Want a Fresh Wardrobe Upgrade? Look to Timeless '60s Style

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The 1960s brought radical change and discovery across the U.S. and the world. Baby Boomers gave rise to a new and powerful counterculture that put politics in the center of American life, while achievements like the moon landing offered hope that better things were on the horizon. Nowhere were these shifts more obvious than in fashion. Men’s style in particular underwent a complete metamorphosis, breaking cleanly from the stuffy conservatism of the '40s and '50s into something more casual, colorful, and altogether bold. Men's '60s style was a way to distinguish themselves from their parents and to demonstrate their cultural bona fides. Putting on a flower-print shirt or a pair of Chelsea boots or a beret was no matter of simply getting dressed in the morning. These items made it clear exactly who you were and what you were all about—as well as, in many cases, what subculture you belonged to.

Now '60s style for guys is coming back in a big way, and there’s never been a better time to re-embrace the aesthetic. Though Mad Men breathed new life into slim-fitting '60s suiting when it was on the air a decade ago, the new '60s revival embraces the full breadth of the era's looks, from bohemian cool to mod stylings to prep looks and beyond. There are a lot of ways to bring some of that flair into your wardrobe, and the best time to start is right now. Here's how to master '60s style for guys, broken down into the various categories then and the products to rock them now.

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The Rise of Denim

The 1960s saw the arrival of the so-called “blue jeans craze,” which was a boon to the country’s most beloved denim manufacturer, Levi Strauss and Co. A desire to dress more casually, combined with a growing acceptance of laid-back styles in traditional settings, sparked an explosion in denim fashions, as men were suddenly able to wear their favorite comfortable Levi’s on college campuses, at the workplace, and at bars and restaurants—all places that only a decade or two earlier would have all but required men to wear a full-blown suit.

Bring the '60s back to your wardrobe by opting for a pair of classic Levi’s in the stalwart brand's world-famous 501 silhouette, which will give you some of that casual '60s style for guys vibe and comfort. The stone wash, which was invented in that decade and became immediately popular, is especially great for that true '60s look. Add a denim jacket—also popularized during the '60s—to complete the look.

Levi's 501 Original Fit Men's Jeans

Bohemian Chic

The bohemians, as embodied by the beatnik poet Allen Ginsberg and the novelist Jack Kerouac, were instantly recognizable with their bushy beards, horn-rimmed glasses, and black turtleneck sweaters, not to mention the ultra-cool European-style berets and stripped t-shirts. The Beats were unabashed outsiders, and they flaunted that status in their style, spurning the suits of elders with these more casual, earthy looks.

The Beats embraced functional workwear to remove themselves from pretension and formality, wearing chore coats, jeans, basic white tees, and sneakers on any and all occasions. Though the beatnik aesthetic soon became a parody of itself—think someone in a black turtleneck and goatee hitting bongo drums—it’s still possible to channel the authentic bohemian vibe by adding the right details, like a Carhartt work jacket and a pair of Converse Chuck Taylors.

Carhartt Men's Blanket-Lined Detroit Jacket 

Chuck Taylor All Star Canvas Sneakers

The Hippies Take Over

The trademark “hippie” aesthetic has been parodied so often and for so long that it’s almost impossible to imagine outside of cliché. What comes to mind when you hear the word “hippie” might include round sunglasses, peace sign necklaces, and sunflower headbands. It’s more the stuff of quirky Halloween costumes than an actual style you can wear today.

But if you want to embody the spirit of the hippie rather than actually use the most hackneyed elements of the style, there’s plenty of inspiration that the hippies still offer. Think loose-fitting chambray shirts, scarves or cravats, tie-dye tees, and wide-brimmed hats.

Harlow & Lloyd Lilac Mint Tie Dye Men's Premium Heavyweight Tee

Banana Republic Albie Chambray Shirt

Ivy League Vibes

The '60s were also the period of prep, which was born on college campuses and quickly spread far beyond. The “Ivy league” look—built around cricket sweaters, Oxford shirts, rugby shirts, boat shoes, and made famous by brands such as Brooks Brothers and J. Press—had its initial origins in the 1910s and ‘20s, but it was in the '60s that it fully penetrated the American mainstream.

The Ivy League look focuses on sportswear, but sportswear in the traditional sense—polo, sailing, cricket, and hunting being the authentic men’s sports of the gentry, not basketball and football as most modern sportswear is made for today. Oxford button-down shirts, originally designed for tennis, are the staple shirt of the style, while polos, made for the sport of polo, became ubiquitous as well. The vibe is prim but leisurely, fancy but casual—in short, you want to look rich, yet relaxed and cool.

Many classic Ivy League styles are still enormously popular today, and it’s easy to embrace a full preppy aesthetic by wearing chino pants, sweater vests, polo shirts, and brogue boots. Ralph Lauren is still the defining name in the world of prep, but newer brands like Rowing Blazers and Aime Leon Dore offer a contemporary spin on the style.

Polo Ralph Lauren Classic Fit Triple-Pony Mesh Polo Shirt

Rowing Blazers Men's Classic Solid Cotton Oxford Shirt

The Mod Squad

While the “mods,” as they were generally known, started cropping up in the U.S. and Great Britain in the late 1950s, it was in the '60s that the style became better known worldwide. Movies like the famous Who vehicle Quadrophenia showed what life was like in the subculture: sleek, hip, and modern, with time spent listening to jazz records and cruising around town on a Vespa.

The mod style is synonymous with slim tailored suiting. Skinny ties, skinny lapels, and skinny overcoats were the norm, and the overall silhouette was streamlined and ultra-narrow. In the late '60s, the style eventually evolved into what became known as “Swinging London” or the “Swinging Sixties,” which was more colorful and involved flared pants and frills. Some brands have made it a mission to keep the mod style alive and well today, including Ben Sherman.

Ben Sherman Peacoat in Dark Navy

Rock On

The mods had one major enemy in the 1960s: the rockers, with whom they were at constant war. The rock style of the '60s is pretty much what you would expect of rock 'n' roll aesthetics, spanning black leather motorcycle jackets, slicked-back hair, and dark sunglasses.

The '60s rock look today is best embodied by brands like Celine and Saint Laurent, which offer leather jackets and slim-fitting silhouettes in a way that perfectly captures the rock vibe with a modern sensibility. But if you're hoping for something slightly more affordable, look to '60s-indebted pieces from Todd Snyder and Buck Mason.

Ray-Ban RB3588 Aviator Sunglasses

Celine Homme Leather Blouson Jacket

Todd Snyder Italian Burnished Leather Dylan Jacket in Dark Brown

Buck Mason Bruiser Leather Moto Jacket

'60s Grooming

In addition to the clothing styles seen above, one of the most famous aspects of 1960s fashion was the grooming. Countercultures of all kinds used hair to separate themselves and make a statement, whether it was the bohemians growing out their hair as a middle finger to the man (and to the military-style buzz cuts that were required for those fighting in war) or others growing long beards and mustaches for the simple reason that the older generations despised the look. If you want to channel the '60s in your own grooming regimen, follow one simple rule: make it look long, shaggy, and outrageous. A little beard oil goes a long way.

Honest Amish Classic Beard Oil

Why You Should Trust Me

I'm a longtime writer covering style and menswear, along with arts and culture. I've been on the fashion beat, from shoes to jeans, for years, writing for GQ, Men's Journal (check out my favorite gym shoe!), and others. I get sent products from various men's clothing brands to test to see if they live up to their marketing. And like just about every other man on earth who's thought about '60s style, I cling to my forever trusty Levi's 501s. 

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