1970's Fashion Overview

Fashion in the 1970s was a lot more relaxed than in the 1960s, with many emerging designers taking inspiration from previous decades. Edwardian-style dresses and prints were heavily influenced by Laura Ashley. With long cotton skirts, long-sleeved shirts or smocks, and a floppy-brimmed hat, Barbara Hulanicki's Biba label was the 20s/30s-inspired. In shoes and 'office work wear' styles, there were two-tone black and cream and brown and cream colorings.

Fashion designers were still following the new trends for the new ideas, ideologies, and social freedoms that were sought by both men and women. Through this decade, distinct fashion styles emerged for certain youth groups to identify their subcultures. There were a few mainstream trends that came and went, like glam (David Bowie-inspired) and disco. In the sixties, flared jeans, tie-die shirts, peasant blouses, hair bands, and sandals were the hippie/ethnic fashion trends. A growing awareness of social and environmental issues influenced more influence from other cultures.

Despite the popularity of short skirts and 'hot pants' launched by Mary Quant in the 1960s, dresses were available in three established lengths, the mini (as the mini skirt), the midi (calf length), and the maxi (ankles). There was a lot of interest in long-flowing boho skirts and hippie-inspired styles. Platform shoes emerged in the early seventies, with their huge soles several inches thick for most women and some men! Platform shoes were accompanied by health warnings about potential back damage, but you don't hear many people saying they hurt their backs wearing them.

From the previous decade, men's clothing continued on a brighter, more flamboyant note. Probably the most common image associated with men from the 70s is flared denim jeans and a cheesecloth shirt. As the trends passed through, glitter, heels, bright colors, and disco wear were available for everyone. The lapels on all shirts and jackets got bigger, and the kipper tie became a requirement. Men wore longer hair and beards, and hippies and psychedelics still influenced fashion, but pop music had moved on.

Jeans were socially acceptable by the end of the seventies, especially flared ones. T-shirts with prints and trainers and canvas shoes were big in this decade. While the hippie styles of the late 60s didn't resonate with society as much, the fashions stayed. Punk was invented by Malcolm McLaren. Black leather ripped denim and slogans on T-shirts were meant to provoke and insult people who thought along mainstream lines. There was a message of 'destroy' in punk. Everything considered mainstream good taste was destroyed. Spiked hair dyed bright colors and second-hand clothes ripped to shreds showed a rejection of accepted fashions. Punk lasted well into the 80s.