On March 17, the exhibition project “Fashion of the 1960s” will open at the Sixtiers Museum, a branch of the Museum of Kyiv History. Under any власти, at any time of the year and at any age, people have always strived for one thing — to be beautiful. But beauty has never been constant. It depended on traditions, historical circumstances, and, of course, on what was available on store shelves.
City dwellers always seemed well-off, but in reality their well-being entirely depended on the assortment of shops and their own purchasing power. Before 1917, the wealthy traveled across Europe, looking to Paris — the unquestionable arbiter of fashion. Fashion meant choice, novelty, individuality.
With the arrival of Soviet власти, everything changed. Relatively well-off were mainly representatives of the party nomenklatura.
Most people wore out old clothes and altered garments as best they could. The authorities proclaimed a rejection of “bourgeois remnants,” and along with a new way of life came a new silhouette: work trousers, overalls, simple loose-cut dresses, massive jackets, leather coats. Decoration disappeared — bows, ruffles, and lace gave way to restraint and functionality. Beauty was meant to be modest and practical.
Industrial goods were in catastrophic shortage. Clothing and footwear were distributed under a rationing system — sometimes one coat was intended to last eight years, and a pair of shoes for five. In 1917–1921 (when Ukraine was fighting for statehood), in 1929–1935, and in 1941–1947 during the Second World War and the postwar hardship, scarcity became part of everyday life. Soviet women sewed from whatever came to hand: curtains, tablecloths, towels, soldiers’ cloth. And yet, even under these conditions, they strove for elegance. In the 1930s, the fitted silhouette returned, although clothing became increasingly standardized.
From the 1950s, during the so-called “Khrushchev Thaw,” the situation gradually changed. The variety of fabrics, accessories, footwear, and household goods increased. Houses of Models operated in Kyiv, Lviv, Odesa, and Dnipropetrovsk — bold ideas were born there, and shows were held. But the path from the runway to the factory was long. During the launch into production, designs were simplified: every meter of fabric and every technological operation was counted. As a result, the mass consumer received restrained, often uniform clothing made from the most accessible materials.
This exhibition is about fashion between dream and possibility. About creativity in times of scarcity. About women who could create a dress even from a curtain. About designers whose sketches lived a brighter life than factory series. And about the fact that the desire to be beautiful is stronger than any system.
Exhibition dates: March 17, 2026
Curatorial group: Olena Lodzynska, Alina Sushko, Kolodii Anastasiia, Haieva Karina
Organizers: Sixtiers Museum, a branch of the Museum of Kyiv History
Partners: TSUM, KNUTD
Exhibition opening hours: Tue–Sun: 10:00–18:00
Ticket price: 100/50 UAH (full/reduced)
Curatorial tours: Tue–Sun: 12:00–17:00 (300 UAH per group)