The 1960s and 1970s were times of bold cultural revolutions in America led by dissatisfied youth who caused an explosion of self-expression expressed through fashion; breaking traditional barriers that had yet to be challenged. In this article I will compare the decade of the hippies to the decade of the punk revolution, explaining the cultural relevance and why those styles are still seen on the catwalks today. Despite the differences, the fashion of the 60s and 70s is still used as an influence and inspiration by today's top designers. What were once thought to be highly explicit and controversial fashion statements are today's major trends. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay For many, the 1960s represent the hippie era. The 1960s were filled with rebellion fueled by the Vietnam War, the sexual revolution, the space race, and a growing curiosity about other cultures. For the first time, young people broke away from traditional standards, created a personal identity and became fashion's most dominant trendsetters. In an effort to protest the war, hippies promoted peace and love, typically wearing loose clothing and long hair representing freedom and a free spirit. Fashion has always gone hand in hand with trendy music. In the 1960s, bands like the Beatles, Jimmy Hendrix and Bob Dylan were broadcast across the nation playing songs directly related to everything hippies stood for. In 1960, the contraceptive pill was approved by the Food and Drug Administration, and women moved away from traditional, conservative values. The feminist movement began to take off and young people no longer felt the need to dress modestly. British fashion designer Mary Quant is credited with inventing the miniskirt, which became very popular in the late 1960s. According to Cultural Expressions in the 1960s, “Girls wore both short dresses and skirts that showed their legs. This was very different from the 1950s, where skirts were much longer. At this time, people have become more open about sex. People, especially girls, dressed more boldly than before and were not afraid to show skin.” Before the 1960s women wore long skirts. Blue jeans were required to be worn at work and were banned in public schools for both boys and girls. Today, blue jeans are a staple in everyone's closet, and shorter skirts are worn by women without being seen as provocative. The space race was another major cultural event that inspired clothing designers to incorporate neon and metallic fabrics. Hippies broke away from traditional American life driven by a strong curiosity about other cultures. This led to the afro becoming a leading hairstyle, something that was seen as very controversial at the time. Although the styles worn during that time were direct statements of dissatisfaction, their influence continues to appear on the runways to this day. Hippies dominated the scene of the '60s, but as America transitioned into the '70s, disaffected youth had adopted a new style that would shock the nation: punk. The word punk began as an insult in the 1500s and by the 1600s was used to describe rotten wood. In the 1950s and 1960s the word denoted an undisciplined hooligan, but as the punk movement evolved the meaning became positive, representing someone who challenged everything that was conservative and comfortable. Young people were no longer satisfied with showing the.