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Fashion and Clothing History

http://fitnyc.libguides.com/clothing

Researching the 1960s

Binoculars

Sorry, there's no section of the library devoted to 1960s fashion!  

Searching for fashion by a specific decade can be tricky because the same time period can be described several different ways and information about a decade may be found in several different sections of the library.  There is no one phrase that will bring back all the clothing of a decade so try a few different searches to see what works.  Here are some suggestions of searches to start with. Get creative and add some of your own!

1960s     Nineteen sixties     60s     60s fashion     Mod fashion     Hippie fashion   

Here are some other tips for researching by a decade:

  • Search by designer, not designer by decade.  For example, if you were to search "Mary Quant 60s" you would find zero books.  However if you were to search for just "Mary Quant" then look through the many books we have on her, you would find plenty of her designs from the 1960s.  Because a designer's career can span decades, it's difficult to restrict a search to a specific designer AND a specific decade.
  • Search by type of clothing.  Looking for a 1960s wedding dress?  Instead of "1960s wedding dress" search for "wedding dress" then look through some of the books you find for images from the 1960s.  
  • Search by photographer.  Like designers, a photographers work may span many decades.  
  • Search by century.  A book that covers the entire 20th century may have a very good chapter on the 1960s with images you can't find anywhere else.

Recommended Books About 1960s Fashion

Magazines and Store Catalogs from the 1960s

Please note, some of our magazines are available digitally and some are only available in print in the Periodicals room on the 4th floor for in-library use. Visit our Periodicals LibGuide to see all of our periodicals by decade.

Vogue

Vogue [American]

April -June 1927; Jan-Mar 1928; Jan 1933-Current (with gaps). Monthly Vogue Archive: all issues (FIT username and password required for access) (Earlier issues available in Special Collections) Widely-regarded as the most influential American fashion magazine; features articles and images by leading fashion critics, photographers, stylists, illustrators, designers and models

Life Magazine

Life Magazine

1936-1972 and 1978-2000

Life Magazine was the equivalent to the blog of the day.  Great source for news, pop culture,  the arts,  advertisements and photojournalism.

Esquire 1966

Esquire

August 1979 (v92 n2)-Current. 8x per year Formerly Esquire Fortnightly Men’s magazine covering men’s fashion and clothes, culture and entertainment and advice on money matte

Harper's Bazaar

Harper's Bazaar

1930-Current. Monthly microfilm: November 1867-December 1923; January 1975-December 1976 The Harper's Bazaar Archive: November 2, 1867-Current (FIT username and password required for access) (Earlier Issues available in Special Collections) Leading American high fashion magazine.

Ebony 1969

Ebony

November 1969 (v25 n1)-September 2016 (v71 n11). 11x per year Incorporating Ebony Man: EM Features African-Americans in politics, business and the arts. Earlier issues (1955-2001) available on microfilm

Sears 1967

Sears

store catalog 1960-Spring/Summer 1993. Semi-annual microfilm: 1888-1993 (Earlier issues available in Special Collections) A chain department store that sells mid-range apparel, accessories, home décor and furnishings, appliances, electronics and more. Catalog now available online only

Vogue [British]

June 1949 (v105 n6)-Current. Monthly Features articles and images by leading fashion critics, photographers, stylists, illustrators, designers and models

Archival Sources from the 1960s

Have a question or comment about these guides? Contact: libraryreference@fitnyc.edu