Fashion trends and style of the 1970s: history and modern images

Then they did not think about the fact that all this is “layering”, but it was in the seventies of the twentieth century that a trend appeared, which was later called that.

Turtlenecks began to be worn under shirts and dresses, over dresses – long knitted vests or cardigans. Sundress dresses appeared, under which blouses or, again, turtlenecks were worn.

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The new manner of handling clothes was recognized by many as convenient and beautiful, because it made it possible to combine things and create images indefinitely. In other words, the seventies were the decade in which the layering and casual elegance of modern times was born.

Mini or maxi

Although the transition from the 60s to the 70s was marked by the introduction of midi and maxi lengths, many girls continued to wear miniskirts and dresses from the sixties. In the women’s wardrobe of that time, there were both mini and midi or maxi things. And some women of fashion tried to put on both at once, in which layering helped them. For example, a mini skirt was worn under a long dress or a vest with buttons.

Long coats were popular, unbuttoning which you could demonstrate a mini skirt and, of course, your slender legs. At this time, they began to wear tunics, combining them with trousers, shorts or dresses.

In the seventies, long dresses with floral and berry prints, paisley patterns emphasized carelessness and naturalness, the influence of representatives of the hippie movement, Victorian era, village aesthetics was noticeable in them …

Favorite materials of the seventies

Styles reflected romantic ideas about the past, blouses-shirts with embroidery of folk ornaments, feminine fabrics, especially with ethnic prints, became fashionable. The fabrics emphasized the female forms, the cut favorably set off the movements. The seventies were years of fantasy, a riot of colors and prints, experiments with styles. Favorite materials were lycra, satin, velvet, knitwear and varieties of new synthetic materials: crimplen, dederon, orlon, polyester.

Let’s dwell on one of them, which made almost a stir among women in the USSR – this is crimplen.

The material began to be produced in the 50s, and in the 60s it became fashionable in the West the popularity of fabric in the USSR occurred in the 70s. Fashionistas were ready to give any money for a crimplen dress. Almost everything was sewn from crimplen – men’s shirts, trousers, skirts, jackets, light coats and raincoats, white wedding dresses were considered special chic.

For the external beauty of the fabric, no one noticed its shortcomings. And they were. This is poor air permeability, the ability to accumulate static electricity, and in summer it was sooo hot in the crimplen, and in winter the fabric did not warm at all. The crimplen included synthetic fibers – lavsan and polyester.

Nylon dresses with large bright colors also found their place in every woman’s wardrobe. Synthetic fur coats appeared, the brightness of which was significantly different from the usual natural shades (black and brown).

In the mid-70s, British designer Jean Muir became famous. Her navy blue suede dress has become a timeless piece of clothing. Products made of suede and leather, especially lacquered leather, began to move into the ranks of the most popular. There was a surge in popularity and jersey fabrics. Yes, you will not believe it, but you could sew everything from it – from linen to outerwear, since jersey is a unique knitted material. Depending on the composition and density of the fiber, the fabric acquired different properties and characteristics.

Casual wear emphasized elegance. Plain cotton, practical polyester, comfortable jersey were ideal fabrics for everyday wear. Hand-knitted items became especially popular, bright geometric patterns knitted or crocheted made it possible to independently create any color combinations. In this decade, many women have taken a great interest in knitting. Every fashionista’s wardrobe was filled with thick cardigans, woolen skirts and tops worn over blouses. And it was stylish.

1970s Fashion Accessories

It wasn’t just luxurious fabrics that made a luxurious look. Fashion accessories were added to dresses and suits. Decorative tassels, beads, headscarves, turbans, bunches of flowers from various fabrics, bunches of berries and fruits – all these elements served to adorn women of any age. Some of them were made of velvet, suede, fur. Belts and belts, as well as chains complemented the image of a stylish girl.

In the 70s, bright, large jewelry became fashionable, especially pearl or wooden beads, bracelets and earrings, large clips were still in vogue. Macrame-woven bags, beads, fringes – all this was a source of inspiration for designers and fashionistas.

A bag was an integral part of a woman’s wardrobe. Shoulder bags with a long strap (in boho style – with fringes) have become an indispensable accessory for girls of the 70s. Fashionistas liked bags of geometric shapes (rectangular, trapezoidal), wicker baskets that emphasized naturalness and unity with nature.

In addition to stylish headscarves, there were hats with wide brims or brightly colored berets.

