These 1960s skirts & dresses were simple & stunning

1968 - Dresses and fashion for women

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60s styles for women flatter the figure (1968)

Article from The Southern Illinoisan (Carbondale, Illinois) – Sunday, March 24, 1968

The lady has a figure. And fashions for casual wear this spring are designed to enhance it.

The accent is on the waistline, whether her outfit is in what one leading designer calls the new waistline silhouette, or an older shift silhouette. The new waistline silhouette can be achieved with either a shirt and skirt combination, or a waisted dress.

Flared dress with sparkly rhinestone straps, crepe skimmer with lacy sleeves, and a crepe shift with sheer sleeves
Retro little black dresses for fancy evening events in the late ’60s
Skirts & dresses from the 1968 Wards catalog & beyond

One national fashion magazine boldly proclaims 1968 the year of the shirt and skirt. And it declares the dirndl the “super-skirt.”

Found in a variety of fabrics colors and patterns, the dirndl skirt is appropriate for work or play. Muted shades and glen plaids are particularly popular in blends that give a linen look.

Gently gathered at the waistline, one dirndl in gray rayon-silk blended fabric is topped with a blue and black tattersall shirt of cotton oxford cloth. The waistline is accented with a belt, ever-present this year. Add smoke gray hose and stacked heels, and off to work she goes.

For variety, pleated, flared and A-line skirts are still popular with the emphasis remaining on the waistline. Belts and cummerbunds are added to achieve the 1968 look.

One A-line with front panels is of sandstone-hued Kodel-cotton tent cloth. The panels are outlined in black stitching. The skirt is ring-belted in panels black patent. A long-sleeved fitted blouse of black rayon-linen tops the skirt.

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Cocktail and evening dresses from the sixties

Little black dresses – ’60s style! Here’s how they used to do the LBD

Little black dresses - '60s style! Here's how they used to do the LBD


Lace empire bodice dress and ball gown

The gown is of white Chantilly lace over taffeta — plus there’s a short yellow wedding dress

Lace empire bodice dress and ball gown of white Chantilly lace over taffeta - plus a short yellow wedding dress


1960s cocktail dresses from the sixties

Sophisticated coat and skimmer dress ensemble in tone-on-tone geometric pattern

Sophisticated coat and skimmer dress ensemble in resplendent tone-on-tone geometric pattern.


Textured year-round knits of Arnel

Skirts and skimmers and jacket dresses in pink, green and blue

Textured year-round knits of Arnel - skirts and skimmers and jacket dresses in pink, green and blue


Darling vintage 1960s dresses

Travel ensembles with Wyndmoor bonded knits. These old outfits were dry clean only.

Travel ensembles with Wyndmoor bonded knits (dry clean only)


Classic ’60s dresses to wear while going around town

Stylish dresses with woven stripes, cotton gingham checks, paisley prints and geometric prints

Stylish dresses with woven stripes, cotton gingham checks, paisley prints and geometric prints.


Fashion favorites – the versatile ensembles

Simple and stunning: Skirts & dresses from the 1968 Wards catalog
Fashion favorites - the versatile ensembles


Glowing color in Dacron double knits – apple green, pink, turquoise blue

Glowing color in Dacron double knits - apple green, pink, turquoise blue Retro 60s dresses to wear around town


Retro 60s dresses, with matching patent shoes

Groovy dresses in green, blue and white print and white with black edging

Groovy dresses in green, blue and white print and white with black edging


Simple and stunning 60s skirts & dresses

Arnel jersey dresses – coatdresses, fitted dresses with box-pleated skirts, smart jacket costumes
Retro Arnel jersey dresses - coatdresses, fitted dresses with box-pleated skirts, smart jacket costumes


Couturier knit jersey in luxurious floral prints, coatdress

Couturier knit jersey in luxurious floral prints, coatdress - superb silhouettes


Awesome retro prints on dacron dresses

Patterns included sundrenched paisley, abstract print overblouse and skirts, flower patterns and classic polka dots

Awesome retro prints on dacron dresses - sundrenched paisley, abstract print overblouse and skirts, flower patterns and classic polka dots


Italian wool double-knit dress and jacket ensembles with 3/4 sleeves

Italian wool double-knit dress and jacket ensembles with three-quarters sleeves


Seersucker dresses with jackets from the sixties, in checks and stripes

Seersucker dresses with jackets from the sixties, in checks and stripes


Linen-look vintage dresses

A-line skimmers, classic skimmers and trim tailored dresses with front pleat

Linen-look dresses - A-line skimmers, classic skimmers and trim tailored dresses with front pleat


