What was 1970s fashion like

Riksarkivet National Archives of Norway. Source: Wikipedia. In the mids, some men and women in London began to shock with the anarchic Punk style.

This style spread somewhat throughout Europe and North America, but its bedrock was in London and the UK with Vivienne Westwood and Malcolm McLaren spreading the style, like those in figure 26, with their shop Seditionaries.

The style consisted of tight black pants, leather jackets and Doctor Marten boots. British band The Sex Pistols were a high profile Punk band that helped to popularize the style as fans ripped their clothing and created their own homemade version of the clothes seen on the band Milford-Cottam 7, Fig. Just as womenswear saw a rise in athletic wear as leisurewear, so too did menswear.

Tracksuits and running shoes were worn as every day casual wear. Bob Marley was an early adopter of this style, wearing tracksuits and soccer jerseys on stage for his concerts Laver , Fig. Sweater , Throughout the seventies, boys wore brightly colored and flared trousers Fig. Plaids and stripes were especially popular and many had matching vests, often belted Fig. These elements were worn with brightly colored button-down shirts and sometimes with a matching jacket.

The polyester leisure suit, popular among some men in the seventies, was also worn by young boys. Later in the decade, styles became more informal Fig. Screen-printed t-shirts and raglan shirts reflected trends in popular culture in the later part of the decade.

Denim jackets and collared knit shirts were a good alternative to the more formal styles earlier in the seventies. Sportswear also became a popular everyday casual style Fig. While bold colors and patterns were still present in the later years, they were slightly more muted and styles began to shift towards the preppy look of the s towards the end of the decade. Coordinated Casuals , Fine for Knit Fabrics , Unknown , s.

Source: Pinterest. Girls also wore bright, flared trousers throughout the seventies. While pants were increasingly acceptable for girls, many still opted to wear dresses and skirts.

These also came in bright colors and patterns, with bold plaids, florals and paisleys popular options Fig. Unlike womenswear, young girls continued to wear minidresses and skirts in the early part of the decade Fig. These came in clashing color combinations and had Victorian accents such as frilled collars and sleeves. In the mid- to late-seventies, a popular look for young girls were overalls with flared pant legs, of course.

These came in bright colors or patterns and were often worn with frilly blouses underneath Fig. Matching pant sets were also popular and in the latest part of the decade, trousers began to be less flared.

The 2-Piece dress Outfit , s. Child's Coat and dress , Unknown , Girls' pinafore dress in two lengths, dungarees and blouse , Have a primary source to suggest? Contact us! Also see the 20th-century overview page for more research sources With a BA in history, her research at Central Saint Martins explored how the body was fashioned in the s.

A self-proclaimed museum nerd, she has a keen interest in fashion museums and volunteered at the Fashion and Textile Museum in London. She has also worked at the National Portrait Gallery in London. Tweets by FITfashionstory. A s the Swinging Sixties turned into the s, the influence of boutique stores and diffusion lines made ready-to-wear clothing increasingly accessible. New synthetic fabrics meant that fashionable styles could be bought at any price point.

Fashion Icons: Bianca and Mick Jagger. S eventies glamour is perhaps epitomized in the relationship between Mick and Bianca Jagger. By , the two were married and their wedding ensured their status as fashion icons. Bianca wore a sleek white Yves Saint Laurent tuxedo jacket with little underneath it and a bias-cut skirt, full-length skirt topped with a veiled hat Fig. Mick wore a three-piece suit with a paisley shirt and the rest is fashion history.

While the suit continued to be a staple for many men, new, inventive styles were popularized Fig. References: Callahan, Colleen R. Accessed August 31, The Guardian. I just got on it. Hennessey, Kathryn. London: Dorling Kindersley, Khomo, Delilah.

Costume and Fashion: A Concise History. Milford-Cottam, Daniel. Fashion in the s. Oxford: Shire Publishing, The People History. Roiz, Jessica Lucia. Scott, Nick. Victoria and Albert Museum. Historical Context. Wikipedia: His romantic clothes include printed leather skirts and colorful knits. The three female leads are celebrated for their hairstyles and individual fashion choices. Timeline Entries. David Bowie Is , , , 20th century , 21st century , blog. Vogue Archive Subscription Required , n.

Annie Hall , Allen, Woody. Manhattan , The wrap dress designed by Diane von Furstenberg was a cotton jersey shirt dress with a ballerina wrap top. In , Furstenberg was making 15, wrap dresses a week for everyone from housewives to working professionals!

This created a new evening look that was sexy, free, and easygoing. His fabrics were stretchy, making them ideal for dancing the disco at Studio Learn more about s dress styles such as the house dress, prom dress, and evening gown. Shop formal, prom, party and evening 70s dresses here. Some were waist high and wide leg while others were hip huggers with only a flared leg. Some were tight cigarette fit, straight leg, or very baggy. For most women, daily fashion included wearing cotton or polyester knit high-waisted and wide leg pants in pastel colors paired with a tunic top, button-down blouse, or snug knit shirt.

