"Modern people want to wear uniforms…”  - Gianni Versace

We have so much to thank the Kennedys for when it comes to fashion.  But, in addition to their many contributions, we can thank one President John F. Kennedy for throwing our nation up into the Space Race, giving futuristic fashion a cause for celebration.  Space has intrigued since the first days when men started looking to the sky; only in the 60s, that dream was a reality.  With John Glenn’s 1962 Earth orbiting mission came the hopes and dreams of a generation of boys, girls, men and women that one day, they too would be living a space age lifestyle. 

This exciting time brought forth a futuristic fashion sense, complete with streamlined, ready-to-launch looks.  Designers of the 60s became experimental, using new and improved textile technologies to inspire and create their new lines of clothing.  Who needed boring old cotton when there was vinyl? 

Easily, one of the first and likely one of the most influential of ‘space age’ designers was Pierre Cardin.  Pioneering the minimalist look with hoop dresses and asymmetrical lines, he brought his futuristic vision to light with his 1965 Cosmos collection.  Geometric tunics over tights and body stockings were fetching along with bubble hats and helmets. 

Other designers were in on the act, too.  Andre Courreges would soon become synonymous with space age fashion.  His futuristic go-go boots and cut-out dresses featured silver and white PVC.  The look was sleek, sharp, and frankly, unforgettable.  And he didn’t keep things monochrome; Courreges would bring in bright and even clashing colors into his line, to fantastically futuristic effect. 

At the same time, Austrian Rudi Gernreich came onto the scene with her outrageously daring clothing, which included cutout vinyl mini-dresses.  (Her biggest splash came with her topless swimsuit, but we won’t get into that here…)  Paco Rabanne brought in couture made up of metallic discs, a look that was more tool box than sewing box.  Others, like Diane Dew, would put electrify the scene with electric light clothing, ready to turn the dance floor into your own personal light show. 

Perhaps one of the best things about space age style was that it was about as wash and wear as it got.  Paper towel and Windex was about all it took to get it clean; who needs to worry about stains when it can be wiped away with ease?

Though it would take a backseat to troubling times with the Vietnam War, space age fashion didn’t just end there.  Countless designers came in through that era, taking the clean lines into new arenas, while others would take these retro-futuristic influences into their later collections.  Betsey Johnson, who’d begun her designer beginnings in the heat of the space race, would bring in entire wardrobes manufactured with unorthodox materials.  New Wave caught on to the look, with bands such as Devo donning matching jumpsuits onstage.  Star Trek and its various reincarnations have been steady hits on television, while space films have regularly dominated box office receipts, year in and year out.  While we still don’t have our jet packs, we can be certain that this crisp, edgy style will never go out completely.