‘Teen Beach Movie’
1960s fashion was so iconic that even without the “Mad Men” suits and sheath dresses, and ignoring the hippie fringe and tie-dye, there’s tremendous style.
Disney Channel’s “Teen Beach Movie,” premiering Friday, July 19, features men’s two-piece bathing suits – when trunks were worn with matching jackets – and other clothes from 1962 that could easily make a comeback.
“The ’60s were so much fun,” says costume designer Ruth Carter. “People broke out of the norm. It was all about being free – colors, patterns, being free. The patterns all spoke to that.”
Standing in the jammed but organized wardrobe trailer on the edge of the set in Puerto Rico, Carter was not sure how many costumes she, five seamstresses and one cutter made.
“Vintage does look the best,” she says. “I try really hard to be as authentic as we can.”
McKenzie and Brady (Maia Mitchell, Ross Lynch) are very modern surfers who, through movie magic, wind up in 1962. Mack’s limegreen eyelet top with a ruffled midriff and white highwaisted shorts was a standard good girl look. Carter “saw this outfit in a 1965 Sears catalog,” she says. “I had two Sears catalogs from the ’60s.” The cast wore a lot of classic tennis shoes, Keds. “I think I bought stock in Keds.”