Simple and comfortable, pants dominated most of the s for both day and dressy evenings. All colors were fair game for home or office. By the end of the decade, the pleated front pant with tapered ankle was setting the stage for the s. Palazzo pants in the early to mid 70s built on the wide leg pant trend and doubled it with even more fabric that flowed like a skirt.

They were best when worn while hosting an evening house party. Plain colors as well as big floral prints made these pants a dramatic statement. Shop 70s pants. It was the blue jean that became the uniform of the 70s. Blue jeans were worn all day, all night, in all styles. At first, designers tried to get women to wear other kinds of pants, but women refused to give them up.

Instead, new designs were introduced each season, giving women an excuse to purchase a few more pairs and upcycle the old ones. In the early 70s, blue jeans that were used or pre-bleached were favored over anything new. Adding contrast stitching, studs, and patches to denim was a creative way to make them unique. The more the better. By the late 70s, jeans turned back into dark washed and skin-tight.

Colored jeans were also more prevalent in later years. Wearing a pair of designer jeans with a logo on the back pocket said a woman was in vogue. This was the beginning of designer jeans and high price tags. Shop 70s jeans , bell bottoms, flares, denim pants.

Jumpsuits were a stretchy adaptation of overalls. Using the restroom in them was precarious. During the day, the jumpsuit was made of double knit polyester, cotton, or denim with a zip or button up front, pant pockets, and oversized collar. The denim jumpsuit with a zip up front revived the overall look. Evening jumpsuits slimmed down the look into a stretchy bodysuit with a sleeveless or halterneck top. Shop 70s jumpsuits. Shop now. Shop non-Halloween 70s style jumpsuits here.

Since a record number of women were entering the professional workspace predominantly held by men, women felt a need to dress for success in menswear-inspired trousers, shirts, and jackets. Man-tailored blazers were worn over a vest and pussy bow tie blouse with wide trousers and pointy toe boots. Pantsuits came in rich colors like burgundy or dark green in winter and pastels or white in summer. The pantsuit was softened with a silk blouse and a loose bow tie instead of a necktie.

In the early years, blazers contrasted the pants and blouse with bold plaids and checks. Contrasting blazers and pants sets rounded at the end of the decade, beginning the powersuit revolution of the s. Shop 70s pantsuits or blazers. Professional skirts and dresses were an alternative to pants. Colorful floral prints or solid silks with a modest neckline and a coordinating blazer worn on top could be alternated with dressy pants. Skirts were below the knee A-line, maxi, or pleated solids.

This was the uniform for professional women. Secretaries and assistants instead wore the same casual, girly styles worn after work and weekends. Think Mary Tyler Moore at her newsroom desk vs Phyllis in her fussy short mini dresses.

The mini skirt was a carryover from the 60s, still worn by teens and young women until when skirts dropped to the floor for the first time since the turn of the century. The most popular length and styles were the straight or pleated knee-length A-line skirt. They were roomy around the hip and legs, yet often had a partial or full elastic waist for comfort in the middle.

Some were button down, and some had tie belts. Dark denim and chevron stripe print skirts were hugely popular in the late 70s. Skirts grew longer at the end of the decade when the midi length peasant skirt came out of the hippie movement and into the mainstream.

Tiers, gatherers, tribal prints, and inset lace created a much more effortless and casual look to a changing decade. Long peasant or granny skirts offered an alternative to the mini and midi skirt craze.

They swept the floor with a full flowing circumference and were prone to catching on doors, escalators, cars, and shoes. The St. Topaz skirt was built on the granny look with J shaped gores in alternating fabrics in Many hippies turned to make denim skirts out of blue jeans by opening up the inside leg seams and stitching them back together.

Gores of fabric could be added as well as lace and embroidery trim. The hippies also made skirts from patches of fabric quilted style , crochet squares, suede, and velvet. Recycle and upcycle were the names of the game.

The shortest both in length and fad were hot pants. They were very short shorts in bright colors of satin, cotton, nylon, denim, or velvet, and oddly enough were worn in winter more than summer. They had an inseam length of only two or three inches, but they came up to at least belly button level for that retro high waisted look. They looked very European chic when paired with tall boots and bright tights.

Adding a long wide-lapel blazer made them somewhat more work appropriate. They were a short-lived fad beginning and ending in , but they remained popular on the disco dance floor and in roller skating arenas for most of the decade. In general, shorts fit high on the waist, tight and flat around the hips, and straight through the leg. Shorts could be hip huggers in the early years or high waisted for most of the decade. Large flap pockets and zip pockets mimicked the safari look.

Knee-knockers was a length that ended just above the knee. Jamaica shorts were a few inches above the knee, and short shorts were a few inches below the crotch. Cotton, denim, polyester stretch, and poly knits were all fair game materials. Shop 70s shorts. Shop s style shorts and rompers. Athletic shorts were made of cotton twill or terry cloth with a loose leg, low waistline, and curved side cutouts trimmed in contrasting twill.

