Oct. 1969: Hippie high school

[ND-Dem]

Rooted in the the early 1960s "Beat Generation," hippies were about freedom — of expression, of living and, of course, of love.

When it came to style, this meant individuality and customization over mass production: long hair for men, little makeup for women, bras optional. By 1967, a raft of publications and handbooks explained exactly how to dress like a hippie. Ruth Bronsteen's "The Hippy's Handbook" even included graphics on how to rock the look.

But in 1969, the year of these photographs, hippie fashion was evolving from counter culture to, well, culture. And young people were informing the change. Most of the students you see here are wearing off-the-shelf fashions — still recognizably hippie, but more homogenized.

Being a hippy was safe, but somehow not as free.

http://mashable.com/2015/01/16/hippies-high-school/?utm_cid=lf-toc

[msongs]

1. huh? most of those "students" look like they got their clothes at sears lol. our crowd was

long hair, hang ten tees and corduroy shorts/jeans

[ND-Dem]

4. read the commentary. it says as much. A lot of the pictures are also from fairly upscale high

schools, e.g. Beverly Hills. I doubt they were Sears shoppers.


But in 1969, the year of these photographs, hippie fashion was evolving from counter culture to, well, culture. And young people were informing the change. Most of the students you see here are wearing off-the-shelf fashions — still recognizably hippie, but more homogenized.

[LeftinOH]

2. They are far better dressed than what's commonly seen today

at high schools. Sweatpants and flip-flops; leggings & tights worn as pants. Alot of kids dress like complete trash now.

[giftedgirl77]

3. Thank dawg I went to high school in the 90s....

[Blue_Tires]

18. +1....Although I would definitely be down with the "braless" thing...

[giftedgirl77]

19. True, however there are times I just saw screw it...

Especially if I'm doing yard work & have to run to the store or something.

[HappyMe]

5. lol! "recognizably hippy"

Nope.

Probably Saks Fifth Avenue, although the same clothes were available at Sears.

[livetohike]

6. I thought that was odd too. In 1969, my high school still had a dress code, so we weren't permitted

to wear jeans and your skirt had to be less than 3" above your knee when you knelt on the floor! Yes, we were measured. However, at home, of course we dressed like hippies and this picture doesn't show that at all.

[Oilwellian]

7. We had a dress code as well

Girls weren't allowed to wear pants in our school until 1971. And yes, the picture above does not represent the image of a hippy. LOL

[HappyMe]

8. From the pictures

it seems that a few of them dressed like expensive hippies. I doubt that there were any real hippies in wealthy California towns.

[KatyMan]

11. I think a lot of the pics looked posed or staged,

Like they were ads. The same girl is in several of them; maybe these were for a catalog?

[madamesilverspurs]

9. Ahh, memories.

Having graduated HS in '66, I recognize and remember the fashions that hinted at and tried to imitate the inimitable hippie culture. In truth, at my high school girls were allowed to wear slacks only on the day our school went to the state fair, and our skirts were routinely checked to make sure they were long enough.

After graduation we moved from New Mexico to southern California. BOIIINNNGGG! Turns out there was a world of difference between 'catalog' hippies and the real thing. There still is.

[CanonRay]

10. I always did like the girls' hair long

Ahh, memories!

[napkinz]

12. sorry, but none of the students in that pic look like this ...

[JaneyVee]

13. None of those in the pic look like hippies.

[LiberalEsto]

14. I almost thought I saw myself in the picture!

The girl with blond hair in the yellow jumper, in the center at the very bottom. She looks and dresses a lot like I did in senior year, except I was thinner.
However, seeing women wearing pants means the picture was likely taken in the fall of 1969, when many high schools around the country revised dress codes. I was in college by then.

[Johonny]

15. How could these people learn without wearing uniforms?

[MineralMan]

16. Uh, as an aging hippie, I'm not seeing any hippie attire in that photo.

Not a single kid is wearing anything resembling hippie clothing, as far as I can tell. Here. Compare:

[newfie11]

17. I sure miss those years

Graduated HS in 1966.in Los Angees.
Yes I recognise some of the clothes but not all.

[Fumesucker]

20. The Mod Squad weren't really hippies

They just played them on TV.