Sometime around age 11 or 12, I really started to resent the clothes my mother would make me wear. It was an important time in my life when being "cool" was the most important thing in the world, and there was no way a woman "of her age" could know what cool was.
My mother had to endure the same treatment with my two nieces. In their minds, there was no way a grandmother could possibly know what cool was! When my mother would buy new clothes for them, they'd be polite and say "thank you," but you could tell they'd rather just get a gift card so they could pick out outfits for themselves.
Then we found my mother's old high school photos.
Could it be? My mother and their grandmother was actually…cool!
She proudly admitted to having a few gentlemen knocking on her door for dates. Women in the 1960s (won't give the exact year away!) tended to wear their hair a little bigger, but it was still a beautifully coiffed look.
These photos collected from the '50s through the early '70s prove that, though times were simpler, people still knew how to be "cool" back then. I think that a lot of these fashions should absolutely come back in style.
Please SHARE with friends who might remember this time with you, and also SHARE with anyone younger who might need proof that the past was just as cool.
1964, My Mother
Do you know what makes this photo of my mom cool? It's not a selfie. She didn't hold a camera up and take 15 different takes until she found the right "one." She says that her cousin took this when they were out on the ranch one day. This candid photo is way cooler than any selfie I've seen.
1950s, New York City
There's a stereotype of women in the 1950s as being docile to the point of being dull, but even though this lady is dressed in a rather proper manner — with a pleated skirt and buttoned-up collar — that hand on her hip and twinkle in her eye suggests that there's way more to her than meets the eye.
1952, Elvis and Friends in High School
Elvis might be one of the "coolest" performers to ever exist. Even in this photo taken before he was famous, Elvis shows that you don't have to be rich to be cool. Nowadays, kids have to shop at the right stores for the right brands, but this photo shows how just a white T-shirt and jeans can still be cool without spending $100 on them.
1950s, A few Years Later, This is how Teens React to Elvis
When kids listen to music from the 1950s, they may think the music is boring or tame, but as this photo taken at an Elvis concert proves, it was older generations who literally invented rock and roll! This girl would absolutely fit in at most punk or rock concerts today. Actually, if you visit the uber-hip neighborhood of Williamsburg, Brooklyn, you might see someone in that very outfit.
And Elvis didn't have half the ego Justin Bieber has!
1951, Big Jay McNeely Plays Saxophone
Musicians of the past had an incredibly hypnotic effect on their audiences, and they didn't need autotune, 20 backup dancers, pyrotechnics, and aerial tricks to do it. The musicians of the past were cooler, because all they needed was their talent. The musician in this photo, Big Jay McNeely, is still performing today!
1951, Marine Aviators
I know a guy who has a jacket just like this, and I get jealous every time I see it. The difference between his jacket and the one in these photos is that he spent $80 at a vintage store to try to replicate this awesome look from the '50s.
That's right. People are now paying crazy prices to try to look as cool as people did in the 1950s.
1950s, Japanese Teenagers
Even in other countries, people were cooler in the '50s. These Japanese teenagers have the swagger of James Dean, the confidence of Marlon Brando, and the good hair style of Elvis. Those jackets weren't an American trend back in the 1950s, but I think I've seen something similar in the pages of GQ.
1954, Newlyweds
I'll admit that I often think of the 1950s as a stuffy, ultra-prim time, but this photo proves that people still had a sense of humor.
This photo has actually been shared a thousand times on the internet. If the internet had been around when these two were younger, this funny couple probably would have had "like" a million Instagram followers.
1956, Secretary Alice Denham
Now, smoking is never cool, but this lady knew how to make heads turn, and she did it without having to be overly revealing. Her conservative dress still shows off her figure.
1958, This photo from Istanbul, looks like it could be a version of the movie Grease.
Look at this photo and tell me you don't want to know what they're laughing at.
1959, France
Class is cool. If this photo was taken today, she'd have a beer in one hand and she'd be sticking her tongue out like Miley Cyrus. However, this classy lady's photo is still being shared over 40 years later, just because her classiness is so engaging.