The short skirt peaked in that decade, with icons such as Jane Birkin and Twiggie inspiring their followers to wear shorter hems and taller boots. So many fashion designers defined the 70s fashion era. What did real women wear in the seventies? The roots for high street fashion were firmly planted and, thanks to an unrivalled mail ordering service, women around the country were able to experience fast fashion for the first time. A true seventies icon.

The now legendary designer Roy Halston Frowick shot to fame in this decade thanks to his minimalistic draped gowns and his greatest invention, the jersey halter dress. When they were first created, the Edwardian-style dresses and vintage-look fabrics divided opinion amongst the more fashion-forward. Some new jewelry embraced natural elements like wood, shells, stones, feathers, Indian beads and leather.

Bags and purses were strapped tightly under the arm or worn in mailman fashion across the chest, much like they were in Boots were sold in numbers never before seen. Every type of boot imaginable was sold, in all shapes, sizes and materials. Pastels and vivid colors were much more subdued than in The midi came in somber shades like purple, grape, raisin, plum, murky green or indigo. In there was a huge impasse between what designers made and what people wanted to wear.

It seemed at times the two were fighting each other like siblings. Designers declared the hemline would be at the knee in , but the public had other plans. Skirts that grazed the ankle, that were intended to be evening gowns, were being worn out on the town. Another trend that popped up among the wealthy was Chinese-inspired evening gowns. Sporting a tailored look, young couples liked to dress in similar, if not identical clothing.

Yves Saint Laurent instigated the s revival in his spring Paris collection that was widely panned by critics but embraced by young trendsetters. Clothes were snugly fit, tailored and double knit.

Plaid was a popular choice for a day at the office or on the farm and pants remained flared. She remains to this day one of the most important fashion designers in history.

Liza Minnelli wearing Halston According to designers, the busy modern woman wanted to look at ease, uncontrived, and certainly never obvious after years of self-consciousness. An important aspect of being fashionable in was not to look as if one had spent either too much time or money on clothes. The sweater was a pivotal point of this effortless effect.

After sweaters, a woman could choose between long or short dresses, skirts or pants, belted waists or no waists, bare halters or covered-up caftans. Such designers as Yves Saint Laurent showed most of their daytime styles at mid-knee level, but they included several mid-calf and ankle-length skirts.

Female delegates at the Democratic National Convention in Miami illustrated the variety of attire available to the American woman. Critics blamed designers for failing to provide fashion direction. The most successful designer of was Halston. His clothes, whisked up by such fashion leaders as Liza Minnelli and Jackie O, were elegant versions of established American classics — shirtwaist dresses, cashmere pullovers and cardigans, wrapped jackets and pants.

The ease-is-of-the-essence fashion philosophy affected the way a garment met the body. Snug-bodiced fashions were rivaled by a revival of the chemise, the blouson, caftans, smocks, tents, toppers, battle jackets, and baggier sweaters.

Advertisement Elasticized and drawstring waistlines, shirred yokes, deeper armholes, and dolman, raglan, and kimono sleeves helped ease silhouettes. Textures softened into cashmere, shetland, angora, lambswool, mohair, brushed-wool plaids, cuddly, lamblike acrylic piles, fluffy, long-haired furs. Hushed hues and pastels served as further softening agents.

Mauve, peach, apple-green, pink, yellow, and baby-blue tended to be used in all-of-a-tone costumes, such as a pink-shirt with a pink-striped sweater over a pink plaid skirt. Natural and neutral shades of white, wheat, camel, and gray melted into one another in luxurious fabrics or connected sporty separates of nonchalance.

Accessories underlined the monotone scheme. Among the favorites were tortoise, ivory, amber, pewter, silver, braided-leather cubes, buttons strung together, whale and tiger teeth. But pearls were the most popular embellishment for ears, necklines, and wrists. Clogs, wedgies, cork-soled platforms, and chunky, high heels continued to alarm podiatrists. There was a tendency toward shorter hair styles for both men and women.

Bold plaids livened up sport jackets; rich, modulated tones in houndstooth checks, Donegal tweeds, and Prince-of-Wales plaids were used for business suits. Other comebacks: beefy sweaters with more texture in shetland, mohair, Norwegian-type knit; and hefty woolens cut into stalwart stormcoats, battle jackets, peacoats, and lumberjack shirts.

The buttoned-down shirt returned in with a more generously proportioned collar. Ties turned to smaller, timeless motifs: stirrups, anchors, paisleys. The two-button, waist-and-shoulder-expressed construction reigned for jackets, but there was a drift back to pleated pants and boxy, raglan-sleeved coats with just-below-the-knee hems.

Men wore shoes with wild colors as thick platforms and 3-inch heels became popular with young and old alike. There were sweater coats, sweater dresses and even sweater suits. Many of them were trimmed with fur, especially fox. Floor-length sweaters came with or without sparkle. The new sentiment among designers was that the outfits had to work harder and longer and to be able to change with simple addition of a shirt, pants or accessory.