The 1970s can be called Decade of Decadence, the ‘Me’ decade and the decade of excess and androgyny. Women emerged in the work place tenfold. Pantsuits, day wear, and separates with a sense of masculine style as echoed in the film ‘Annie Hall’ created a sensation with Diane Keaton wearing a fitted vest with a collared white shirt and men’s neckties. Skirts could be seen in a variety of lengths, mini midi or maxi! The maxi dress was worn throughout the decade in a multitude of styles and shapes. Rich earthy tones dominated in popular colors; warm browns, burgundy, rust, mustard, and avocado green. Television shows such as Charlie’s Angels featured the smart and liberated but sexy woman. The California sun-kissed blondes Cheryl Tiegs and Farrah Fawcett represented the new sporty and physically fit ideal.
The Woodstock festival of peace and music was the end of the 1960s hippie movement, with the U.S. still at war. The hippie flower child look from the late 1960s carried over into the first half of the decade in a nonrestrictive bohemian silhouette with a heavy folksy influence. Thea Porter celebrated ethnic styles in Indian style prints, free flowing breezy gauzy tent dresses and wide legged pants. Arts and crafts elements such as tie-dye, batik, knitwear, crochet and macramé were also very popular. There was a great sense of ease and comfort to early 1970s clothing. Designers like Laura Ashley and Jessica McClintock for Gunne Sax popularized the prairie dress phenomenon.
Blue jeans emerged in the 1970s as everyday wear. Denim was being mass consumed by all ages and seen as the ultimate American garment. Jeans were flared, bell bottom, wide legged, hip huggers, high waist, embroidered, embellished, studded – you name it! Denim was was not just limited to pants: jean skirts, suits, vests, jackets, hats and accessories were omnipresent. Designer jeans were seen as a status symbol and the more expensive, the more desirable! A tighter, second skin fit with designer names such as Gloria Vanderbilt, Calvin Klein, Jordache, and Sasson were branded across the backsides of men and women everywhere. A far cry from the dungarees of years past!
Glam or glitter rock brought on to the scene flamboyant boldly colored clothes in lux fabrics like satins, velvets and lurex. Emblazoned with sequins, bedazzled, gemmed and worn with feathered boas! Nothing was too outrageous. Super high stacked platform shoes or boots were the favored footwear. Pop star David Bowie, as alter ego Ziggy Stardust, sported over-the-top androgynous outfits both on and off the stage. Avant garde designer Kensai Yamamoto was responsible for the otherworldly costumes for the 1973 ‘Aladdin Sane’ tour. Glitter rock stars of the the time such as Kiss, Marc Bolan, The Sweet and the New York Dolls were dandy dressers in chiffon, spandex and satin. Glitter trends in makeup were worn on the face by both men and women. Stores such as Granny Takes a Trip and Biba had multiple locations in the U.S. and the U.K that catered to the teenage audience and rock stars alike.
Disco brought excess and decadence. Designers and celebrities partied with the beautiful people at the infamous nightclub Studio 54 in New York City known for its overt drug use and bacchanalian carousing. Bob Mackie was often called the ‘Sultan of Sequins’ and dressed Cher and other stars in body-baring glamorous costumes. Designer Roy Halston’s draped jersey goddess dresses, kaftans and Ultrasuede were the perfect party clothes for a glamorous night of sin. Quiana polyester was wildly popular and was used in day dresses, shirts, blouses and evening wear. Cheaply made tight fitting body conscious clothing could be seen in any discotheque. Wrap-around skirts, leotards, tube tops, dance wear inspired dresses and separates with ease and movement were made in Lurex, miliskin and spandex. Film star John Travolta wore a white 3-piece suit with black shirt in the blockbuster movie “Saturday Night Fever”. Diane Von Fursternberg popularized the uber flattering jersey wrap dress, which became a staple in every woman’s wardrobe.
Punk fashion evolved alongside the musical genre out of open disgust for the status quo, the modern political agenda and the slick overproduced overtly commercial mainstream that rock music had become. Punk rock stripped rock and roll down to basics. Punk was gritty, dangerous and offensive. The clothing represented a darker and harsher view of reality and dissatisfaction with the ideals of conformity.
English punk visionaries Vivienne Westwood and Malcolm McLaren opened the infamous shop SEX/ Seditionaries on Kings Road and ultimately deconstructed British fashion, mixing X-rated silk screens, bondage gear, vinyl, rubber and the ubiquitous safety pin with iconic English fashions such as plaid kilts and tight stovepipe trousers
Across the pond the American punk look was stripped down to basics, exemplified by bands like the Ramones, Blondie, and Richard Hell and the Voidoids preferring a more laid back look with tight jeans,
leather motorcycle jackets, sneakers, and ripped t-shirts.
