The swinging sixties brought us some iconic fashion moments, but also some downright bizarre style restrictions that would make modern women cringe. Back then, fashion was less about self-expression and more about conforming to rigid societal expectations. Thank goodness these outdated fashion commandments have gone the way of the rotary phone—freeing us to dress however we darn well please!
1. No White After Labor Day
Whoever decided white should hibernate between September and May clearly never understood its year-round appeal! I’ve tossed this silly seasonal color ban right out my closet window.
Winter whites are now runway staples, and nothing beats a crisp white outfit on a snowy day.
2. Gloves Required For Ladies In Public
Heaven forbid a woman’s bare hands be seen while shopping! Though I adore vintage accessories, mandatory gloves for every outing was pure madness.
Women carried extra pairs everywhere, changing them throughout the day like some bizarre hand-based costume drama.
3. Matching Shoes And Handbags Always
If your shoes weren’t twins with your purse, fashion police would practically write you a citation! This matchy-matchy mandate created unnecessary shopping stress.
Nowadays, contrasting accessories add personality and flair. My red shoes with a navy bag? Absolutely fabulous and deliberately uncoordinated!
4. No Pants For Professional Women
Imagine getting fired for wearing trousers to work! Until the late 60s, women in pants were considered downright rebellious.
Though Katherine Hepburn rocked them earlier, most workplaces banned women’s pants until the 1970s. The pantsuit revolution eventually freed our legs from constant stockings.
5. Hats Required For Church And Formal Events
Without a proper hat, you might as well have shown up naked to Sunday service! These mandatory toppers often required hat pins—essentially weaponized fashion accessories.
While I love a fabulous Kentucky Derby moment, I’m thrilled church hats became optional rather than required attire.
6. Hemlines Must Be Measured Precisely
Schools and offices actually used rulers to measure skirt length! Kneel down, and if your skirt didn’t touch the floor, you’d be sent home.
Mary Quant’s revolutionary mini eventually challenged this nonsense, but countless women faced humiliating “hemline checks” before fashion freedom arrived.
7. No Visible Makeup Application In Public
Touching up lipstick at the table? Scandalous! Women were expected to maintain perfect makeup while never being seen applying it.
Ladies retreated to powder rooms for touch-ups since visible cosmetic application was deemed vulgar. Meanwhile, I’m happily swiping on lip gloss wherever I please!
8. Hair Must Be Set Weekly At The Salon
Weekly salon appointments weren’t luxury—they were practically mandatory! Women slept in uncomfortable rollers and wore shower caps to preserve elaborately lacquered styles.
Those helmet-like hairdos required industrial-strength hairspray. Today’s wash-and-go approach would have seemed shockingly unkempt.
9. Pantyhose Required With Skirts, Always
Bare legs in public? Absolutely forbidden! Even in sweltering summer heat, proper ladies never showed naked legs.
Pantyhose were non-negotiable with skirts until the 1990s. Now we freely choose between tights, stockings, or gloriously bare legs without judgment.
10. No Mixing Patterns Under Any Circumstances
Pattern mixing was fashion blasphemy! Stripes with florals? You’d be laughed out of the garden club!
Today’s playful pattern combinations would have given 1960s fashion editors heart palpitations. I particularly love breaking this rule with abandon, pairing polka dots with plaid just because I can.
11. Pearls As The Only Acceptable Daytime Jewelry
Jackie Kennedy’s influence made pearls practically mandatory for proper ladies. Statement jewelry before evening? Considered wildly inappropriate and attention-seeking.
Daytime sparkle was deemed tacky and ostentatious. Now we stack bracelets, layer necklaces, and rock statement earrings whenever we please!
12. Never Wear Denim For Nice Occasions
Jeans were strictly for housework or extremely casual settings! Wearing denim to restaurants or social gatherings marked you as hopelessly uncouth.
The idea of designer jeans costing hundreds of dollars would have bewildered 1960s fashion arbiters. Today’s elevated denim would seem like bizarre contradiction.
13. Stockings Even During Summer Heatwaves
Sweltering in 90-degree heat? Doesn’t matter—stockings were non-negotiable! Bare legs were considered practically indecent regardless of temperature.
Women suffered through summer with nylon clinging to sweaty legs rather than break this oppressive rule. The invention of pantyhose was actually considered liberating!
14. Purses Must Be Carried, Never Worn Crossbody
Handbags were meant to be daintily carried in hand or perched in the crook of your arm. Shoulder bags existed but were considered casual and somewhat bohemian.
Crossbody bags? Practically scandalous! The hands-free convenience we take for granted was deemed inappropriate for proper ladies.
15. Age-Appropriate Dressing With Strict Cutoffs
After 30, women were expected to adopt matronly styles! “Mutton dressed as lamb” was the cutting insult for women dressing younger than their age.
Long hair after 40? Scandalous! Mini skirts past 25? Inappropriate! Today’s ageless approach to style would have seemed rebelliously inappropriate.