Love Beads and Flower Power

• As fashion trends changed after the 1950s, skirts got shorter and hair got longer. Several strands of chunky love beads wrapped around the neck and sometimes extending to the knee were a fashion statement for the hippies. Bracelets made from wood or plastic beads were worn in multiples. Bold, over-sized geometric bead earrings made the hippies stand out from society. Flower power became all the rage, with bright, day-glo colored enamel, wood and plastic flower pins and pendants adorning equally wild colored outfits.
  
  

Ethnic and Historical

• The hippies embraced jewelry from numerous ethnic groups as their search to find themselves grew. Egyptian, Asian, African and East Indian designs crossed over and mixed with each other. They soon found their way onto earrings, bangle bracelets and over-sized pendants. Medieval, Renaissance and Victorian motifs were adapted to modern styles, using bold colors and new materials such as Lucite. Art Nouveau styles were added to the historical revival, and were seen in psychedelic cloisonne designs. Ankles, toes and foreheads became areas for displaying bold ethnic jewelry designs.
  
  

Native American and Nature Inspired

• Native American imagery was the basis for many handmade jewelry designs. Turquoise and silver became the materials of choice for many Native American designs. Handmade became the way to break away from society's materialism. Simple pendants were hung from macrame knotted hemp. Inspiration from nature included large, articulated pendants of animals and birds, especially owls. Natural materials were used to make necklaces, with hemp and leather cords replacing gold chains and wooden beads replacing jewels and gemstones.
  
  

Peace and Music

• As design options expanded and the handmade philosophy continued, more mixing of elements resulted in designs that are identified with the hippie movement even today. As the war in Vietnam continued, peace symbols and the word peace were displayed on bold jewelry pieces. Large pendants displayed the political stand taken by the hippies. Symbols of popular music groups and singers were adapted into jewelry designs, to show support for and take a stand on the philosophies of the time expressed in their music.