The hippies helped change the way the world thought, behaved, and acted. Originating in the early 1960s, the generation’s impact on future generations is evident in everything from political attitudes to clothing styles. Learn more about the core hippie values to discover why the era has become timeless.
Comfortable Clothing
Hippie clothing reflected a desire to be comfortable and natural. Instead of dressing up and feeling eager to get home and change, people wore jeans and t-shirts reflecting their thoughts. Expressive accessories with symbols such as peace signs are still popular today. From peasant blouses to bell-bottom pants, hippie clothes make people look and feel great about themselves. Plus, women felt free to wear clothing that revealed their midriff or jeans, creating a new way to express fashion for generations to come.
Art, Music and a Sense of Community
Hippies also gathered to appreciate music, art, and a sense of community. People attended events such as Woodstock and Haight-Ashbury to share their love for togetherness and music. The musicians wrote, sang, and played about the changing times and the need to appreciate freedom. Gatherings encouraged equality and brought hippies together to create various art and music still enjoyed today.
The Beat Generation and Beyond
The hippies’ appreciation for music and art comes from the Beat Generation, the preceding artistic generation with a sense of change and freedom for the future. As a result, the hippie generation became a highly influential cultural movement that significantly impacted future generations. However, casual clothing and attitudes continued, along with encouraging self-expression and opinions about government policies that affect the people.
The Right to Party
The hippie generation is undeniably associated with free love and partying. Gatherings included a variety of wild behaviors and tame ones, depending on the hippies. A love of nature and the world around them brought hippies together to support various world causes and bring attention to previously ignored others. Along with having fun, hippies also made political statements to encourage broader rights for everyone.
Power to the People
One of the most compelling concepts during the hippie generation was empowering people to think and feel free and express themselves publicly. Many people felt unable to speak about their opinions due to societal rules and norms. Some old-fashioned ideas prevented all people from having equal voices in policies and lifestyles. During this time, hippies got together for sit-ins and other events to show displeasure for the government’s decisions and different world situations, helping to initiate change.
Expression Matters
Self-expression was a cornerstone of the hippie lifestyle, with people dressing to please themselves rather than others. Colorful and Bohemian clothing showed a person who didn’t conform to what society wanted them to wear. Many of these fashions continue to be popular and reflect a sense of art and personal freedom. As a result, bell-bottom pants, torn jeans, and hoop earrings continue to be wardrobe mainstays.
The hippie lifestyle was more than a fad, as evidenced by the lasting values created by this generation’s self-expression. From thoughtful music to beautiful fashions, the hippie generation continues to impact the world both politically and personally to encourage change, freedom, and equality. Wearing colorful and expressive clothing is a way to remember the generation and support the core values it still represents today.