Written by CarlaandCarla
1970s Gunne Sax dress
Courtesy of vintagedevotion
1970s India velvet & mirror caftan
Courtesy of pinkyagogo
1970s Adolfo silk dress
Courtesy of pastperfectvintage.com
1970s BH Wragge dress
Courtesy of pastperfectvintage.com
1970s Courreges wool jumper
Courtesy of poppysvintageclothing
1970s Rudi Gernreich knit dress
Courtesy of pastperfectvintage.com
1970s embroidered gauze skirt
Courtesy of pinkyagogo
1970s crochet flare pants & top
Courtesy of pinkyagogo
1970s Emilio Pucci dress
Courtesy of pinkyagogo
1970s Emilio Pucci silk gown
Courtesy of vivavintageclothing.com
1970s Emilio Pucci dress
Courtesy of poppysvintageclothing
1970s Emilio Pucci jersey dress
Courtesy of vivavintageclothing.com
1970s Paganne Aztec print dress
Courtesy of poppysvintageclothing
1970s Gunne Sax maxi dress
Courtesy of denisebrain
1970s Gunne Sax dress
Courtesy of denisebrain
1970s Lanz maxi dress
Courtesy of denisebrain
1970s Goldworm dress and scarf set
Courtesy of clubvintagefashions
1970s Chessa Davis maxi skirt
Courtesy of thespectrum
1970s Malcolm Starr carousel felt skirt
Courtesy of pinkyagogo
1970s Alfred Shaheen outfit
Courtesy of pinkyagogo
1970s his & hers Hawaiian set
Courtesy of fallsavenuevintage
1970s Andrade dress
Courtesy of thespectrum
1970s cheetah top w/ matching hat
Courtesy of vivavintageclothing.com
1970s Ricky Ann set
Courtesy of denisebrain
1970s Geoffrey Beene ‘Beene Bag’ set
Courtesy of vivavintageclothing.com
1970s Louis Feraud dress
Courtesy of vivavintageclothing
1970s Diane von Furstenberg wrap dress
Courtesy of vivavintageclothing.com
1970s Pia ja Paula wrap dress
Courtesy of joules
1970s jersey gown with wrap
Courtesy of pinkyagogo
1970s Anne Klein linen dress
Courtesy of denisebrain
1970s Halston chiffon dress
Courtesy of vivavintageclothing
1970s Halston silk wrap dress
Courtesy of pastperfectvintage.com
1970s Valentino silk dress
Courtesy of vivavintageclothing.com
1970s Pierre Balmain silk gown
Courtesy of pastperfectvintage.com
1970s silk maxi dress
Courtesy of pinkyagogo
1970s silk chiffon gown
Courtesy of bijou
1970s Sonia Rykiel sweater
Courtesy of poppysvintageclothing
1970s Chester Weinberg suit
Courtesy of pastperfectvintage.com
1970s Landlubber bell bottom jeans
Courtesy of carlaandcarla
1970s Levis denim jeans
Courtesy of anatomyvintage
early 1970s Roberta de Camerino coat
Courtesy of kickshawproductions
1970s Victor Costa jacket
Courtesy of thespectrum
1970s sequin coat
Courtesy of poppysvintageclothing
1970s Gucci raincoat
Courtesy of poppysvintageclothing
1970s suede jacket
Courtesy of vivavintageclothing.com
1970s jacket
Courtesy of magsragsvintage
1970s Fashionbilt wool coat
Courtesy of joules
1970s Lilli Ann jacket
Courtesy of pinkyagogo
1970s patchwork leather jacket
Courtesy of pinkyagogo
1970s suede fringe jacket
Courtesy of poppysvintageclothing
1970s suede poncho
Courtesy of pinkyagogo.com
1970s John Hort handbag
Courtesy of fallsavenuevintage
1970s Boticelli platform shoes
Courtesy of thespectrum
1970s Cheetah platform shoes
Courtesy of fallsavenuevintage
1970s peeptoe platform shoes
Courtesy of vivianbellevintage
1970s Fratelli leather shoes
Courtesy of poppysvintageclothing
1970s Halston heels
Courtesy of thespectrum
1970s boots
Courtesy of stellarosevintage
1970s suede boots
Courtesy of bigyellowtaxivintage
1970s malachite cuff bracelet
Courtesy of thevintagemerchant
1970s brooch
Courtesy of thevintagemerchant
1970s malachite spider brooch
Courtesy of thespectrum
1970s costume squash blossom set
Courtesy of myvintagecocktail
1970s Rafael Alfandary copper necklace
Courtesy of pinkyagogo
1970s Tibetan beaded necklace
Courtesy of sweetmelissasvintage
1970s Mondrian inspired earrings
Courtesy of thevitnagemerchant