Art, Music and Fashion

The era where popular culture took over Britain.

The art movement of Pop Art influenced everything from fashion, music and interior design. Everything was colourful and vibrant yet simplistic. 

Pop Art became present in the mid to late 1950's in Britain with groups such as the Independent Group (image below) making new and brighter art. This type of art became more and more popular in America in the 60's. Artists such as Andy Warhol created iconic pieces out of everyday simplistic items such as the Campbell soup can. Below is an example of the Independent Group's work.

Fashion was really changing and become more and more creative in colours, styles and fabrics such as silk, wool and linen.

Mary Quant was a well known designer at that time who created the mini skirt and hot pants during the London-based youth fashion movement. "She encouraged young people to dress to please themselves and to treat fashion as a game". 

The video below shows original footage of the First London Fashion Awards where Mary Quant shows off her unique designs. 

The crazy world of Pop Music has also begun in this time period. Bands such as the Beatles and The Rolling Stones were taking over. Then began the growing sub-genres of music that would develop and grow throughout the rest of the twentieth century with clear differences between Pop and Rock music.

Bands such as the Sex Pistols inspired designer Vivienne Westwood in creating her punk and mod styled clothing using fabrics such as PVC, leather and metal. Music influenced fashion incredibly therefore sub-cultures such as Punks and Hippies were formed towards the end of the 1960s and carried on through out the seventies. 

More types of music was progressing into the 1970's such as ABBA, and an even bigger change in fashion began. Outfits such as the flared trousers became a huge fashion statement for both men and women. 

Punk music became even more popular with bands such as Slade and Black Sabbath. The hair became longer, the clothes darkers and the facial hair for men bigger. 

The changes which were present through out of Jeanette's childhood and teenage years were huge and life changing to others... however did any of these aspects make any impact on her life? Was she too sheltered to know what was really happening during this time globally through British culture?