What does it mean to be a hippie?

The hippie movement originated in the United States during the 1960s. It is primarily characterised by its pacifism, its rejection of societal norms such as working and becoming a slave to consumerism, and its opposition to the Vietnam War.

The Hippie Lifestyle

Being a hippie is primarily a philosophy, a state of mind inspired by Eastern cultures. Freedom was their motto! The freedom to do with their bodies as they pleased, with long hair, and embracing bohemian-style clothing.

Back in the day, the hippies turned to cannabis and artificial highs to escape to a world they believed was better and that was synonymous with happiness.

While they may not have achieved their goal of changing the world, the hippies played a significant role in ending the Vietnam War. Many young people called up for military service refused to take part in what they deemed the commitments of a self-righteous America.

The hippie movement has left its mark on society, such as the liberation of social customs, protests against inequality between men and women, and injustices faced by minorities.

Woodstock: The Birth of a Musical Genre and a Unique Festival

A whole new musical movement is emerging from this hippie wave, a pop/rock sound with protest-themed lyrics.

Festivals are sprouting up all over, bringing together large crowds who camp out overnight to get the best spot. Festival-goers see it as a gathering place, almost like a pilgrimage.

Rejected by society simply for being inactive and living communally, they are seen as outcasts. These concerts provide them with a chance to come together without the fear of being judged by others.

The most famous festival was undoubtedly Woodstock, which took place in 1969 in Bethel, New York, outside the city in the Catskill Mountains. Originally set to accommodate 50,000 spectators from the 15th to the 17th of August 1969, the festival ultimately welcomed 500,000 people.

They attended performances by legendary artists such as Jimi Hendrix, Joe Cocker, Janis Joplin, and Joan Baez.

It will be extended by another day, come what may. The weather conditions did not cause any electrocution casualties. However, there will be 3 fatalities, due to overdose or an accident caused by a tractor driving over a tent in the middle of the night.

One might think that the festival was organised every year. But that’s not the case. In fact, numerous logistical issues led the organisers to incur debts. The reason? A lot of people sneaked in without paying. Back then, entry was just 6 dollars. There was a significant loss, and they couldn’t cover the costs of equipment rental and artists. The repeated intervention of emergency services for people completely out of it on drugs brought this historic event to an end.

The organisers had no choice but to sell the rights to Warner in order to settle their debts. If you’d like to learn more about this legendary hippie festival, check out our dedicated article on the Woodstock festival.

The Hippie Fashion Style

It's clear that when we look at the hippies in the 70s, their outfits were often quite basic or very rustic, especially for the women. Some went without shoes entirely, while others wore sandals if they felt like it. For the men, it was all about loose trousers and a bare-chested jacket, while the women sported a long floral dress or something very short.

Long Bohemian Dresses

Both girls and boys wore their hair very long, which was their way of responding to the soldiers who had their heads shaved once they enlisted in the army. Girls, of course, paid very little attention to grooming when it came to their hair. Often wandering, the hippie didn't carry much with them. Women typically had a fringed crossbody bag, often made of brown suede or faux suede.

This attitude clearly reflected their refusal to accept consumer society as it was being pushed onto the public. For them, capitalism was merely a means to fund wars, while they advocated for peace.

It should be said that at that time, society was divided between the outsiders and the "well-to-do". While the hippies wore very colourful and “bohemian” clothing, another group opted for turtleneck jumpers and miniskirts with tights for the girls, and jumpers and jeans for the boys. The only common ground between the two groups might be the flared trousers that survived into the following decades.

The hippie look evolved with the rise of disco, becoming more polished and stylish. It transformed into everyday wear, losing some of its psychedelic flair. This laid the groundwork for bohemian fashion, which embodies the essence of hippie style but is much more chic and refined, suitable for any occasion. If you're fond of this style, we recommend checking out our must-have collection of long bohemian dresses.