Come back to 1969 tonight at The Velvet for this 10th in the 52 week Rock Per Annum weekly tour of rock music history. DJ Maht Wuyts will be spinning music from the year 1969 – the year that man walked on the moon and over 350,000 people gathered on a farm in Bethel, NY, for a seminal music event – Woodstock. This was a year of increasing protests against the Vietnam War as the first draft lottery since 1942 was held. It was the year of the Chicago 8 Trial and the Charles Manson murders. Richard Nixon became president and immediately threw away his pledge to end the Vietnam War. Operation Menu, the secret bombing of Cambodia was launched. Meanwhile, the Air Force declared there were no UFOs.

Fashion in 1969 was a little bit of everything. There were officially five skirt lengths that were all “in fashion” from the micro, the standard (formerly known as the mini), the kneesie (for dressing up), to the midi and the maxi. Jersey knits were popular and worning in clinging wrap dresses. Kilts were another fashion hit as were pattern mixing of plaids, stripes and dots. Ethnic bohemian fashion continued to be popular with gypsy tops and long print skirt and granny boots remaining a popular item. Another popular fashion trend that carried forward from 1968 was the Bonnie and Clyde look, thanks to the successful movie. This lead to a resurgence of interest in Art Deco – particularly in jewelry.

I went for the Bohemian look with a skirt and top I picked up at Boho HoBo. I also opted for granny boots from Tesla – old vintage SL. It feels sort of appropriate to look for my clothing at BoHo HoBo. 1969 was the time of the counterculture that many youth believed was a true revolution. There was so much idealism, optimism and hope despite the dire political and economic times. In that sort of spirit of hope for real change, BoHo HoBo funds RAWA – the Revolutionary Association of the Women of Afghanistan. All proceeds from your purchases there go to support the very revolutionary program of building schools for girls and the advancement of women’s equality.

Beaded jewelry and homemade beading were big trends in jewelry in 1969 among the counterculture. EarthStones Kolo set would have been at home with nearly anyone at Woodstock.

I chose hair from Lelutka – a wild child sort of style to match the rebelliousness of youth. The skin is from PXL Creations. The makeup is relatively light with some colored shadow and lips. The heavy eye makeup was still popular then, but more so with the fashionable “mod” set. The counterculture fashions favored more natural looks.

****STYLE NOTES******

• Poses: Reel Expressions
• Skin: PXL Creations [PXL] GAIA NAT NE MEB C1
• Skin Tattoo Makeup: [PXL] GAIA NAT Cyclamen Lips (Tattoo)
• [PXL] GAIA NAT Grey Eyes (Tattoo)
• Eyes: Poetic Colors classic – forest morning (m) bright
• Lashes: Lelutka
• Hair: [LeLutka]-RYKIEL hair – Harvard
• Top: BoHo HoBo gypsy top(black)
• Skirt:BoHo HoBo Benjara Skirt Gray
• Shoes: TESLA – Ziggy Ankle boots (L) *birth*
• Jewelry: EarthStones Kolo Earrings & Necklace – Sugilite