Paper Dress, circa 1967
Donated by Mrs. Richard Johnson

During the 1960s, massive changes in society inspired young people to set themselves apart from the established order. A profusion of new materials, including plastics, metallic fibers, and even paper, were used to help break down old standards. This made for daring, shocking, and often frivolous fashions. The new, the wild, and the colorful were embraced and celebrated. Women of all ages raised their skirt hemlines in order to step out in the stylish mini-skirt.

The paper dress shown here demonstrates the "mod" look. The dress is complemented by Capezio "ballet" flats. The overlapping hippie movement utilized a more natural approach in order to achieve the back-to-the-earth fashions. When the two collided, they sparked the punk look of the late 1970s.