Concerning Coats VI: 1960s

As the weather turns warmer, it's time to take one last look at coats.  This time we've reached the 1960s!  The fitted coats of the 1950s have gone, but straight and flared (sometimes very flared) coats will remain popular throughout the decade.

Somehow, even the most cheaply made coats managed to look stylish.  The "fur" on the coats below was an imitation made of Orlon.

National Bellas Hess, Fall-Winter 1960

A. PILE-LINED MAGIC BLEND
Glamorous hooded coats luxuriously lined with pure white, soft, fur-look Orlon acrylic pile on a cotton back.  Magic blend coating in white-flecked 85% reprocessed wool, 15% nylon.  Sleeves may be pushed up, if you like; frog buttons close front, vertical pockets.

B.  FUR-LOOK ORLON
The luxurious look of fur—deep, deep cloud-soft Orlon acrylic pile woven on a firm cotton backing.  Becoming clutch style is fashioned with rolled collar, turnback cuffs, vertical pockets.  Inside, a luxurious sweep of acetate satin... just like the linings used in expensive fur coats.  French bottom for longer wear.

C.  LUXURY-LINED FLEECE
What a wonderful way to greet the new season... in a dashing coat that flies its own knit scarf, as an "inside story" too: a deep-pile lining of charcoal-white-and-black striped Orlon acrylic pile woven on a firm cotton backing.  Styled with zing in a warm fleece woven of 35% reprocessed wool, 56% reused wool, 5% nylon, 4% other fibers.  Has smart collar, button-and-tab trimmed pockets, sleeves to wear up or down.

Wool Gold Medal Fashions 1961

Coat, by Renny Pty. Ltd. , Melbourne, has a flared silhouette and highwayman's collar.  Fabric by Moylan Woollens Pty. Ltd.

Big collars and big buttons were popular design touches in the first half of the 1960s.

Vanity Fair, February 1962

OUR COVER GIRL SHOWS...How to look this spring... how?  Marvellous, this way in a tangy lemon coat that glides into the waist and out again to the hem.  By Dereta in their Young Look range...

La Pastorale, Winter 1963

At left.  Another fabulous American Raincoat you'll wear all year round—hail or fine!  With a simulated snake-skin design, it features a scarf-tied neckline with fringed ends, has twin pockets, set-in sleeves and a figured, silky lining.  Your friends will be green with envy.

At centre.  The most wonderful Coat idea for years!  This American rainproof Faille has a smart coachman collar, figured silky lining and gold buttons.  WHAT SEEMS TO BE A BAG our model is holding isn't a Bag, but the COAT, which completely folds up into one of its own zipped pockets.  It will amaze you—it astonished us.

At right.  A coat to wear proudly come Sun or Rain.  Exclusive and original American proofed fabric superbly tailored with handsome collar and revers, a most original deep set-in sleeve treatment, twin pockets and a silky lining.  

La Pastorale, Winter 1964

At left.  Presenting the classical English coat style—the polo!  Crafted in the finest Duvetyn Wool, soft, smooth and cuddly warm.  Detail stitching picks out the smart collar, the sporty patch pockets. the buttoned sleeve cuffs and the tie belt.  Beautifully lined and immaculately finished with every conceivable detail.

Second left.  Be it ever so cold you'll still be toasty warm in this pure Wool 'n Mohair top-coat, fully lined faultlessly finished and fantastically priced!  There's a coachman collar, the raglan sleeves have detail treatment, and note the self-covered buttons and slit pockets.  Guaranteed for seasons of perfect satisfaction

Second right.  Excitingly different, this Hollywood styled Ocelot trimmed coat in an imported American cloth that's all the rage in the States!  Warm as camp fire, yet light as a feather because it's "FOAM-BACKED" and amazingly, it's completely RAIN-PROOFED!  So here it is—the all-weather pace setting style to gladden every young heart.

At right.  Kitten soft, this pure wool coat has a fine check weave.  The beautiful circular collar packs a big surprise—it's easily detachable, giving a two-way look to this outstanding, superbly lined model.  Fabric, style, finish—all top quality, but the price is much lower than you would ever think possible!

The big buttons and collars look remains popular in 1964. 

Vogue Pattern Book International, Autumn 1965

6554.  Arrow straight in soft pastels.  Double breasted coat and flap pleated dress.  Coat in Garigue's double blanket cloth.

By the mid-sixties, fashion was going "mod".  Here, courtesy of Vogue Patterns, is a double breasted coat that hits all the latest fashion notes.

Spiegel, Fall and Winter 1966

MINK ON PURE WOOL... so elegant!  Bracelet sleeves, slash pockets.  Interlined acetate lining.  

A LUXURIOUS KING OF MINK plus a pretty bow... lavish eye-catching collar on a slim coat of polished pure wool.  Beautifully detailed with curved welt seaming; bracelet length sleeves, slash pockets.

More conservative, these coats from Spiegel in 1966 show the  sophisticated side of the 1960s.  The fur collars on these coats are made of real mink (unlike the imitations on the coats at the top of the page).

You'll note that the coat on the right, like the coat from Vogue Patterns is double breasted.  This particular style would remain fashionable into the next decade.

Skylark Original Fashions, Spring 1967

Style 294—SUPREMA—To look your best, you have to wear the best, and here you have it... An A-line, short-sleeved dress... coupled with a double-breasted coat with mandarin collar...

And this coat—part of an ensemble—is also double-breasted.  It flares from the top in a "tent" style.

Montgomery Ward, Fall and Winter 1968

OUR COVER COAT — a fashion investment in the now look!  Tailored the new soft way in a hard-surfaced diagonal ribbed wool dramatized with romantic  looking regency collar.  The fit and flare silhouette accented with double breasted styling in "brass" buttons.  

National Bellas Hess, Fall-Winter 1969

4. TERRIFIC VALUE. . . dark brown, piece-dyed, genuine mink collar tops cardigan collar coat.  Wool coating of reprocessed wool-silk-nylon.  Acetate taffeta lined.

5. Genuine brown mouton collar tops shortie coat of expanded vinyl with cardigan neckline.  Acetate taffeta lining quilted to interlining.

6.  RICH LOOKING . . . corduroy shortie has shawl lamb collar with self-collar under it.  Wide-wale cotton laminated to poly-foam; quilt interlined.

7.  SMART PLAID has lavish, black-dyed lamb collar with self-collar under it.  Reprocessed wool-rayon-silk laminated to poly-foam.  Acetate lined.  "Leash" back belt.

We come almost full circle here, with another page from the National Bellas Hess catalogue.   Unlike their counterparts from 1960, these coats have "REAL FUR COLLARS".  More  noticeably, they are shorter, rising to just above the knee, less full, and more tailored in style.  Two of the coats on offer are double-breasted, while the other two appear to be buttoned to one side.