70s style clothing – Clothing For All Seasons
July 15, 201970s style clothing basically never goes out of fashion. Bright colours, maxi dresses, colourful embroideries, fringing, smock tops, peasant tops, and fringing will always look great in summer. 70s clothes are all about fun and fantasy and are really easy to wear.
There are so many kinds of 70s styles from sleek disco dresses to hippy outfits that you can always find something to suit, and feel free to mix and match by adding, say, a loose embroidered blouse to modern cut off jeans shorts or a maxi dress with a plain t shirt.
One way to wear 70s style clothing – a flowery maxi skirt with a lace-detailed blouse.
Or, how about a bit of flower power, accessorised by a headscarf?
Here we have a mix n match look, with long printed maxi skirts worn with t shirts, along with a dungaree and work shirt Americana look.
Dungarees, a baseball cap and a cool attitude mixed with modern trainers make this a take on 70s style clothing for the summer.
A closer look at that red hat and shoe look. 70s style clothing has never looked more relevant.
A closer look at that Tupac- influenced summer look.
The embroidery on this shirt is really pretty and the airy construction of the blouse extremely cool for summer.
A 70s classic – a colourful knitted t shirt.
Sitting for a chat in your 70s style clothing.
Designers from the 70s include Roy Halston, Zandra Rhodes, Calvin Klein and Ralph Lauren.
Halston shirt dress, 1972. Museum at FIT, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
70s style clothing – Halston
Halston specialised in super sleek and sexy disco styles made from clingy jersey. His dresses and jumpsuits were made from luxe fabrics like silk. The styles were simple and elegant in block colours, often ankle length with low necklines and halter backs which left the back bare. This style is perfect for summer evenings.
70s Style Clothing – Patterns
Zandra Rhodes made dresses which were the opposite of simple and elegant. They were maximalist with a riot of colour, surface print and details. She loved fluttery fabric like chiffon cut into handkerchief hems and butterfly sleeves. They are quintessentially 70s and also perfect for both hot days and evenings when you want to be extra.
Calvin Klein silver beaded mini-dress with a chequerboard design. 1991. Commissioned by British Vogue to mark their 75th anniversary. Mabalu(photograph), Calvin Klein (dress). / CC BY-SA
The Minimalist
Calvin Klein liked simple, minimal clothes. They were made in luxury fabrics like cashmere, suede and fine wool, in earth tones, especially brown, and neutrals. His clothes were understated mix and match classics. If this is your 70s summer style, choose great quality clothing in smokey colours.
Ralph Lauren in his office, 1978. Edgar de Evia[1], CC BY-SA 2.5, via Wikimedia Commons
The Traditional 70s Guy
Ralph Lauren decided he was going to reinvent traditionalism. Taking elements from classic English wear he made the eclectic cool. He made purposely oversized menswear look great on women. After that, he tacked traditional American clothing and made the romantic maxi dress popular. If this is the summer look you’re in love with, Laura Ashley dresses from the 70s are the high street equivalent.
Kenzo Takada, 2008. michell zappa, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Flying Saucer dress by Issey Miyake, 1994. Πελοποννησιακό Λαογραφικό Ίδρυμα / CC BY-SA
Japanese Designers of the 70s
Japanese designers like Kenzo Takada, (Kenzo), Kansai Yamamoto, (Yamamoto) and Issey Miyake all founded their labels in the 70s. They are all going strong today, in many ways with a similar aesthetic to that which they started off with. This type of Japanese fashion, which combines loose layering with Western garments, is ideal for summer. You might find an original label from the 70s but otherwise wide trousers and drapey tops, and kimono style jackets will give you the look.
Festival goers riding on boot of a car near the Woodstock music festival, 1969. Ric Manning / CC BY
70s Style Clothing – The Hippies
Then there is the hippy look. This is probably what we think of when we think of 70s style clothing. Long hair, parted in the middle for both men and women. Either very straight or, if you had curly hair, very frizzy. Cheap, colourful fabrics were being imported from India along with silver jewellery and wooden beads, so cheesecloth tops, headbands, dangly silver earrings and necklaces for everybody were really popular. People also brought them back from trips abroad when they went to explore new religions, study meditation and “find themselves”.
Another way to find yourself was to take psychedelic drugs. LSD was experimented with quite seriously as a way to discover hidden depths of the mind. A side effect of this exploration was a love of bright colours and swirly patterns, which can be super fascinating when you’re tripping. So tie dyed clothing was added to the mix which is something you could try too. There are lots of t shirts, both long and short sleeved, with the characteristic sunburst pattern available.
Gloria Vanderbilt Cooper in 1970 wearing an outfit made from an antique patchwork quilt by the designer Adolfo in 1967. Unknown author / Public domain
70s Style Clothing – Make It Yourself
Embroidery, patchwork and crochet were part of a new scene for being frugal and also creative. Dresses, bikinis, tops and even trousers were knitted and crocheted at home as well as the usual jumpers and sweaters. Clothes were also home-made. They were also cleverly embroidered and embellished. Patchwork was a good way to use up scraps of fabric left over from making clothes too.
