Brigette Bardot shows off in a mini-dress and really cool boots.

The 1960s marked a very important stage in the evolution of twentieth-century fashion for two reasons: because the youth market demanded and got their own styles; and because the notion of anything goes in fashion became the norm.

1960s Culottes, McCall's 6823, Sewing Pattern, Scoop Neck Top, Skirt Front Culottes,Side Zipper, Pleat Center Culottes, Inverted Pleat SewANeedleinhaystack. From shop SewANeedleinhaystack. 5 out of 5 stars (996) 996 reviews $ 6.00. Favorite Add to. Culottes are an item of clothing worn on the lower half of the body. The term can refer to split skirts, historical men's breeches, or women's under-pants; this is an example of fashion-industry words taken from designs across history, languages and cultures, then being used to describe different garments, often creating confusion among historians and readers.

The mini skirt or dress was at the epicenter of this evolution. Mini’s created a revolution and turned 1960’s fashion on its head. By the late sixties no boundaries remained for the designers as to what could be done with the mini.

London’s two favorites – a mini dress and a Mini Cooper automobile

Women were liberating themselves from the uncomfortable and matronly apparel of the fifties. Armed with synthetic materials, new female designers and ready to wear affordable designs the mini was ready to explode onto the sixties market. Aided by the invention and commercialization of pantyhose or tights, women were proudly showing off not only their legs but their freedom as well.

Although French designer Courreges claims to have invented the mini, there’s no question that Mary Quant working out of her small King’s Road, London boutique popularized and gave mass market appeal to the mini. Mary’s designs were simple usually using a basic A-line design for many of her mini-dresses.

The simple A-Line mini was a designer Mary Quant inspiration

After the successes of Quant, Betsy Johnson, Barbara Hulanicki and other young female 1960’s designers, all of the major Fashion Houses followed suit. The likes of Chanel, Dior and Y’ves Saint Laurent were soon offering the shorter mini styles in their couture lines. Not as risque as what was coming out of swinging London it definitely emphasized the importance of the mini skirt as a new style icon.

Paper Dresses From The 60s

Although the even more liberating pants suit style of clothing would gain popularity in the early 1970’s and eventually edge the mini skirt out of vogue, the remnants of that 1960’s fashion revolution are still visible in today’s clothing.

1960s model/actress Jane Birkin wearing a great pair of boots with her mini dress

An example of space-age 1960s fashion. (Do you think it looks like a paint bucket on her head?)

Culottes 1960s

designed by Italian designer Valentino and shown in Vogue Italia 1968

this outfit would have been fine for work in the 1960s (today I think that HR would want a chat with you)

Twiggy Pictures 1960s

This mini dress by Paco Rabanne showed America’s fascination with all things…spaceage.