Living Like It's 1967: A Step-by-Step Guide for Men
1. Lifestyle Overview
The year 1967 was marked by a blend of traditional and emerging counterculture trends. As a man living this era, you'd balance respectability with a growing openness to new ideas and expression. The focus was on social interaction, family, and community, though the seeds of rebellion and freedom were blossoming.
2. Clothing Styles
- Everyday Wear: Men often wore tailored suits or slacks with button-down shirts. Ties were common, though patterns started getting bolder.
- Casual Clothes: Sweaters, polo shirts, or knit shirts with chinos or jeans gained popularity. Colorful patterns and psychedelic prints began to emerge, especially among younger men.
- Outerwear: Mod styles including trench coats, Harrington jackets, and parkas were fashionable.
- Footwear: Classic leather shoes, loafers, or desert boots were standard.
- Hair: Hairstyles ranged from short and neat to longer, shaggy cuts influenced by rock musicians.
3. Music and Formats
- Genres: Rock (think The Beatles, Jimi Hendrix), folk, psychedelic, and soul music were popular.
- Listening Formats:
- Vinyl Records (LPs and singles): Primary medium, played on record players.
- AM and FM Radio: Essential for discovering new music and talk shows.
- 8-Track Tapes and Reel-to-Reel: Present but not yet dominant.
4. Television
In 1967, televisions were generally black and white, with color TVs becoming more available but still somewhat of a luxury. Typical shows for men included Westerns like "Bonanza," comedies such as "The Andy Griffith Show," and current affairs programs. Evening news was a common routine.
5. Food
Food was largely traditional American fare with some emerging influences.
- Meals often consisted of meat, potatoes, and vegetables.
- TV dinners were popular convenience foods.
- Fast food chains like McDonald's were expanding but not yet dominating.
- Social dining centered around family dinners and barbecues.
6. Radio
Radio played a vital role for news, music, and talk shows. AM was more common for news and talk, FM for music in some locations. Radio personalities could greatly influence trends.
7. Books
- Popular genres included detective fiction, science fiction, and contemporary literature.
- Authors like J.D. Salinger, Kurt Vonnegut, and Jack Kerouac were influential.
- Paperbacks were widely available and affordable.
8. Pets
Dogs and cats were common pets. Pet care was simpler, with less emphasis on specialized diets or frequent veterinary visits than today.
9. Newspapers
Daily newspapers were a primary news source. Men often read papers in the morning or evening, focusing on headlines, sports, business, and opinion sections.
10. Cigarette Brands
- Popular cigarette brands included Marlboro, Lucky Strike, Camel, and Pall Mall.
- Smoking indoors was socially acceptable and widespread.
- Advertisements glamorized smoking heavily across media.
Summary
To live like a man in 1967 means dressing in sharp tailoring with a hint of emerging boldness, enjoying music primarily on vinyl and radio, watching classic TV programs, eating hearty traditional meals, reading popular contemporary authors, caring for common household pets, staying informed through daily newspapers, and smoking one of the era's iconic cigarette brands. This lifestyle reflects both respect for tradition and openness to the cultural shifts defining the late 1960s.