If not patchwork then sewing pre-made patches onto everything also looked cool. Customised and individual clothing showed your individuality.
70s Style Clothing – Vintage Style
Second hand and vintage clothes worn in a hugger mugger fashion were a joy to discover. Old military uniform jackets were layered over frilly shirts and everyday flares. Old Victorian nighties were belted with wide leather belts and worn with cowboy boots. Eclecticism was in.
70s Style Clothing – Biba
Biba was one brand that took this nostalgia for old clothes and unified it for those who didn’t want to go rummaging in second-hand shops. Barbara Hulanicki was inspired by the clothes of the 1930s to create soft chiffon blouses and read dresses in colours like maroon, forest green and mustard yellow. Her ideas were so successful that she expanded into makeup, children’s wear and menswear, ending with a whole Biba department store.
Yves Saint Laurent Rive Gauche black velvet and gold brocade evening caftan, 1978. Museum at FIT, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Yves Saint Laurent in the 1970s
In 1971 Yves Saint Laurent created a couture collection that also referenced the past but was far less well received. His chubby fur coats, short skirts and turbans styled with heavy makeup recalled 1940s France under the Nazi regime, a time in recent memory many would like to forget, and not only that but the models were said to resemble prostitutes. Overall, the collection was derided as tasteless, though it still had its fans.
Gloria Vanderbilt, 1959. United States Steel Corporation, the show’s sponsor., Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
70s Style Clothing – Jeans Are In
It was finally commonplace by the 70s for women to wear trousers just about as often as men. The fabrics included corduroy and cotton as well as jeans. The 70s was also the period when jeans became just as prevalent as today. The favourite shapes were high waisted and flared. They came in dark washes but also white and pastel shades.
Designer brands like Gloria Vanderbilt were sought after and so were Lee and Wrangler. To complement your jeans you might also wear a denim jacket, embroidered or with patches, or perhaps a denim waistcoat, or perhaps you’d like to convert your flared jeans into a maxi skirt.
Glam rock band, Supernaut, 1976. Polydor Records, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
70s Style Clothing – Glam Rock
Glam Rock was one of the most fun styles of all. In a subversive move men tried out platform shoes, face makeup, glitter, dresses and feather boas. Mick Jagger, David Bowie and Marc Bolan spearheaded this trend. They wore women’s clothing but were not in drag or transvestites. They were just men who enjoyed dressing up.
Men acting the peacock was a big trend for the 70s. As well as hippy styles of bright t shirts and beads, sumptuously coloured velvet or brocade suits were worn with matching or contrasting frilled shirts in equally intense colours.
Ossie Clark ‘Lamborghini’ trouser suit, 1969, and Bellville Sassoon coat, 1971. Elisa.rolle, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
70s Style Clothing – Ossie Clark
Ossie Clark was the enfant terrible of the London scene, enjoying hanging out with pop stars and painters. Celebrities like models Bianca Jagger and Patti Boyd loved his work. He put peepholes at the bellybutton and shoulders, and added thigh high slits. His best work is in stretchy yet heavy moss crepe, for long dresses that draped the form seductively. He was married to the textile designer Celia Birtwell and her work enhanced his.
Missoni coat. HerryLawford, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
70s Style Clothing – Italian Style
Italian fashion flourished in the 1970s. They were famous for the quality of their goods but not necessarily the style at that point. But now, de luxe silks, linens, wools and leather were made into the chicest clothes, desirable world wide. Small textile mills were able to produce limited edition runs of a few yards of fabric for a designer in order that they could produce something really unique.
Brands like Missoni, with their stripes and zigzags in knitted fabrics were sought after. Also coming from Italy were Georgi Armani, Valentino and Gianni Versace who loved luxe bling and carried it off as only an Italian designer could. Rome, Florence and Milan fought it out to become the new Italian fashion capital, with Milan winning out and establishing the first major ready to wear events in 1975, with the official Milan Fashion Week following soon after.
70s Sportswear
Sportswear also had a big moment on the 1970s. Stretch fibres were getting better and more conformable, and this coincided with the aerobics trend. This was in part lead by the popularity of Jane Fonda’s workout videos. Many who had admired her in the film Barbarella were enchanted to think that they could get her body by donning a leotard and following her moves. Tracksuits, shorts and t shirts were also worn outside of the gym or running track. Shorts in the 70s were extremely short.
70s style clothing influencers
There are certain style influencers who inspired some of the most iconic trends in 70s style clothing and who continue to inspire fashion designers and fashion adopters today. Let’s take a look at these influencers and celebrate their individual, iconoclastic sense of style.
Farrah Fawcett, 1977. ABC Television / Public domain
Farah Fawcett
- 70s style clothing the Farah Fawcett way: who has not seen or heard of that Charlie’s Angel, Farah Fawcett? Remember her in that timeless red one-piece bathing suit? And what about that long, feathered haircut that was copied the world over?
