During the 1970s, bell-bottoms, vests and smocks, sometimes accessorized with a choker and platforms, were the epitome of style. Today, Kodak snapshots tell a different story, eliciting a mix of cringes and laughter. Read on for a playful roast of what seemed so out of sight back then but today, well, you decide.
Sure, “Saturday Night Fever” is an iconic movie. John Travolta as Tony Manero is an iconic performance. After all, Travolta danced his way into movie history with that 1977 release — but the white suit? Certainly of the moment, but it’s going to take a pretty special guy to even try to pull that off today.
Related: Dead Fashion Brands We Miss
White leather shoes, from loafers to platforms, combined with a white leather belt — they’d definitely see him coming. The dated look, called “the full Cleveland,” according to The Wall Street Journal, had a 2009 comeback but, as noted, “It’s not for everyone.” We have to agree.
Related: Far-Out '70s Fads That Have Made a Comeback
Whether it was a pair of super-thick corduroy pants or a “jean” jacket made of the tough stuff, the closet of a ’70s fashion plate — male or female — likely had a lot of texture thanks to this ever-present textile notable for its raised “cords.” As The Independent notes, “Corduroy was the fabric of the Seventies, used in everything from dresses to skirts and trousers.” Guess we were ready to ignore how heavy it felt just to look good. (And maybe that’s what led to embracing of the velour tracksuit as the decade drew to a close).
For more fun stories like this, please sign up for our free newsletters.
They were solid-colored or wildly printed. The tapered collar — a bold statement — was found on many a man. Sometimes called “The Barrymore,” a reference to the actor John Barrymore’s 1920s style, this look found a home on everyone from the beloved actors in “Starsky & Hutch” to Bob Hope. And that’s not even looking at every neighborhood guy out on a Friday night.
Related: Legendary Vehicles From '70s and '80s TV Shows
Those who were at famed NYC club Studio 54 in person (and those who imagined being there) added a heavy helping of glitz to their “going-out” wardrobes. Sequined tops epitomized the decadence of the era. Today, the look is often reserved for New Year’s Eve.
Satin also had its moment in the 1970s. This time, the appeal of this shiny, “look-at-me” shirt (usually a long-sleeved button-down number) was unisex. Women would wear the top under a blazer to the office then drop the jacket, add some big earrings, and hit the town, while those worn by gentlemen were more often for a night out. The fabric, though, was a bit unforgiving, making it a tough choice for everyone not blessed with a perfect figure.
Coming off the heels of the ’60s era, which was billed as a time of peace and free love, the halter top continued as a popular women’s choice into the next decade. Some were glittery, some were crafted out of satin, and many were simply a bandana tied into shape. As Grazia notes, one of the style lessons of the original “Charlie’s Angels” television show is that, “A halterneck crop top isn’t just for the beach.” Um, yes, but many a wearer didn’t consider that this bra-less look was not created for everyone.
You name the pattern, and the ’70s likely embraced it. From patchwork to paisley, ethnic embroideries to bold florals, patterns were popular on everything from scarves to blouses, pants to jackets. And let’s not forget stripes. Bonus points if you were wearing striped polyester, a look immortalized by each of the Brady kids at one time or another.
There were those shorts – and the matching tops. There were rompers. You basically had a form of toweling that had been fashioned into clothing. Sound odd? Well, the incredibly dated look apparently was not retired, as Who What Wear reported: “Yep, the retro fabric reminiscent of 1970s poolside glamour was back in the form of cute and cool rompers, matching sets, bikinis, bucket hats, and cover-ups, to name a few.” If only I’d saved that romper to sell on eBay.
Do you think Justin Bieber or Harry Styles influence fashion? They have nothing on the late teen idol David Cassidy, who had girls around the world absolutely swooning over his turn as Keith Partridge on “The Partridge Family.” And when Cassidy wore a puka-shell necklace, well, let’s just say it was beyond dreamy. That meant young girls wore them to be “close” to him; young men wore them to be close to the girls that loved him. Today, if they’re on anyone but a surfer, they look decidedly out of place.
Raise your hand if you rocked a vest in the ’70s, whether it was a pull-on, buttoned, or tunic style. They could be stretchy or leather, that ol’ corduroy, velvet, or even crocheted. The “granny square” vest was a particularly distinctive look. We never thought twice about its craft-gone-bad look back then, but now we realize our misstep.
I can picture it to this day: the cream-colored smock top that I wore to a Girl Scout-sponsored square dance. Of course, it was paired with orange corduroy pants. I not only fit in, but it was so popular that one of my classmates showed up in the exact same outfit. Yes, smock tops were everywhere. They were easy to wear by any body type, something that made them, along with a variety of ethnic-inspired cotton “peasant” blouses, quite the rage. The smock top just hasn’t stood the test of time.
