This is the sixth part in the “Retro Style Series“. Each week I’ll be counting down the style eras from the 20’s to the 90’s. I’ll be outlining the key fashion elements in each era, and how you can recreate them to work seamlessly with your current style.
The 70’s were an interesting time of transition from the au naturale, bra burning, feminist hippie chick of the former decade to the uber glam, platform and wonderbra wearing disco diva. Bright colors and curve hugging clothing carried on from the 60’s into the next decade. The free-thinking, fun-loving youth of the 70’s added their own funky flair to fashion with super high shoes, shimmery fabrics, and lots of booty shorts.
Platforms
If the 70’s did anything they definitely made a name for big, tall, chunky heels. The closer to god, the better. Platform shoes were all the rage with men and women, alike. Ranging from bright colors to funky materials like glass and plastic, platforms are your numero uno 70’s throwback accessory.
Hot Pants
Something must have been in the water back then because all women seemed to have fantastic booties and legs. Hence the popularity of hot pants. The ultimate short short, best worn with roller skates and sports socks.
Flared Out
Oh, the bell-bottom! Ranging from small flares to floor covering hemlines, bell bottoms were a force to be reckoned with. Sometimes high wasted, sometimes hip huggers – these bad boys were worn by hippies and glam disco-types alike. These timeless pants can still work now if used in moderation.
Suit Up
While three piece, brightly colored suits were gaining popularity with men, the jumpsuit was all the rage with the true psychedelic diva. Talk about making an outfit easy: Just pair this sucker with some platforms and you’re ready to hit the town.
Au Naturale
Makeup and hair in the 70’s were as easy as it gets. Most women preferred to go sans makeup and let their hair flow in its natural state. This resulted in the beautiful afro trend and long flowing hair. The more high maintenance girls took the feathered and platinum blonde approach. In the evening and for special events, makeup was worn more generously. Kind of like this:
Style Icons
I want those platform shoes!!