Loading cart contents...
Explaining 1970’s Fashion
In today’s blog, I’ll be explaining 1970’s fashion so you can identify it when you’re out in the wild and dress in that style if you like!
If you enjoy my explaining eras blogs, you can also find 1950’s here and 1960’s here.
These blogs are also available as Youtube videos over on my channel which you can go and check out here.
If you’d like some more 70’s flair in your life, you can purchase a copy of my hand drawn 1970’s fashion calendar and enjoy the funky styles of the era every month!
Disclaimer! I’m not a historian, just a Personal Stylist with an interest in fashion history.
Shapes and styles
Early 70’s had plenty of carry on from the 60’s. From arty influences, psychedelic vibes and hippie style.
Bohemian mixed with victorian elements formed a country pioneer vibe. This resulted in loose Victorian shirts with high necks, yokes and ruffles, peasant blouses with puffy sleeves, chunky knits and long floaty skirts and clogs.
‘The Good Life’, a British sitcom, influenced many people to get into gardening too. Adding to that country and nature inspired feeling of the era.
‘Little House on the Prairie’ was another show that championed the Americana country fashion and influenced shapes and fabrics as well as styles.
In general, people were playing, having fun expressing themselves through fashion and dressing up and there were even less rules and boundaries than before.
Women’s Liberation loosened the structures of uncomfortable undergarments and women’s wear in general. The Gay Liberation Movement led to gender-bending styles. People felt free to express their androgynous style and it was becoming more common with everyone experimenting more.
Hair was long natural and shaggy, everyone was wearing similar shapes, styles and fabrics and many clothes were sold unisex for all ages.
Shape wise we were getting lengths to the extreme. We’re talking maxi skirts and dresses and hot pants so short they were basically underwear. Clothing flared out and moved, made for dancing. Collars were big and big collared shirts poked out over bigger lapels.
These shirts were tucked into those high waisted trousers and skirts and even paired with waistcoats both knitted and part of a suit. Suits, shirts and ties were popular for all but of course they were in fun fabrics and shapes.
Shoes, accessories and makeup
Heels were big and chunky. Platforms loomed and everyone wore them. They were as fun and funky as the outfits that went with them too.
For accessories of the era, there were lots of scarves tied around the neck – think Scooby doo. As well as worn around the head or even as a belt.
There were big earrings in large circular shapes, and chunky jewellery in lots of colours and shapes to add to the looks. Bangles clattered as you danced and layered beads moved. We were also seeing big rings in these colours too.
Hat wise, there were large shapes like a big brimmed floppy hat. The baker boy style was very popular which was a train worker style puffy brimmed cap. As knitted fabric was popular, knitted hats were popular and many were hand made along with matching waistcoats and shorts.
Make up was more natural than the era before. Just keeping the sweet eyelashes and plain lip and featuring a shimmery eye if anything. Gone was the pop art style eye from the 60’s with the focus shifting more onto loud clothing and hair.
Music and film are always a big influences on fashion and this era had many big influencers.
Farra Forcett was huge. Starring in Charlie’s Angels, she became a massive icon and her forcett flick hairstyle influenced the hair of the era with people trying to flick their hair out in a similar way.
Charlie’s Angels showed women in a stronger light than before, in comfortable outfits like jeans that they could fight in but still looking both edgy and feminine. There were more TV shows than ever featuring more strong female leads as striving for justice.
In the teen world it was Donny Osmond vs David Cassidy for the big heartthrob. Donny was a sweet baby faced singer, who sang with both his family and alone. Wearing many stage outfits inspired by Elvis Presley. David a TV star and later becoming a musican who was more casual and grungy styles.
Cher with her partner Sonny was always bedazzled in beautiful beaded numbers by Bob Mackie. She wasn’t afraid to show lots of skin and shape and was another icon of dance.
Bianca Jagger, the wife of Mick Jagger, was a stylish icon in her own right. She rocked a suit and championed the disco glamor.