Called angel wings or bell sleeves, the defining feature of this style top was all about the drama. Most flattering on a tall/thin silhouette, the sweeping sleeves were not for the shy, as you had to kind of “flap” around to reveal its fashionable effect.
OK, now I know I wasn’t the only young lady obsessed with chokers, making my mother drive me from local shop to shop, until I found the perfect one — a yellow velvet ribbon festooned with an enameled heart. Chokers came in countless styles and were equally sported by famous guys and gals with equal flair. We will, though, tip our hat to singer Bobby Sherman for making his suede choker a near signature item. But this was one fashion statement that required a perfect fit — too tight and you’d be uncomfortable, too loose and it looked dumb.
Everyone was taller in the ’70s. Oh wait, it was the shoes. Platform heels were another unisex item, with the ladies finding countless choices including the ubiquitous “Buffalo” sandal. Men needed only look to the stage where rockers such as David Bowie and David Johansen of The New York Dolls provided style inspiration.
Men wore clogs. Usually with bell-bottoms. They shouldn’t have. That is all we will say on this point.
Ah bell-bottoms — the classic 1970s silhouette. There were jeans and printed pants, polyester examples (think John Travolta and “Charlie’s Angels” again), and more. In the 1960s, bell-bottoms were associated with the “hippie culture.” But, as Vintage Everyday notes, “In the 1970s, bell-bottoms moved back into mainstream fashion; Sonny and Cher helped popularize bell-bottoms in the U.S. by wearing them on their popular television show. The pants were typically flared from the knee down, with bottom leg openings of up to twenty-six inches.”
The 1970s leisure suit featured trousers with an (admittedly creepy) matching, shirt-like jacket. The usually polyester pairings were often in an unexpected color, say a baby blue or mustardy brown, or came in a faded denim. They were worn by men of all ages and just seemed to have that sleazy, cheap air about them. Let it go.
Ponchos were found in every walk of life, worn by everyone from high schoolers to society matrons. The poncho variation, a cape, was another look found everywhere. Sure, they could be classy, but sometimes, if an example featuring a distinctive woven pattern was chosen, the result was unintended with the patterned top clashing wildly with the rest of the outfit.
Were women of the 1970s paying tribute to the skilled South American horsemen, the namesake of these pants? No, they were just hopping on a trend with this wide-legged, just-below-the-knee style that seemed created to be paired with knee-high boots. Absurdly popular at the time, today they seem to resemble a costume more than a serious look.
The 1970s saw a lot of women wearing skirts with styles running the proverbial gamut. Two looks that really took off were the maxi (to your ankles) and midi (to your mid-calf). These dramatic looks were part-Boho, part prairie. Yes, they were colorful and unique, but also a far-from-flattering choice for those short of stature and/or on the heavier side.
The “chukka boot” was another footwear choice popular for guys and gals, a very specific incarnation that had to be suede, brown or taupe, and feature a distinctive stitching. Today, this distant cousin to the moccasin is rarely spotted. To those 1970s “urban rangers” who deemed themselves in the midst of the desert, that’s a good thing.
Related: Where to Buy Shoes and Boots That Are Made in America
Considered a cute pairing at the time, women of all ages could be spotted in a jumper dress – think an A-line dress with straps – over a turtleneck. It seemed chic. It seemed funky, especially with leather boots. Today, it seems almost infantile.
Think ’70s casual-chic headgear, and you’ll think floppy hat. As Our Everyday Life notes, “The big floppy hat was floating around the hippie-girl crowd in the 1960s, but when actresses and style icons Faye Dunaway and Bridget Bardot began wearing soft, solid-color felt, face-framing styles in the 1970s, big floppy hats took on a sexy flair…. The big floppy hat ultimately became de riguer as a 1970s fashion essential and was part of the uniform worn by the robotic queens of conformity in the 1975 film ‘The Stepford Wives.’” This is another case of a look that seems to recall a particular era rather than reflect today. (And, if you don’t have a “face for hats,” you are doomed).
We conclude our tour with a regrettable item that just cannot be denied – the jumpsuit. In the ’70s, they were popular for both sexes (no joke). As French Vogue explains, “The late 1960s and 1970s were prime years for the jumpsuit. There were sportswear styles for day, and leather one-pieces or embellished designs for evening… The 1970s jumpsuit was unisex, beloved by slim-hipped men and women. Cher and Elvis adopted the style as part of their stage personas and Studio 54 regulars danced to disco in Halston’s chic designs.” Key words there: slim-hipped. Today, they float in and out of fashion for the ladies. They might be fun, but heaven help those not genetically blessed, because this is one look that can turn a foray into high fashion into a date with a “onesie.” And no one but babies should be wearing onesies – in any decade.