The 1970s were a period in that fashion was changing in numerous ways. We have compiled the 70s fashion trends to get the 1970s style.
The 1970s fashion style was notable for its preservation of the “hippie” style that was popular in the 1960s; however, it made it a more sophisticated contemporary look. In addition, as easy travel was every day, style received influences from across the globe. 70s fashion trends were being brought in Americans. The U.S. inspired a fashion that defined a decade.
Here’s some background info on some of the first fashion fabrics and clothing styles of the 1970s.
70s Fashion
I’m a huge lover of the ’70s style. The era produced numerous fashions that are still popular in the present, regardless of whether they’re from the past or not. Please take a look at our current obsession with vibrant over-the-knee shoes, folk-inspired printed dresses, velvet and corduroy, boho-inspired dresses, mini skirts, and the list goes on. The ’70s are sweeping across the runways every few seasons; you can always find an eerie resemblance on the streets if you take a closer look.
In the late 90s and the early ’00s, many of the most popular trends were reinvented versions of fashions from the 1960s and the ’70s. The bell-bottom trend was a catalyst for the popularity of flared jeans, mod bucket hats that transformed into buckets, and the list goes on. Look back at some fashions that defined the decade’s style and continue to inspire us today.
Clogs
Fleetwood Mac singer Stevie Nicks was another icon of the 70s with impeccable bohemian fashion. Her velvety dresses with witchy motifs with a handkerchief hem, flowery frocks, and fluffy fringe shawls showed her mysterious presence on stage. Despite her love of eccentric fashion accessories (peep above for the top cap on top) and mixed prints, Stevie’s outfits were always effortless and stylish. Like many boho fashion icons from this decade, Nicks typically topped off her outfits with large platform clogs. The wood-soled style had been popular throughout Europe and Asia for centuries before it came into fashion in America. The 70s saw Clogs were typically made of leather with tops with chunky wood platforms, shoes and high heels, and obvious nailheads of steel trimmings.
Bell-Bottoms
Similar to the flare jeans of today, bell bottoms were worn to the thighs and flared starting at the knee. The iconic 70s fashion style was popularized by The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour, which featured them frequently worn by husband and wife pair Sonny and Cher. Bell bottoms were a popular pants style for the 70s disco-goers. They were made of sequins, brightly-colored satin, or printed polyester; their flowing design and high rise fit perfectly for dancing all night long. Bell bottoms that were casual, such as those worn by skateboarder Farrah Fawcett, were usually made of stretch denim or brightly colored polyester.
Wrap Dresses
Diane Von Furstenburg’s sculpted wrap-style dresses stood out from the massive Maxi dresses and flowy caftans, which were the norm during the decade and made them a top choice for trendy fashionistas. As seen above in her showroom, Von Furstenberg was the first to design her famous wrap dress made of jersey in 1974. Its versatility and universally-flattering silhouette have made it one of the most popular vintage dress styles of the past 50 years.
Tie-Dye
The popularity of tie-dye prints was boosted in the hippie era in the late 60s before taking off in the 1970s. While fashion designers like Halston and Christian Dior showed models with high-end materials on their runways, many tie-dye t-shirts of the 70s were made at home. In the 1960s and 1970s, Janis Joplin, as seen in a tie-dye dress at Woodstock, was the epitomized bohemian fashion of the time. Her colorful, carefree layers were always adorned with beaded necklaces that were layered and flower crowns, and large sunglasses.
Oversized Collars
In the 70s, large collars were the fashion. Men’s and ladies’ coats and button-up shirts had big collars that mixed conventional styles with a dash of disco-style glam. Wide collars were fashionable for leisure suits, leather jackets with button-up buttons, and printed polyester blouses like the one in the photo above — Pam Grier (aka Foxy Brown).
Pantsuits
The style icons of the past could not have embodied the glamour and extravagantness in Studio 54 quite like 70s It-Girl, Bianca Jagger. Pantsuits was famous for her sexy clothes for daytime and extravagant evening outfits, so she was unafraid to risk fashion with her looks. In 1971, only nine months after her first meeting at a Rolling Stones concert, she was married to Mick Jagger in a crisp white tailored Yves Saint Laurent blazer and the sun hat that was veiled.
Kaftan Dresses
As with many fashion trends of the 70s, the kaftan dress carries an element of cultural subversion. Although women from regions like the Middle East and Africa have worn ankle-length dresses as traditional attire throughout history, it wasn’t until the 60s and 70s that they became popular in Western society. While certain boho designs closely mimicked the traditional Indian and African print and ceremonial clothes, others provided more liberated interpretations with vibrant shades and prints that were psychedelic.
