The late 60s saw the rise of the turtleneck sweater, lending the year 1967 the nickname “The Year of the Turtle.” Countless high-profile celebs wore them including, Sammy Davis Jr., Steve McQueen, Paul Newman, and of course, the legendary Marylin Monroe.
The trend hasn’t died down at all, and while there are many iconic Monroe photos, one of them is her unforgettable turtleneck look.
The Poodle Skirts
There's no shortage of millennials donning avocado-themed tops, pants, or accessories. In the '50s, it was all about the poodle, hence the sensational poodle skirt. The long and colorful skirt went below the knees (we hadn't reached the era of the miniskirt just yet) and had a sweet poodle design.
It all began when a struggling actress and singer named Juli Lynne Charlot made a last-minute skirt made of suede for a Christmas party. She added a festive appliqué to it, and it was a total hit. Charlot was then approached by people to add poodles, as many women were seen out and about walking poodles. Needless to say, the iconic look was born.
The Soda Fountain Gatherings
Today's kids are pretty sophisticated. Catch them sipping on ice coffees while scrolling on Instagram. But back then, specifically in the 50s and 60s, kids would line up at the soda fountain bar in their local diner.
You could fill a room with a jukebox and a checkered tile dancefloor, and teens would turn it into a total party, jitterbugging the day away. Of course, the sodas were the real pull.
Wearing Tie-Dye T-Shirts
These days tie-dying t-shirts is just a staple of many children's birthday parties; back a few decades ago, all the young teenaged hippies would hang around in their faded jeans and those signature tie-dye shirts.
The more colorful, the better. Peace, love, and happiness, bro. Those t-shirts are still around, thankfully, proving the undying legacy of the hippie generation.
Inventing Smiley Faces
The smiley face is a staple of our world today. Seen every today in logos, emojis, toys, stickers, and more. The smiling yellow face is one of the most recognizable images today. You would think whoever was behind that must have made a six-figure profit. Sadly that wasn't the case!
A man named Harvey Ross Ball was the creator. He worked for an ad agency and was paid $45 for drawing something that would comfort employees. That was in 1963, and ever since, it's been a hit.