growing importance of home sewing, and the effect of the pantsuit. Illustrated with lots of vintage photos, i loved it.

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This was too wordy and was a touch boring. I expected more photos instead of a history lesson. It definitely reads like a textbook. I wouldn't recommend reading if you're interested in the fashion scene from this time period unless you want to read it like an actual history lesson. Just my personal opinion.

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What a fun look at the 60's fashion era, The historical information was really interesting and informative. A really fun way to look at how fashion has evolved over time. Very well presented and the pictures are great. I really enjoyed this book!

I received the book from NetGalley for an honest review.
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This is an interesting and fun glimpse into the 1960s fashion era! It has tons of pictures, information on the designers and also showcases how fashion changed throughout the decade. There is also an additional section for those seeking more information on the fashion era in the back of the book with links to websites and other books you can look into!

Overall, this a beautifully laid out book.

Disclosure: I received a complimentary eARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes. I'd like to thank NetGalley and the publisher for providing me this opportunity!

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A fascinating, nostalgic trip back to the fashion and popular culture of the 60’s with original photographs and adverts showcasing the sea change from drab post-war austerity to clothing of striking colours, patterns and hemlines. There is a strong concentration on high-end designers, and I’d have enjoyed a bit more about how the ordinary young woman adapted and joined the swinging 60’s from a social history perspective but there were references to seeing and knitting patterns alongside the designer mannequins.

I’d have liked to have read a bit about the author/compiler and his interest in this period, although this was not contained in the review copy.

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Fashion in the 1960s by Daniel Mitford-Cottam is a fun and interesting read for anyone interested in fashion or the 1960s in general. It’s the perfect combination of information about designers and about how fashion changed in the 60s, and colorful pictures of the amazing clothing of the decade.

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Being a teenager in the sixties, this book takes me back a bit, not only to the fashion but to the era, the vibe and the history. I remember Jean Shrimpton at the Melbourne Derby and the stir the "mini skirt" created on the day.
It is a long way from that day today but the fashion of those days, one could say, changed the world.
This book talks about the designers of the day, the fashion and the era, a great book to learn a bit, to dip into history and just enjoy. Beautifully presented with original photos

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This is a really terrific book that's all about 60's fashion. Having been a teen then I can tell you that it's pretty authentic and includes some people and designs I haven't seen in a long time. Last year I had the opportunity to see a special Mary Quant show at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London and while the clothes were fascinating, this book tells so much more than the exhibit did about Mary.
There are many designers and fashions included in this book and the really terrific thing is that the publisher includes a ton of photos. Without them we might as well be talking about architecture. They are the stars of this book even though the text is excellent.
What is missing though, is the fashion spin off derived from Beatlemania. There is an op art paper dress nearly identical to oje I had but I see no long haired beauties wearing umpire waisted mini dresses ala Jane Asher. Not much in the way of white tights and strapped baby doll pumps either. That whole aspect of the 60s isn't covered.

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This was a quick informative read, with great photos of 60s fashion - owning a retro/vintage clothing store myself, and already familiar with the nuances of 60s fashion I still found this a good reference book.

I'd recommend this is you are working in fashion and tailoring or if you're into vintage fashion in a serious way!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher Shire Publications for allowing me to have an ARC in return for an honest review

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Some of the 1960's fashion was gorgeous while others ... not so much. This is a great coffee table book to flip through. It touches on the colors, textures and icons of 1960's fashion. I was hoping there'd be more photos in it, and really see some inspiring fashion but it was mostly text. Besides Audrey Hepburn and Jackie O, I'm not convinced the 1960's were a very fashionable time.

If you're looking for a brief trip back in time this is the book for you.

* I received a free copy in exchange for an honest review*

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A fun rat rip through 60s fashion.So many icons of the fashion world great pihotos.If you are a fan of designers love clothes this fashion history is perfect for you.#netgalley#ospreypress

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The author does a good job of providing a 'survey' course of 1960s fashion. Yes, it mostly focuses on the fashion designers and the styles of the youth, eschewing what everyone else wore. It is also very London-focused, with an emphasis on the European fashion houses. This is not too narrow a focus, however, since Europe and especially London drove so many changes while America and Australia lagged behind.

The book breaks down into these sections: innovation (including the miniskirt, paper dresses, plastic dresses, pant suits), underwear, reality (with only 10 pages, there isn't a lot in this section), popular culture (how movies and tv influenced fashion), and then a very brief menswear section.

The book covers the areas you would expect: Quandt, YSL, Balenciaga, and the big name designers of the time. The appearance of prints, metallics, even leather mod outfits. Models such as Twiggy and Shrimpton. Influencers such as Cathy McGowan, the Beatles, Diana Rigg, and Jackie Kennedy. And the big change in hemlines, color, patterns, and materials. The author doesn't go into much detail on any subject, making for a quick 1-hour read that will get you up-t0-speed on the 1960s fashion (including shoes and accessories).

What the book really missed is more every-day fashion. In the section entitled "Reality", the book discussed Mondrian dresses, Givenchy evening gowns, and Chanel suits. While those fashions weren't as radical, I don't think we can really call them the reality of what women wore at the time. I would have loved to see more images of the every-day outfits that the non-baby boomers wore. Less fashion-driven and more culturally derived styles such as Beatnick are also notably absent.

That said, the book is very nicely illustrated - quite a few period images that are relevant to the discussions. The images aren't random or randomly placed and instead help to demonstrate the type of fashion being discussed. They are definitely the best part of this book.

In all, a nice survey course. Easy to read and follow, nicely illustrated, but notably lacking in depth in any one subject. Reviewed from an advance reader copy provided by the publisher.

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This look at 1960's fashions read a bit like a short textbook to me. It focuses a little more on the British scene than the American, and references designers and models often but doesn't really give insight into who most of them were. There are many color photos that add to the book and those were my favorite parts.

I read a temporary digital ARC of this book for review.

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