Aviator Glasses
Admired by everybody who wore it, from Elvis Presley to Farrah Fawcett to Mohammed Ai, it’s little surprise that the 70s aviators were one of the most famous decade’s accessories. Although the design was originally developed through Bausch & Lomb in 1936 to protect pilots’ eyes while flying, it didn’t achieve widespread acceptance until the 1970s. Through the decade, the most well-known glasses were Ray-Ban’s iconic Aviators, a style that has remained the standard for fashion from the beginning. One of the most well-known pairs of aviator glasses was the one worn by feminist writer and general good-looking Gloria Steinem. Alongside educating people on gender equality and rights for women and promoting equality for women, she also gave us an insight into the minimalist style of the 70s. We’re not sure which was more famous: her stylish turtleneck, bell-bottom jeans, and concha belt combos or her huge sunglasses and teasing hair.
Floppy hats
In the late 60s and the early 70s, floppy caps became the most sought-after accessory in hippie culture. Large-brimmed felt and straw hats were typically coupled with flowing kaftans, flowery dresses, and knit tops. When paired with large sunglasses, they offered plenty of sun protection and gave the wearer a sexy, sexually sexy, playful look. One famous fan of floppy hats is a French actress and fashion icon of the 70s, Brigitte Bardot. As an actress, Bardot was a sex world icon due to her platinum blonde hairstyle, voluminous curves, and distinctively gaping teeth. Her teasing bouffant was called”the “Bardot bouffant.” After she left the limelight in the late 70s, she became one of the most prominent animal rights advocates.
Halter Tops
Popularized by 70s fashion icons like Halston and Missoni, these tops were among the most sought-after women’s tops during the 70s. Contrary to traditional shoulder straps, the straps of halter tops and halter-neck dresses were placed behind the neck, which leaves the shoulders and the upper back exposed. The halter crop tops that are knit, like the one shown above by Charlie’s Angels actress Jacyln Smith were typically paired with bell bottoms, hot pants, and high-heeled platform shoes. In the feminist movement in the 60s and 70s, most women shed their bras and restricting undergarments in favor of comfortable clothes that accentuated their unique shape. These braless designs made the halter top popular among young women, specifically those who identified as feminists or hippies.
Over-the-Knee Boots
In contrast to the 60s stretch-vinyl space boots, 70s boots over the knee were less ostentatious. They were typically made of soft leather or suede and had a bohemian look that perfectly matched a floral midi dress and a set of matching crocheted sets. They usually included a square-toe block heel and platforms.
A Few Fabrics That Were Used in the 1970s Fashion
- Cotton: Of course, the best fabric to use. It is the best fabric for any clothing.
- Courtelle: Courtelle jerseys were worn in all kinds of outfits, from trouser suits and tank tops to dresses for small occasions.
- Satinised Polyester: Satinised Polyester Jacquard blouses have been fashionable from the start of the 70s but have always been expensive to purchase. The latest technology has allowed polyester to be matched with Crepe De Chine to make truly extravagant clothes that resemble silk, like the glamorous gowns in the 1980s.
- The transition from High Bulk Polyester to Lower Bulk Polyester Crimplene: an extremely thick fabric made of polyester, was most often employed to make the perfect Mini dress with a line in the 60s and was commonly used for all kinds of clothes that you could imagine. Crimplene with high bulk began to fade by the mid to mid-’70s, but finer fabrics like Lorelle began to show up.
- Viscose Rayon in the 1970s, fabrics from the 1980s began to show up: This fabric, with its form of crinkled textures, was commonly employed in conjunction with extremely delicate Crepe De Chine polyester fabrics. The tiny dollybird (also known as granny print) looked fantastic with viscose rayon.
- Trevira: The fabric was used to make”Bay City Rollers Trousers “Bay City Rollers Trousers” featuring large, square pockets on the legs of the pant. This fabric and style were the main sources of inspiration for the combat pants we see in the present.
Frequently Asked Questions
What style was fashionable in the 70s?
The 70s were all about the woman who wore clothing and not the reverse. In everything from flares and bell sleeves to shearling coats and miniskirts, this decade brought a variety of styles that changed over ten years.
What kind of shoes was in fashion in the 70s?
The most popular styles for women in the 70s included platform shoes from the 1970s, wedges, clogs, earth shoes, and old-fashioned heels. The thick heels and big soles made their mark on the dance scene. Natural materials such as straw, leather, and cork created hippie-inspired sandals.
What were the fashions of women during the 1970s?
Fashions popular in the 1970s for women included tie-dye tops, Mexican ‘peasant’ blouses, traditional embroidered Hungarian tops, blouses, caps, and military surplus clothing. Women’s bottom attire at this period included bell bottoms, frayed jeans, gauchos, mini skirts, and maxi dresses with ankle lengths.
Final Thoughts
The 1970s will be remembered in the history books as one of the most popular decades, and for a good reason. The era of hedonism, love, and indulgence was at an all-time high, with fashions reflecting the fun and irresponsible lifestyle of the time. From flares to loose tops and lots of corduroys, the clothing and accessories popular in the 70s don’t cause us to shiver, which shows how much style from the 1970s influences the fashions we wear now.
