Step Back in Time: Dressing for Old Hollywood1960's Glamour at Dangerous Dinners Hong Kong
- Amanda W.
- Oct 23
- 5 min read
"Clothing goes beyond mere fashion; it narrates our story and reveals our identity without the need for words."-Amanda
Fashion-a Melting Pot of Hong Kong
For me, Hong Kong has always been a beautiful melting pot where East and West blend in the most iconic way. This unique fusion resonates deeply with me. Growing up in this vibrant city significantly influenced my passion for fashion.
In this city, you have access to everything—from the luxury boutiques of renowned designers to charming ‘mum-and-pop’ tailors crafting custom cheongsams. The Ladies' Markets in Mong Kok offer opportunities to haggle for the best prices, while fast fashion retailers are just around the corner. It's all about knowing where to look!
What I adore about Hong Kong is the thrill of exploring and hunting for fashion treasures. That’s why we went to Hula, a place to be inspired by clothing and where the old and new converge.
Dressing for "Dangerous Dinners"
Dangerous Dinners is a excited event run by Sasha Yasumoto (an interior designers and Hong Kong urban explorers) that gives guest the opportunity to step into a forgotten historical building twice a year and have an immersive experience while dinning. It’s not your everyday dinner.
This year's event will be on Nov 22nd 2025 (here for tickets and information), and I have been given the opportunity to help guests dress for the occasion.
You might wonder, “What do I wear to Dangerous Dinners?” This presents an exciting opportunity to explore your identity within a different time frame and have fun with clothes, as this year's theme is around the old Hollywood glamour of the early 1960’s. As a personal stylist, I use clothing as a tool to transform someone's identity, presence, self-expression, and authenticity. And what could be more transformative than understanding a place in time by literally ‘walking in their shoes’? and time traveling.
Exploring the early 1960s through fashion entails recognizing that clothing were a reflection of the values and ideals of that era. So let's dive into the signature styles for both men and women during this iconic era.
Fashion
The early 1960s were marked by a sense of elegance, femninity, sculptural tailoring and craftmenship with influences from the late 1950s still lingering. Old hollywood glamour was still popular, with both genders being at the extream of masculity and femininity, However, as the decade progressed, we saw a shift towards more experimentionation, innovative fabrics, colours and silhouettes.
Women's WearThe A-Line Dress-hourglass figure
One of the most iconic siloueets for women during the late 50’s and early 60’s was the A-line dress. Made famous post world war 2 by Christian Dior’s “New look’, this silhouette was flattering for many body types and featured a fitted bodice that flared gently from the waist, creating an "A" shape. These dresses were often bellow the knee.
In contrast a tailored skirts and jackets were also popular, like the ones Jackie Kennedy wore which still allowed for an hourglass silhouette to be shown off with less comberson fabric, perfect for the more modern women of the early 1960’s.
Jackie Kennedy's Influence
First Lady Jackie Kennedy sophisticated style inspired many women of the time to adopt tailored suits, pillbox hats, and pearls. Her preference for clean lines and classic elegance set a standard that resonated with women across the globe. Other celebrated like Marilyn Monroe, Audrey Hepburn, Grace Kelly were also iconic for their style.
The Cheongsam/Qipao
The Chengsam or Qipao was highly fashionable and the early 1960’s was considered the ‘golden age’ for this form fitting and elegant dress. The influde of the Shanghinese into Hong Kong along with the craftmenship of tailores popularised the chengsam style as being both feminine and powerful. Small details and choice of fabric (silk vs. cotton) is was what elevated these dresses from everyday wear to evening elegance.
Hair and accessoires
Hair emerged as a significant form of self-expression. With the introduction of hairspray in commercial aerosols during the early 1950s, people began to use it to achieve greater volume with the iconic beehive hairstyle and to ‘set’ their hair for days. This was all part of the playful exploration of sculpture and femininity during that era.
Accessories are essential for completing an outfit. Think of elegant handbags that pair beautifully with Mary Jane shoes, alongside bold statement earrings (which secretaries often had to remove to answer the phone). Stockings secured by garters, along with pearls and gloves, also played a significant role. Short gloves were perfect for daytime, while opera-length gloves graced the evening. To achieve the ideal hourglass silhouette, sculptural undergarments were crucial in attaining this classic style.
Men's Fashion
Men's fashion during the early 1960s was distinguished by a polished and sophisticated appearance, embodying a gentlemanly vibe while subtly hinting at the more relaxed and adventurous styles that would emerge later in the decade. Although the silhouette did not undergo a significant transformation from the late 1950s—since men’s fashion typically involves minor adjustments—there were notable shifts in style.
Fabrics and Silhouettes:
Men began to embrace lighter fabrics and more relaxed shapes.
Like the Chengsam, the Tang suit for men was also very popular.
The classic three-piece suit (jacket, vest, and slacks) remained popular, featuring emphasized shoulders and high-waisted trousers.
Suit slacks, designed with practical box pleats for ease of movement, allowed wearers to partake in popular dance crazes like the Twist and the Mashed Potato.
This evolution reflected a growing preference for comfort that did not compromise style.
Accessories of the Early 1960s
For me, the early 1960s marked a golden era for gentlemen's accessories. Essential items included:
Pinky rings
Pocket squares (perfect for dabbing a lady's tears)
Hats
Simple slim ties
Stylish watches
Rolex was a favoured brand during this period, while many astronauts—who had previously been trained as fighter pilots in World War II—preferred the Omega speed-master.
The early 1960s were an intriguing period in fashion, characterized by a fusion of timeless elegance and the onset of modernity. From the stylish tailoring of Jackie Kennedy-inspired suits for women to the soft yet sculptural suits for men, this era laid the groundwork for the vibrant changes that would shape the remainder of the decade.
I hope you have enjoyed this look into a stylish and transformative era. Whether you're a fashion aficionado or simply curious about the past, the early 1960s provide a wealth of inspiration and innovation that is certainly worth exploring at the DD dinner. And, as always, if you need any guidance, feel free to get in touch.
If you need some inspiration, check of these links for a curated inspiration list. Hula-Second hand fashion https://thehula.com/pages/swym-wishlist
Style Carousel-Dress rental
Comments