It was in the 70s that women in the USSR put on sunglasses. They were of different shapes: round, rectangular, aviators …

1970s style shoes

Designers at this time created everything new and new exciting styles of shoes. Massive boots and strappy sandals, lace-up and low-heeled boots, wedge clogs and a huge platform were fashionable. At that time in the USSR it was not at all easy to buy any fashionable thing, let alone shoes and even more so. How many difficulties and problems the girls of the seventies had to experience, your grandmothers, who are now 65 – 75, can now tell about this.

Platform shoes have become one of the fashionable symbols of the seventies. Women of this decade have successfully combined high platform sandals and chunky heels with anything – both mini and maxi. At the same time, the long legs of women of fashion began to decorate high boots, especially glossy stocking boots (the dream of all Soviet beauties) and the flourishing of boots.

Style trends

Hippie, boho, ethno, safari, disco, classic, romanticism, sports, unisex, punk, glam rock.

Completely opposite directions have become popular. And here are some of them that emerged during this period or a little earlier (in the sixties).

Punk style in the 1970s

In the 70s, the punk movement flourished to the full, the development of which was also promoted by music. Translated from English “punk” has several meanings – bad, cheesy, and even scum. The first in this direction was the American group Ramones, which amazed the audience with its free behavior on stage and torn clothes. Their disregard for the previous achievements in culture was accepted by the public with pleasure. However, the same thing is repeated today, when people choose more and more ugly and primitive …

Designer Vivienne Westwood demonstrated punk clothes. She created stage characters for her husband Malcolm McLaren’s group, the producer of the Sex Pistols. The group’s creativity promoted calls for rebellion and anarchy, the lyrics contained obscene language, and besides that, fights on the stages, aggressive vocals. The clothes on the musicians turned out to be completely unusual for that time – torn trousers, T-shirts with ties, scandalous inscriptions on T-shirts. Although the band’s collective quickly disintegrated, but nevertheless, it became the personification of the punk subculture, and its musicians initiated the so-called “punk revolution” in Great Britain.

In the mid-70s, punk style from the streets moved to the podiums. And today, fashion houses continue to find inspiration in the outrageous style to create their collections.

Glam rock in fashion of the seventies

Theater influence transformed clothes in the form of stage costumes. A sequined dress, especially a mini, was the perfect choice for disco nightclubs. The parties, dances, and the stage created an unusual mix of materials – what could be called a typical glam rock outfit.

Glam rock allowed to express not only their rebellious disposition, but also to demonstrate femininity and elegance. It was a combination of two directions – exquisite glamor with an abundance of radiance and daring rock with its aggressive symbolism. A chiffon covered with iridescent sequins, a leather jacket with a metallic decor, jacquard patterns, tight-fitting glossy trousers, shoes embroidered with sequins, a silver bag in a sporty style – all this and moreover was an adornment of brave and independent girls.

Hippie: the development of style

The hippie style originated from the 60s, but also remained popular in the 70s. The philosophy of this movement consisted in internal and external freedom, in unity with nature, rejection of material values. It is easy to recognize by its bright colors, ethnic prints and natural fabrics, by those accessories that are now called handmade.

Natural materials, slightly worn things, decorative items and accessories made by hand, long bright skirts, loose dresses with floral or ethnic print, leather or denim vests, cotton blouses, loose tunics. And of course, jeans as one of the iconic elements of the hippie style. They were often flared, worn, sometimes embroidered or painted with paint.

Tie-dye was also popular among prints. It was then that things made from patches (patchwork technique) began to come into fashion. The hippie style introduced an abundance of original and distinctive jewelry: fabric flowers, bracelets, beaded necklaces and earrings, leather head straps.

70s disco style

With the birth of musical rock groups, discos appeared. This became a chance for all fashionistas and fashionistas to demonstrate their individuality, because clothes in a disco club should tell everything about you, because no one will hear you in the atmosphere of rumbling sounds. And these were figure-tight dresses, blouses paired with trousers, overalls. It is desirable that it all shine. The metallic wrap dress was exactly what you need.

For disco clubs in the seventies, they tried to wear not only the brightest, but also the brightest. Such, for that time, extravagance, was allowed not only by women, but also by men. Many of them wore white classic suits with flared trousers combined with black shirts, and bright shirts were also trendy. Synthetic fabrics became more and more popular, lurex, sequins or sequins shone in the shimmering light of the disco club.