Flattering, slimming shift dresses, tri-color shifts, A-line jacket dresses

Flattering, slimming shift dresses, tri-color shifts, A-line jacket dresses


Casual everyday dresses from the 60s

Crinkle shift shirts, Tattersall plaid dresses and culottes with pockets

Crinkle shift shirts, Tattersall plaid dresses and culottes with pockets


Retro fashions for women

Above-the-knee short-sleeve and sleeveless dresses from 1968

Retro fashions for women - above-the-knee short-sleeve and sleeveless dresses from 1968


Vintage daytime dresses – skimmers, sundresses and more

Vintage daytime dresses - skimmers, sundresses and more


Front-zip dresses, stripey step-in dresses, flock-dotted dresses, blue seersucker culottes, flattering coat-style shift dresses
Simple ’60s dresses for around the house and errands
No-iron zip skimmers, step-in dresses and no-iron coatdress from the sixties
Casual everyday womenswear from the 60s
Classically trim shirt shifts, basic A-line zip-front skimmers, petal pretty cool dress of openwork cotton
Casual everyday dresses from the 60s
You'll have a new fashion adventure in these dramatic two-tone dresses
Sixties-style dresses for ladies going to the office or to the store
Spirited moderns in patterned non-cling knit jersey dresses
Sixties-style dresses for working women
The 5-way wardrobe: Jacket plus skirt, blouse and skimmer that you can mix and match
Pink sixties-style dresses for busy women
Bright and bold patterns on these super sixties-style dresses
Stylish dresses from the 1968 Wards catalog
Silky, flattering acetate jersey casual dresses in geometric prints and stripes
Sixties-style dresses for working women
Sixties-style dresses for working women
Sixties-style dresses for working women
Sixties-style dresses for working women
Sixties-style dresses for working women
Sassy '60s double knit dresses
Sixties-style dresses for working women – Simple and stunning: Skirts & dresses from the 1968 Wards catalog
A-line dress, roll collar skimmer and print dress with jacket
Sixties-style dresses for working women

'60s-style skirts from vintage Wards catalog 1968

3-piece dress suits for women from Wards 1968

Vintage Antron knit separates from 1968

Sassy '60s shift dresses with button-down fronts from Wards in 1968

Silk-look A-line dress with silvery trim and flecked with glitter
Cocktail and evening dresses from the sixties

Colorfully with-it '60s dresses from Wards 1968

Classic Arnel skirts and dresses from Wards catalog 1968

Ribbed-knit dresses
Sixties-style dresses for working women
Floral sheath dress, contrast bands on a bonded jersey zip-front shift
Sixties-style dresses for working women
Sixties-style dresses for working women
Sixties-style dresses for working women
Sleek simmer with front pleats, long torso dress and slanted stripe shift dress
Sixties-style dresses for working ladies
Ensembles - coats and dresses with roll collars shifts and zipper-back blouses
Dresses from 1968 for busy women to wear – Simple and stunning: Skirts & dresses from the 1968 Wards catalog
Dacron dresses: shirt shift with buttons, power-packed print shift, charmingly feminine flower-print dress
Casual everyday dresses from the 60s
The gadabout zip-ups - A-line dresses with zippers, pantdresses, zippy skimmes with ric-rac trim and matching kerchief
Casual zippy dresses from the 60s
Zesty zippered A-line skimmer dresses with two pockets
Casual everyday dresses from the 60s
Carefree casual '60s dresses - embroidered flowers, monograms, piping accents
Casual everyday dresses from the 60s
Woven geometric patterns on vintage shirtdresses and flare dresses
Casual everyday dresses from the 60s
Crinkle tent dresses in solids or floral prints -= plus dotted skimmers and floaty batiste dresses with patch pockets
Casual everyday dresses from the 60s
Sheer voiles stay crisp from dawn to dusk
Classic dresses to wear around town – from the 1969 Wards catalog
Arnel knit dresses - jersey dresses with back sipper, slimming shift dresses and seersucker textured stripe dress and jacket ensembles
Retro 60s dresses to wear around town
Whipped Cream dresses of lightly-textured polyester
Retro 60s dresses to wear around town
Dresses and jackets in luxurious blend of linen-weave rayon silk
Charming ’60s dresses to wear around town
Jerseys and seersucker dresses - plus sleeveless jackets
Vintage 60s dresses to wear around town
Dresses plus skirts and jackets: Newsy young shapes in eye-catching colors
Retro 60s dresses to wear around town – Simple and stunning: Skirts & dresses from the 1968 Wards catalog
Glamorous shiny taffeta dresses for a fun dinner party
Cocktail and evening dresses from the sixties

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Fashionable ’60s shirts and skirts

The battle of the shirt is between the mannish “body shirt” and the romantic “sissy” shirt.