Farah Fawcett contributed to 70s style clothing done the girl-next-door way, with her casual-chic vibe of heritage-inspired flannel, gingham or checked shirts tucked into high-waisted flared jeans and finished with sneakers for a look that was sexy yet demure all at once.
Farah’s sister “Angels” on that cultish TV show – Jaclyn Smith and Kate Jackson – had their own impact on 70s style clothing, rocking pant suits with a wide leg pant and a fitted jacket for work, and bell bottoms with slogan tee shirts for play.
Twiggy
- Twiggy’s impact on 70s style clothing: A global supermodel before anyone else was, Twiggy was known for her androgynous figure, huge baby-doll eyes and iconic miniskirts and shift dresses and appeared on every top fashion magazine cover in the Sixties and Seventies.
Off-duty Twiggy styles that influenced 70s style clothing trends included knee-high white boots paired with corduroy miniskirts, shift dresses in solid bright colours decorated with Peter Pan collars and trimmings in a contrasting colour – usually white, and fitted cropped ribbed sweaters paired with flared pants.
Ali MacGraw in 1972. National General Pictures / Public domain
Ali McGraw
- “Love Story” inspired 70s style clothing: When you look back at this box office blockbuster movie that pulled at heart strings the world over, you can just see Ali McGraw in all her 70s style clothing
In her “Love Story” persona, Ali rocked the Ivy League look of the 1970s with oversized winter coats, cosy hand-knitted multi-coloured caps, scarves and mitts, and iconic pale wash bell bottom jeans under fitted black or brown turtleneck sweaters.
In real life, Ali McGraw was all about 70s style clothing done the bohemian way, with lots of floral maxi dresses dressed up with faux leather fringed vests. She then finished with faux leather thongs, or crochet vests over paisley patterned shirts, tucked into flared jeans.
Laura Ashley model shows dress and wall paper roll with the same motifs, 1976. Rob Bogaerts / Anefo / CC0
Laura Ashley
- 70s style clothing influenced by Laura Ashley: fabric and clothing designer Laura Ashley put her own unique stamp on 70s style clothing with her romantic, ditzy tiny floral prints embellishing everything from maxi dresses to bed and bath linens.
Besides her nature-themed florals, Ashley incorporated Edwardian-influenced styles in her 70s style clothing, including feminine blouses with lace and ribbon, gathered midi skirts and a prairie-inspired aesthetic that add a touch of down-home ethos to 70s style clothing trends.
Inspired yet by the key trends and influencers of 70s style clothing? If so, read on for some of the best places to acquire clothing and accessory options based on 70s style clothing to refresh and elevate your wardrobe today.
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Amazon
Amazon is the world’s largest virtual marketplace, so start yours 70s style clothing treasure hunt here, where you have the largest selection in terms of choice and price points.
With everything from authentic 70s style clothing being resold to new owners, to modern reinventions based on 1970s fashion trends, you are going to find something tailored to your taste and budget.
From retro-inspired cotton maxi dresses at bargain-basement prices, to vintage flared pants perfect with a classic white T-shirt, and wrap dresses in modern fabrics and patterns, you are going to have a wealth of choice to pick from.
Amazon’s 70s style clothing offers everything from heritage tie-dye tunics to peasant blouses with colourful embroidery, to bell bottoms that go with everything.
And with added benefits like free, same day shipping under certain conditions and a ton of coordinated accessories and shoes to finish your 70s style clothing outfit from head to toe, you just may finish your shopping spree all in one place!
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Etsy
If your search for 70s style clothing continues, head on over to Etsy, which is a totally different shopping experience from Amazon.
Etsy offers you a curated collection of original, custom-made and authentic vintage 70s style clothing, so you know you are getting a pair of one-of-a-kind flared jeans from back in the day, or genuine DVF wrap dresses that no-one else has.
Etsy is perfect for fashionistas who want a unique style statement that stands out from the crowd, a way to express your own individual fashion personality.
With everything from vintage crocheted vests and shawls, to tie-dye T-shirts to pale washed flared jeans, the 70s style clothing on offer at Esty will stimulate your imagination as you picture yourself in a retro-modern mashup of a unique vintage piece paired with a modern favourite.
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The Vintage Dancer
for European inspired 70s style clothing, visit Vintage Dancer online and take a look at their curated selection of boho-chic maxi dresses and bell bottom pants, perfectly styled with vintage vests and sweaters for dresses or floral shirts and embroidered tunics for flared jeans.
Offering you trendy spins on 70s style clothing, Vintage Dancer goes beyond the typical throwback 1970s outfits to give you tongue-in-cheek whimsical and playful takes on classic 1970s style themes.
LINKS
https://www.etsy.com/uk/market/70s_style_clothing
https://www.amazon.com/slp/70s-womens-clothing/et3hdhg66ygpybb
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1970s_in_fashion
https://www.cosmopolitan.com/style-beauty/fashion/g23515515/70s-fashion-style-outfits/