Studio 54
Studio 54 was a night club in Manhattan that had been around since the 1920’s but after a lot of CBS related drama, the club reopened in 77 and welcomed droves of celebrities which of course meant lots of press coverage.
Club regulars included: Andy Warhol, Michael Jackson, The Jaggers, Debbie Harry, Liza Minelli, Grace Jones even Sylvester Stallone.
Fashion designers like Calvin Klein and Holstein became known for dressing the guests in disco inspired fashion.
There was even a special party there for the launch of Grease in 78 featuring Olivia Newton John and John Travolta. A film throwing back to the 1950’s but done in a 70’s way. Which is now an iconic fashion movie.
John Travolta went on from singing and dancing in Grease to star in Saturday night fever which furthered the massive disco craze. We were seeing suits taken from workwear staples to the everyday and the dance floor.
Punks
We were also starting to get more genres and styles of music like punk and glam rock that influenced fashion.
The punks were rebelling against the establishment and all of the excess and matierialsm of the era. The sex pistols, a British band, in particular became big for rebelling against the Queen. Punk was cultural revolution in the UK.
Shaved heads, dyed hair, big spikes and gelled hairstyles as well as extreme make up defined the style. They took clothing and destroyed it with rips and secured with safety pins creating a DIY aesthetic that went with the music.
Adding accessories like studs and fishnets. The palette had a lot of black, opposing the bright colours of the mainstream.
Vivenne Westwood rocketed this style into the mainstream with her store named sex which she worked on with Malcom McLaren, the Sex Pistols manager. She sold many t-shirts with offensive pictures and slogans.
In the 70’s seeing a punk was scary. They were angry and extreme. Nowadays you can get into this fashion style and wear it without being as frightening. In London, you’ll probably pass many punks and not bat an eyelid.
Big musical influencers of the genre were also The Clash, Buzzcocks,Ramones and artists like Patti Smith.
Glam Rock
Glam rock in my opinion is almost a marriage of disco and a bit of the edge of punk. It was extreme and the outfits were very stage. Almost pantomime in its flamboyance. Full of camp and androgyny.
Big influencers from this were T.rex, Slade, New York Dolls and plenty of big soloists like David Bowie, Elton John, Rod Stewart and Iggy pop to name a few.
Heels loomed massive, shapes were oversized and there was plenty of glitter and bright colours. These were big statement looks as well that were perhaps worn more for the stage than the streets.
Queen started out very glam rock with Freddy Mercury wearing many arty outfits and tight jumpsuits that were bold like his personality and tremendous vocals.
Abba also dressed up a lot for their performances in a coordinated way with plenty for fun and drama.
How to do the 1970’s now
Nowadays you wouldn’t be hard pressed to find items from this era or styled like it. Every Summer we seem to look to the 70’s for its floaty bohemian vibes. This era favoured an autumn palette so if those are your shades, seventies may be for you.
The disco vibe also works well for Christmas new year time and you’re sure to find something in the high street aligned with Studio 54 glamour.
The 00’s definitely had a 70’s resurgence with psychedelic prints and flares coming back. So if you’re into both eras, you’ll find a link.
Y2K is massive at the moment which means the flare is also easier to find than ever. They did prefer it with a lower waist in the 00’s and higher in the 70’s so best to pick a waistline that works better with your body.
Resell and vintage is massive at the moment and I’m sure you can find actual 70’s or 00’s doing 70’s on apps or in vintage stores. Vintage will be expensive of course so bear that in mind but a piece of history is special.
Hopefully this makes the era a little clearer and easier to find nods to it in the modern day.
Some 70’s inspired brands to check out (not sponsored):
https://www.thehippieshake.co.uk
As with many past eras, patterns are available from the past if you’d like to have a go at making something or giving it to someone else to make for you. It may be fun to merge those 70’s shapes with modern fabrics to have your own unique take.
I hope this has started to paint a picture of this era in fashion for you. I’m always here to chat and help you find ways of making 1970’s fashion work for your skin-tone, body type and personality 🙂
If you’d like to discover what your style personality might be (could be 1970s) check out my new service where I help you find your identity through clothing.