This week marks the 40th anniversary of the legendary music festival that took place at Yasgur’s Farm in New York.   Woodstock  has become the ultimate symbol of the  counterculture of the 60s,  the peace and love generation, hippies,  flower power,  psychedelic drugs and the anti Vietnam War movement.

There is an iconic style that also defines that time period.   I never adopted the hippie lifestyle, mainly because my parents would have kicked my butt!  But I did enjoy wearing hippie inspired fashions. 

I loved the long flowing dresses and bell bottom jeans that my friends and I would embroider and embellish with peace symbol patches.  Love beads hung around our necks and headbands were worn across the forehead, Native American style.  I remember the tiny floral “granny” prints,  op art and tie dye patterns. There was lots of texture in fabrics, tapestries, velvets and anything fringed, feathered, or crocheted.  Much of the clothing had  Edwardian, Victorian, ethnic and bohemian influences.

It was a great era for experimentation and creativity in fashion. Malls, with their cookie cutter merchandise,  didn’t clutter the landscape back then.  Unique little boutiques selling  funky, eclectic fashions were more common, making shopping so much more fun than it is today.  

Below are some hippie inspired 60’s fashions that are guaranteed to keep you looking and feeling groovy, baby!

Adorable Tina Leser 1960s  maxi dress in a green and white striped floral print with matching shawl. For sale at Kitty Girl Vintage.

Tina Leser 60's dress-34/26

 Embroidered gauze hippie shirt. For sale at Ballyhoo Vintage.

1960s embroidered gauze shirt.

Silky 60's scarf print dress. M/L

Fab 60’s hand tooled leather handbag with butterflies.  For sale at Light Years Vintage.

1960s hand tooled leather bag with butterfly design.

Halter style 60’s mini dress in pink and black floral stripe.  For sale at Blue Velvet Vintage-34/27

Hippie chic 60's floral stripe halter style mini dress.