The Year of the Hippie

So, I'm quite an old soul, my mind was born in the late 50's to early 60's but my body was born in the 90's, probably the worst and most cringe year for fashion, and that's where the world decided to go into its downward dark spiral that is the never ending agony that we know today.

As we all know from movies, reading and just word of mouth, the 60's is where we all wanted to be. The world was alive and flourishing with colour and love.

What is a Hippie?

A hippie was a counterculture created by the youths of the 1960's, so already the world seemed like a better place. Youths of the noughties to the present day are all concerned with bloodshed, bullying, who's parents have the most money and fitting in to modern society. The youths of the 60's created a whole movement to stray away from modern society, they didn't want to be followers, they didn't care if you're a little overweight and they didn't care if you're wearing the latest designer clothes. The whole movement influenced the world, it influenced film, music, television, literature and art.

What was Hippie fashion

Hippie fashion, this section could be never-ending, but fortunately not much needs saying. The fashion is one of the most known around the world, the Vibrant colours that catch your eye from across the street. The lack of rich jewellery, no silver or gold, just perfectly crafted necklaces and bracelets in bulk made from straw, hemp or leather.

The women of the culture wore the most gigantic, floppiest hats which followed no rhyme or reason. Sunglasses were and still are one of the most recognizable pieces of clothing, either oversized, round or full of mad and wonderful novelty shapes usually made up with a sturdy, cheap plastic frame.

Shoes were an optional item of clothing, Hippies walked around barefoot to feel closer and at one with the planet, which I absolutely love, feeling the sand caress the inside of your toes, feeling the blades of grass tickle the bottom of your feet and just feeling free.

A fashion sense which i strongly believe shouldn't have died out is the 'Earth mother' look. Women would wear their hair long and un-styled, held together with a natural headband, Usually maid from freshly picked daisies or other natural greenery. The women would wear smocked maxi length dresses made from light fabrics such as Linen, to feel the fresh air over massaging their whole body.

As beautiful and natural as the women's style was, The men had their own distinct fashion which was just has simple but thought to have much more appeal. They'd have baggy blue denim pants which was just plain and simple, with a classy but elegant shirt or sweater made from soft natural fabrics and made with vibrant colours that all meshed together in a dazzling explosion of colour.

Hippie Culture

Live free and Flower power. Those statement is not a surprise to anybody as it was one of the biggest movements of the 60's, it changed the United states massively, and not long after the whole world was influenced by this movements, and the Hippie movement spread worldwide. This movement was the Hippies telling the world that they didn't follow the norm, they didn't want to be another regular joe, following the rules.

Psychedelics, Another very well know fact was a Hippies use of Psychedelic drugs. LSD, Mushrooms and Marijuana were the main drugs that a Hippie used, they believed the use of Psychedelic drugs were a way to alter their state of consciousness, take them away to a state of pure bliss and a place were making love and not war was the main goal. The use of Psychedelics were just their drug use, the clash of rainbow colours on their clothing was also known as psychedelics, they clothing resembled a place of colour and bliss which in modern day film and television is shown when psychedelics are used.

The flower power movement was a movement the Hippies made to rebel and protest against the Vietnam war going on at the time. Make love not war, The Hippie peace symbol are amongst some of the many things used on signs and banners during their protests outside military posts and marching through streets. The Hippies would often don flowers and other natural greenery during these parades and give them to soldiers and civilians. During a parade against the pentagon in 1967 The quiet war torn streets were echoed and overrun by chanting of "flower power" and the words "we shall not wilt, let a thousand flowers bloom".

Why should it return?

So my opinion why this beautiful, Amazing fashion and lifestyle should return is pretty simple, The world needs it. Everybody knows the world in going through a rough time, everybody is so serious and there seems to be less and less love in the world, Its getting devoured by an overwhelming hatred. We need Love, We need happiness, from a Hippie lifestyle where everybody was carefree, people showed the world respect, they showed each other respect. The colourful clothing, It was happy, it made people happy. The youths of these days are more concerned about materialistic objects and showing skin, their more concerned about a price tag and not concerned about the damage to the world that price tag has caused.

I agree that the use of psychedelics should not be used, but people can meditate, do yoga or even hypnotisation to find other states of mind, the Hippies could still thrive and not be frowned and as much, and wishful thinking but people will love each other again, the war torn dying world that we live in could be restored, we could be at peace.