Youthquake: the decade when young people, not couturiers, started setting the rules.
By Shreya S · Last reviewed 2 November 2026
What was “youthquake”?
A term coined by Vogue editor Diana Vreeland in the mid-1960s for the way young people took over fashion and culture. London became the centre of it, with boutiques on King’s Road and Carnaby Street, models such as Twiggy and music by The Beatles.
What is mod style?
The sharp, modern look of London’s “mods”: slim suits for men, and for women short shift dresses, bold graphic prints, flat shoes and dramatic eye make-up.
Read on Ayerhs: The Influence of the 1960s Mod Movement
Who invented the miniskirt?
The British designer Mary Quant made it famous from her London boutique in the mid-1960s, naming it after her favourite car, the Mini. In Paris, André Courrèges showed short skirts in his space-age collections around the same time, and both are often credited.
Read on Ayerhs: The Miniskirt: How one tiny garment became a symbol of cultural change
Which designers defined the 1960s?
- Mary Quant, the miniskirt and London youth
- André Courrèges, Pierre Cardin and Paco Rabanne, the space-age designers of white, silver, plastic and metal
- Yves Saint Laurent: the Mondrian dress (1965), Le Smoking tuxedo for women (1966) and the Rive Gauche boutique
Read on Ayerhs: Yves Saint Laurent – The complete guide · The Tuxedo
How did the 1960s end?
With the hippies: long hair, flared jeans, kaftans, fringe and prints influenced by India and the counterculture, setting the stage for 1970s boho.