1950s, A Couple at the Military Academy Ball
This couple could show up to any red carpet event — ball, prom, wedding, or otherwise — and still turn heads. A man looks his best in a uniform, and her A-line skirt would stun in any decade. If I saw this couple at an event now, they're the ones I'd want to talk to.
1960s, Teenagers at Prom
Can I just say point out how much classier these prom dresses are compared to the ones they wear now? Prom dresses are getting skimpier and skimpier, and they're coming in the most revolting of colors like napalm orange, flamingo nightmare, or avocado dream. These elegant gowns are timelessly classy. No way one of these ladies wouldn't win prom queen.
Also, I predict those long gloves will come back into fashion pretty soon.
1963–4, Ann-Margret and Elvis between takes on "Viva Las Vegas."
10 years after he burst onto the scene, Elvis proved he was still the coolest. Pop stars turned actors, like Justin Timberlake, have Elvis to thank for making that transition. Do we think Justin Bieber and One Directon will be movie stars in 10 years too?
And Ann-Margret remains one of the most beautiful women to ever appear on screen. I'm thinking about some of her dance moves in this film, and I'm pretty sure they'd still kill out on the dance floor. I mean, it's definitely better than some of the "dance moves" I've seen people doing. Since when is jumping up and down considered "dancing?"
1966, Mods in London
I feel like this "mod" style comes back into fashion every few years. Whenever I see "new" clothing trends I feel like they're just trends from the past: pleated skirts, bell-bottoms, high waists — all been done.
I just went to Vogue's website where they had a story about how fringe will be big this year.
It's all been done.
1966, Couple and their Daughter
I've seen girls work for hours on their hair, and when they're finished it's just a simple "down-do" over their shoulders. This styling lady probably spent hours on her 'do, too, but with very different effects.
When people put that much work into their appearance, it paid off.
1960s, Couple on a Date
I don't remember the last time I put on a tie for a date, but I'm pretty sure that effort would be a appreciated. My version of getting dressed up for a date is choosing the "nice jeans."
People used to take pride in how they looked. They dressed up for travel, for the theater, for nice dinners. People just looked better in the past, and I think that's why people love watching Mad Men so much. When you dress better, you look better — and cooler, too!
1960s, University of Florida Students
I can't believe that this picture of frat boys was taken in the 1960s and not on some college campus today.
I feel like they'd be most likely to catch the sorority girls and they're — do my eyes deceive me? — actually doing what college kids should be doing: studying!
1966, Sally Field at Home
Before she became a glamorous movie star — and, yes, we really like her — Sally Field embodied "the girl next door." Compare Sally Field with the starlets of today. You can't imagine Sally Field flashing the camera, or partying all night.
Honestly, who would you rather hang out with?
1969, Teacher Sandy Brockman
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Her hair is flawless.
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That dress is killer.
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If more teachers were as cool as her, I think we'd see higher graduation rates.
1970s, Lincoln University
The average college male's wardrobe in 2015 is some mild variation of: T-shirt, jeans, shorts, sneakers, maybe a sweatshirt (if it's cold).
I'd gladly wear that jacket on the left, and even if those pants on the right are a little dated, I'm still jealous of them.
1970s, Women in Iran
The lady in the light green dress's eye makeup is worthy of its own YouTube makeup tutorial — if YouTube was around back in the 1970s.
1970s, Lynda Carter
Lynda Carter was sporting novelty tees way before it was "cool." Nowadays, the ironic T-shirt sells for $40 or more at stores like Urban Outfitters. Lynda Carter was doing it 30 years before it was cool, and honestly, she looks better than most while she's doing it.
1970s, Girl on a Skateboard
30 years after this photo was taken, it made the cover of Skateboarder magazine. This girl is eternally the coolest "skater chick."
1970s, Dame Helen Mirren Performing
Helen Mirren is now 69 years old. Next time someone says a grandparent or senior can't be cool, just show them this photo. The "Dame" completely embodies cool in this photo.
Please SHARE with anyone who might need proof the past is still cool, if not cooler than now!
