The Beatles

• The Beatles had a huge influence on men's style for the whole of the 1960s. Their distinctive mod cuts at the start of the decade were copied by many. These evolved into the famous mop-top cut which was a heavy, smooth bowl shape with blunt bangs. Their 1964 tour of America sealed the fame of this cut and even though it looks fairly conservative today, wearing hair as long as the mop top was considered shockingly subversive by much of the older generation.
  
  

Politics

• The 1960s Black is Beautiful movement championed African beauty and aimed to instill pride in natural African features, such as skin color and hair. The most memorable fashion trend of this time is the afro, which has remained popular. Influential 1960s' afro wearers included The Black Panthers and Jimmy Hendrix. Wearing an afro was not a fashion fad but a strong political statement about pride and liberation. The afro and it's range of trendsetting wearers illustrates the deep link between fashion, politics and culture that was central to style in the 20th Century.
  
  

Rock Stars

• Rock stars such as The Who and The Rolling Stones were the idols of the 1960s and they influenced fashion, as men wore the styles of their heroes. Brian Jones, one of the founding members of The Rolling Stones, was famed for his flamboyant fashion style. He wore bright prints, velvet, embroidered fabrics and exotic jewelry. The Who were associated with mod culture in the early to mid '60s, which involved sharp haircuts and expensive suits. Their most famous fashion statement was using the Union Jack for clothing, a trend that has stayed popular.
  
  

Hippies

• By the end of the 1960s, hippie culture was at its peak. Elements of hippie fashion became more mainstream, including long hair and vibrant clothing. John Lennon had grown out his mod cut in exchange for long hair and a beard. Singers like Bob Dylan and Donovan wore their hair long, with velvet, flared jeans, ethnic beads and billowing, flouncy shirts part of the uniform. These looks became so popular that by the middle of the decade, relaxed, hippie essentials were available in many regular stores.