Gen Z is mesmerized by vintage high school fashion from 1969: 'I want to live in that era'

A recent viral trend on social media has caught the attention of Gen Z youth, as they came across fascinating photographs from 1969 that revealed stark differences in the appearance and fashion of high school students at the time. Despite these differences, many young people expressed a strong desire to immerse themselves in the era and experience it firsthand. The photographs were shared on the popular TikTok channel @historyvintage, captivating viewers with a glimpse into the past.

The students and teachers from that era sure had a good sense of fashion. A viral video posted by the TikTok account showcases a girl walking towards her friends in a green top, brown shorts, and brown heels, followed by another girl in maroon pants and a red poncho, accompanied by her friend wearing a red vest, a shirt and a blue hat.

It also features several images of students posing confidently in shift dresses, bell-bottomed jeans, slim-cut trousers and jumpsuits, with many appearing happy and chatting with friends, waving at others and even pausing to strike a pose as they walk. The video has garnered widespread attention and appreciation from social media users, highlighting the enduring appeal of retro fashion.

The pictures were taken for LIFE magazine by photographer Arthur Schatz and TikTok users absolutely loved them. The account mentioned that many of these pictures were taken in California, Beverly Hills, and some were taken in different states. Many expressed the desire to turn back time and exist in this era of high school fashion. @aub_foster commented, "Now everyone wears pajama pants, stained hoodies and Crocs." @spamssmoothie wrote, "Why does everyone look healthy and happy?"

@genxisthebest expressed, "This looks like a catalog or a very rich school." @melindaa_96 commented, "I wish I could go back in time." @fryfur_ said, "I want to live in that era, I would fit in so much."

Other than having a great fashion sense, children from that era also seem to be quite smart. A video originally aired in 1966 had children predicting the future and surprisingly most of them were very apt. The 40-second-long clip starts with a boy saying, "People will be regarded more as statistics than as actual people." A girl then offered her opinion and said: "I don't think it's going to be so nice. I think, sort of, all machines everywhere, everyone doing everything for you. You know, you'll get all bored and I don't think it will be so nice."

Another young girl then appears and talks about how work would be scarce for people. "First of all, these computers are taking over now. Computers and automation and in the year 2000, there won't be enough jobs to go around and the only jobs there will be, it will be for people with high IQ and those who work computers and such things," she said.