In the 60s favourite materials such as tweed, corduroy and silk were replaced by new artificial ones, such as tesil. They soon became very favoured because of their practicality and ease to be maintained. As a result of the enchantment of new materials Wellington boots made of PVC appeared on the market. What’s more, even shoes that people could wear at home such as ordinary slippers and flip-flops became very popular.
Coats were usually double-breasted with metal buttons, simple pockets and sometimes with military fringing. Handbags were mostly of a square shape, made of different artificial materials, however, crocheted handbags or beaded handbags were also very popular. Nylon stockings were replaced by tights, whose producers started to work more with geometric shapes and white colour, especially the white and black contrast was popular.
Elegant fashion designs were revived, however the young generation, in particular those who did not want to recognize the ruling communist regime, were expressing their disagreement and nonconformity through avant-garde fashion. Tight jeans, coloured pullovers, black turtlenecks, short-length jackets and white shirts were completed with shoes with a skipped toe. Another dominating style in late 60s and early 70s was hippie style with its typical floral pattern, loose trousers, flat shoes and floral headbands to call for personal freedom.
This period was marked by a sexual revolution, drug experimentation, and promotion of women's rights. Due to these social changes women started to favour wearing trousers.
Popular shoes were high-heeled platform shoes, bell-bottomed trousers and polyester shirts, often decorated with ruffels.
Whereas the era of the hippie brought finer, less shimmering colours and natural materials such as wool, cotton and silk, in the70s everything that wasn’t ordinary was cool. Shiny metallic artificial materials, vivid colours, massive patterns and crazy combinations became popular soon. Lycra textiles, t-shirts printed with exotic patterns and short skirt wrappers rushed into fashion. The glam look was promoted by the films Grease and Saturday Night Fever.
However, the common outfit of a “successful woman“ on a daily wear was usually a ladies‘ suit or possibly a skirt with a blouse made of light artifical material, body stocking, low-heeled shoes, and unobtrusive gold jewelery. Men liked the combination of jeans and comfortable blasers. The strengthening call for gender equality reflected in popularisation of unisex clothes which reached its top in early 80s.
Actually, Czechoslovak fashion was inspired by foreign fashion trends that unfortunately always arrived in Communist Czechoslovakia with a two-year delay.
Erasmus+ 14