Peacock Revolution describes a fashion movement and subculture that peaked in the mid-to-late- 1960s based most prominently around men incorporating feminine fashion elements such as floral prints, bright colours, complex patterns, and longer hairstyles on men. The movement originated from the Mod driven Swinging London subculture typified by pop art, Carnaby Street , boutiques, psychedelia , and discothèques; developing into a more Bohemian style and becoming associated with psychedelic music and the early Hippie movement, the Peacock Revolution was embraced by rock acts from 1966 to 1968 including Pink Floyd, The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Small Faces, and Cream.

The Peacock Revolution was largely a consequence of the declining Mod subculture, forming into many varied offshoot subcultures. Certain street-focused Mods, often from more modest backgrounds and sometimes known as Hard Mods, remained active well into the late-1960s. Many of the Hard Mods lived in the same economically depressed areas of South London as West Indian immigrants, so they favoured a different kind of attire, evolving into Rude Boys and Skinheads by the end of the decade. They gradually distanced themselves from the Swinging London scene and the bourgeoning Hippie movement. By 1967, they viewed most people in the Swinging London scene as " Soft Mods " or " Peacock Mods ," as fashion there grew increasingly extravagant. Fashion frequently incorporated unconventional elements such as paisley textiles, vivid patterns, vivid colours, and feminine themes.

By the beginning of the 1970s , it was in decline due to popular fashion returning to a more conservative style. Following the Peacock Revolution, menswear in many Western countries became increasingly diverse. It played a key role in enabling men to wear clothing beyond traditional suits in both professional and casual settings. Additionally, it contributed to a wider acceptance of longer head and facial hair lengths and styles socially and professionally while also driving demand for men's grooming and cosmetic products. Moreover, the movement was instrumental in popularizing androgyny in fashion, particularly within rock music.

In the 1950s and early 1960s , the hegemonic style of menswear was business suits in dark and neutral colours, polo shirts and jumpers, with bright colours seen infrequently. The initial signs of rebellion against this dominant style was through the emergence of the Teddy Boy subculture in Britain, wearing clothes partly inspired by the styles worn by Dandies in the Edwardian period, while also embracing elements of fashions in the United States and continental Europe. Under the influence of the Teddy Boys, other subcultures began to emerge in Britain, including the Rockers , and most consequential to the Peacock Revolution , the Mods . The Peacock Revolution emerged at the crossroads of 1950s queer fashion, the sexual revolution, and the Mod subculture. The rise of the Mod movement had made it more acceptable for heterosexual men to take an interest in fashion, while the sexual revolution enabled men to express themselves in an overtly sexual way.

Mods quickly adopted these styles and soon London's Soho area became renowned for its androgynous fashions. As the style became increasingly popular, many prominent womenswear designers began also producing menswear in the style. By 1967, Peacock Revolution clothing from the London pedestrianised shopping area Carnaby Street were being worn publicly by massive pop culture figures such as the Beatles , the Rolling Stones , the Who , the Pink Floyd , Small Faces , Cliff Richard , Sean Connery and Antony Armstrong-Jones . The style became massively popular thereafter.

A consequence of this rapid adoption and popularity among public figures was a distancing between the more street-orientated Mods, who were referred to as "Hard Mods", and the developing psychedelic driven culture in Swinging London , labelled " Soft/Smooth Mods " or " Peacock Mods "; there was now a divide in the Mod subculture, causing its identity to be lost and the movement to dissipate. Consequently, the Peacock Revolution was an ephemeral era of fashion and culture, peaking from 1967-68 and losing popularity as early as 1969. However, following this subculture, menswear in many Western countries became increasingly diverse and the Revolution became crucial in making androgyny in culture and music more acceptable, changing culture greatly and leaving a lasting impact.

Peacock Revolution fashion reached the United States around 1964 with the beginning of the British Invasion , entering major fashion publications including GQ magazine by 1966. The Summer of Love saw many American artists such as Jefferson Airplane and the Jimi Hendrix Experience adopt Americanised versions of "Soft Mod" fashion. By the mid–to late 1960s, the more radical end of the Peacock Revolution in the United States developed into the Hippie subculture.

By the end of the 1960s, Peacock Revolution fashion began to decline due to popular fashion returning to a more conservative style, many growing tired of the increasingly outlandish and unconventional fashion that typified the "Swinging Sixties". Those who preferred flamboyant and glamorised elements of the fashion evolved into Glam Rockers , and those who preferred less exotic clothing defaulted to more casual clothing such as t-shirts and jeans. The style declined simultaneously to the decline of the psychedelic and Hippie subcultures.

See also: Mod , Dolly Girl , Yé-yé (female)

Peacock Revolution 's fashion was primarily characterized by men embracing traditionally feminine style elements, including tight silhouettes, bold patterns, long hair, and makeup. It also incorporated diverse influences, ranging from the Romantic era to traditional African and Asian aesthetics (e,g., Nehru jackets, Afghan coats). Suits were a staple, often reflecting Edwardian or continental European tailoring and crafted from unconventional fabrics such as corduroy, paisley, and brocade. These suits frequently featured bright colours, striking patterns, embroidery, slim fits, large lapels, cravats, Nehru jackets, frilly shirts, and kipper ties. Boots, particularly winkle pickers, were preferred over standard shoes. The style had much overlap with styles such as Hippie and Mod .

The cultural developments within Britain during the mid- 1960s (centered mostly in London) associated with the Peacock Revolution emphasised modernity , fun-loving hedonism (such as clubbing, casual sex, and taking drugs), a general flourishing of the arts with cinema, graphic design, comedy, and music all experiencing ground-breaking developments, and a high emphasis on fashion that challenged convention and gender roles. Politically, those in this subculture were often liberally orientated, participating and/or believing in the activism of the anti-nuclear movement and the sexual liberation movement; these countercultural beliefs were reflected in their lifestyle, completely rejecting conventions of previous generations. This can be seen as a consequence of the conditions of post-war Britain, young people enjoying greater freedom and fewer responsibilities than their parents.

See also: Freakbeat

Music was an essential part of the revolution, with the " London Sound " being regarded as a central part. Bands that were previously considered underground or unthinkable to be part of the mainstream or play in prestigious locations began to play at and sell out large venues such as the Royal Albert Hall (where Cream famously played their farewell concert). Furthermore, the underground scene was equally as vibrant and "swinging", with boundary-pushing bands such as the Pink Floyd and the Jimi Hendrix Experience playing in counter-culture nightclubs such as the UFO Club, gaining large followings. This period of development was concurrent with the English Freakbeat scene and British Invasion musical revolution in the USA, lasting from c. 1964-70