70’s fashion - Flower power!
If you were a teen or young adult during this era, 70’s fashion can either make you cringe or smile with fond memories. Clothes have powerful memories attached to them. This era was very turbulent and young people were finding their way out of the 60’s and dealing with a very controversial war in Vietnam and the clothing seemed to reflect major changes!
Men during the 70’s fashion craze had major changes. They had leisure jackets, long side burns and hair and wide lapels on their shirts and jackets. Silk shirts also were a big deal during this era. This clothing trend was ushered in on the wings of John Travolta and Saturday Night Fever. The disco fad was born.
The hippie craze that started in the 60’s also spilled into 70’s fashion. Wild looking flower power shirts and lots of beads were very prevalent. Long caftan looking dresses were very popular with the hippies. Also popular were mini skirts and high shiny white boots.
Ladies during the 70’s fashion craze probably had the most options. They could wear the mini skirts and silk shirts with wide lapels. They also had to have worn bell-bottom pants, and the bell part of the pant had to cover the entire shoe. 70’s fashion also demanded platform shoes, and the higher the better! They could be 4-inch heels but had to be chunky and 4 inches on the whole shoe! Candies shoes became a staple in every girl’s wardrobe. 70’s fashion had a lot of funky clothes to choose from. Leisure suits, lots of suede and leather, and fringe were definitely in!
Hairstyles were also a large part of 70’s fashion. For men, the choices were simple. If they had hair, then long was in. The mullet also became a staple for men in the late part of the decade. If hair was an issue, the perm for men became very popular. This was to help cover a receding hairline and copied the African American male of the time. They had Afros that were 3-4 inches long and a pick sticking out of your hair was very in! If you didn’t have an Afro, then the comb had to go in the back pocket! For ladies, long straight hair was the order of the early part of the decade, the latter part, hair started getting bigger, with the advent of the Farrah Fawcett look.
Whatever styles you chose, 70’s fashion would have a fond memory for most that wore it!