The Elegant '60s Dress Trend That's Everywhere This Spring

It wouldn't be a stretch to say that the 1960s are officially the new It decade in fashion right now. Everywhere we look, styles from the era are reemerging in modern-day iterations from skirts to handbags to dresses, and the overall influence seems to only be growing larger by the day. When it comes to dresses, designers were unanimous in their backing of 1960s-inspired dresses, and we saw similar iterations on the silhouette repeated over and over throughout the spring 2024 collections, from Gucci's crystal-embellished numbers to Tory Burch's mod layering.

Now, I'm not saying that this season marks the end of maxi hemlines as we know them, but let me at least introduce you to the lineup of mod minis that stand to take over. It wasn't just the return of this hemline that was particularly noteworthy but also how the dresses were styled. The runways mirrored how '60s icons like Jackie Kennedy Onassis, Jean Shrimpton, and Jane Birkin used to wear them, i.e., with ballet flats for even more sweetness. It's been a while since the '60s-style dresses had their moment, so it feels exciting to see them resurface.

All in all, dresses with shift silhouettes, boat necklines, and fit-and-flare shapes reminiscent of the era are quickly becoming the leading dresses of the moment, so behold, 20 perfect shopping options and all the inspiration you could ever need to wear one.

Nobody did '60s style quite like the first lady herself. Here, Jackie Kennedy was seen arriving at JFK fresh off a flight from Greece in a simple shift dress, polished ballet flats, and elegant gloves.

Gucci's S/S 24 collection featured a number of swingy shift dresses no doubt inspired by the decade's mod silhouettes. Whether they were embellished with crystals or cut with a deep V neckline, Creative Director Sabato De Sarno reimagined what the retro dresses can look like for a modern-day wardrobe.

Nº21 imagined a simple shift dress as a bridal look in its spring collection and completed the wedding theme with a lace veil and sheer gloves.

English model Jean Shrimpton was an icon of 1960s style, and naturally, her take on the shift dress is impeccably chic. Take note of her to-the-knee hemline and styling idea with a pair of low-heel slingbacks.

Theory's minimalist aesthetic and superb tailoring translate especially well on this structured minidress that's striking in its simplicity and construction.

At Carven, minis were sculpted into hourglass shapes that lent the simple dresses a bit more drama.

Boatneck dresses were another big theme from the era and of all of Audrey Hepburn's iconic ensembles, it's this dress style featuring a boatneck, cinched waist, and full skirt that's perhaps her most beloved.

Tory Burch brought the '60s energy through a series of layered dresses that highlighted their mixed textures and an A-line shape.

Authentic '60s dresses were often anything but minimal and featured a graphic print, some sort of embroidery, or a belted waist. Sandy Liang's idea brings that into the modern wardrobe via a satin floral and bow motif.

Here, Brigitte Bardot is seen walking around St. Tropez in a knee-length floral shift and flats.

This story was published at an earlier date and has since been updated.