Beatniks: Exploring Historic Fashion Subcultures

Exploring The Beatnik Aesthetic 

Cover Photo by Barbora Polednová on Unsplash

Several years ago, I watched two movies; Jean-Luc Godard’s Breathless and Stanley Donen’s Funny Face. The first thing that caught my attention was Jean Seberg and Audrey Hepburn — their fashion and style in these movies were simply stylish. To think about it, it wasn’t the movie that was carved in my mind, but their clothes which were influenced by the Beatnik movement. 

The Beat Movement

“A generation can sometimes be better understood by the books it reads than by those it writes,” John Clellon Holmes wrote in his 1952 New York Times essay, This is the Beat Generation. 

Holmes’ essay referred back to the “Beat” movement in the early 1950s to 1960s — a social movement where people rejected mainstream American culture and supported anti-materialistic lifestyles.. Many expressed themselves in various mediums including: music, painting, literature, and of course, fashion.  

Holmes further explained that the generation in the Beat movement could be understood by how people represented themselves during these times. 

After all, fashion is one of the strongest representations and expressions of oneself.

Photo by Adrian "Rosco" Stef on Unsplash

And so, Beatnik fashion was born. It allowed one’s self-expression during this movement. Since the supporters of the Beatnik movement rejected the idea of conformity and conservative beliefs, they also dismissed traditional fashion, which is why the aesthetic of the Beat movement was decidedly simple, utilitarian, and understated. 

Beatnik Fashion Then 

The supporters of this movement did not wear any of the memorable pops of colour popularized in the fifties and sixties. Instead, they wore simple items such as: 

• Berets

• Striped shirts 

• Black turtle-neck sweaters 

• Black leotards

• Black slacks / tight pants

• Loafers 

Although the Beat movement began to fade in the late sixties, remnants of the Beatnik aesthetic have left long lasting impressions on fashion today. 

Beatnik Fashion Now

Days ago, when rewatching Donen’s Funny Face, I was inspired to search on Pinterest for Parisian wear, looking for inspiration and ideas on how to mix it up. Many current Instagram fashion icons wear Parisian outfits, and they level it up through various trends, and noticeably keep notes from Beatnik fashion in their looks today. 

While true Beatnik fashion isn’t prevalent today, we still see undertones of Beat influence in parisian styles, grunge and dark academia. Here’s some pieces that are still around today, that bring the timeless looks of Beatnik-esque style into the 21st century:

• Berets 

• Scarfs

• Cat Sunglasses 

• Plain dark or striped shirts / turtlenecks 

• Oversized coats / blazers

• Black leather jackets

• Miniskirt / Pencil Skirt

• Black mom jeans

• Nylon tights

• Loafers / running shoes

Photo by Tyler Nix on Unsplash

Of course, fashion is all about self-expression. Let your imagination run wild, and let us know what kind of Beatnik styles you put together! 

If you’re interested in reading more on the evolution of Beatnik fashion, check out some further reading:

https://blog.thejacketmaker.com/beatnik-fashion/

https://nextluxury.com/mens-style-and-fashion/beatnik-fashion-guide/