While fitted shirts tend to dominate leading fashion magazines, the ruffle-fronted sissy seems to be more popular in Southern Illinois. One Carbondale store reports a sell-out on the ruffly blouses and over-stock of the fitted styles.

Either can be worn with the new dirndl skirts. Milady’s choice will be determined by the image die wants to project — a Bonnie Parker of the 30s or a Meg out of “Little Women.”

Long sleeves and cuffs are seen on both styles. Sleeves are fuller, cuffs more prominent. Necklines tend to be high. Open neckline body shirts are generally worn with a scarf or ascot.

One white body shirt of Moygashel Irish linen has a tucked front and large collar. It is shown with a suit of long narrow vest and dirndl skirt. A wide leather belt cinches the waistline.

For the look of the first, add a silk paisley scarf-tie with jade and gold tiepin, leather “mail pouch” shoulder purse and Bonnie Parker beret.

For the dreamy-eyed romantic, there’s a full, tucked white sissy of Dacron and cotton with ruffles spilling down the front.

Combine it with a cinch-waisted skirt, wide soft cummerbund and a big hair bow, and the lady of 1968 gives the illusion of a Meg or Scarlet O’Hara.

The new waistline silhouette is also achieved with a waisted dress. Some harken back to the shirtwaist of the mid-1950s.

They follow the shirtwaist’s general lines of fitted bodice and gathered skirt. But the details are à la spring 1968.

The skirt is less full than previously, now more like a dirndl. And the belt is wide aw boldly buckled. Sleeves are long and full with prominent cuffs, even for spring.

The year of the daisy spills onto the shirtwaist in one dacron polyester and acetate blend of white daisies on a blue background. The placketed bodice is fitted and features long, loose sleeves with large cuffs, a wide collar and open neckline. The skirt is gently gathered and the waistline accented with a soft, wide white leather belt.

Other shirtwaists feature the ruffled bodice and skirt. Variations include the ever-popular A-line, pleated or straight styled ones.

Shifts and other dresses

One of the most popular looks in the shirt dress is the shift silhouette. With the overall fashion emphasis on the waistline and figure, the shift is often gently molded, especially in knits, or loosely belted at the waist, hips or empire levels.

Sun shirt dresses are found in two styles. One is to make the dress a solid color fabric and the collar, cuffs and placket a solid contrasting color. The other is to use a striped fabric and trim the shift in white.

One shirt shift is of hand-woven ancient Irish cries cloth in brilliant stripes. White cuffs, collar and placket are added for the shirt effect, and a glacial detail of white Irish crochet buttons completes the dress.

Many shirt shifts especially popular on campus look like a man’s shirt stretched. Found in solid colors and pinstripes and made of cotton oxford cloth. they have long sleeves, ivy-league collars and plackets extending below the waistline. A variation on these turns the skirt into a culotte.

Though the emphasis is on the waistline, the skimmer is still a popular style this spring. They are found in a variety of fabrics with knits leading the list. Belting makes the skimmer true 1968 fashion.

On the skimmer, a belt may it loosely at the waistline or hips or under the bustline. It may not belt anything but simply be a detail of the front or back.

A dress of Dacron polyester and acetate blend in shades of green stripes features long cuffed sleeves and front belt detail. Attached at the sides, the belt ties loosely under the bustlines, giving an empire effect.

Red and navy on white stripes are a combination right for all of 1968, especially if they’re on a knit skimmer belted at the hips with a chain of gold circles. like an extended polo shirt.

The unbelted skimmer is also still popular. A little white one in Irish fisherman’s knit has extended shoulders to disguise the sleevelessness, and a ribbed turtleneck.

Waistlines and belts, collars and cuffs, ruffles and plackets — these are the by-words for spring 1968 casual fashions.

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