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In the 1970s, African-American women had more economic and political clout than they had experienced before. They were able to present styles that they once were afraid or ashamed of embracing or wearing in public because of how it might make them appear to others. The 1970s style was something that every woman could get involved in and have fun with. Miniskirt-Fashion-in-Japan-1969 – Young Woman magazine1968-Soviet Russia Miniskirt-fashionIn the Far East, young Japanese women embraced it enthusiastically. The mini had even crossed the Iron curtain in to Soviet Russia.
The wavering line between sportswear and tailored suits blurred further with the introduction of the leisure suit. While they were intended for the country, they appeared everywhere — just short of the office. Typical of The Big Look was a circular cape, tossed over a bulky sweater and shirt hanging around the knee. Standouts were the steamer coat, raglan-sleeved, as well as cardigans or kimonos of dressing gown proportions with yokes, smockings and drop-shoulders. The new sentiment among designers was that the outfits had to work harder and longer and to be able to change with simple addition of a shirt, pants or accessory.
Black 80s fashion
The popularity of the style is often attributed to designer Diane von Fürstenberg ,who first brought a knit jersey wrap dress to market in 1974, creating a fashion empire worth more than $100 million by the end of the decade. The longer the dress, the more fashionable the wearer—at least as far as '70s style was concerned. Similar to caftans, maxi dresses were long and frequently oversized, but typically had a more defined shape, with plunging necklines, tie waists, and fitted sleeves giving them a more streamlined look.
Tunic shirts were the ultimate in comfort women’s shirting. The long length also did a great job of hiding big hips, busts, and tummies instead of showing them off in a tight t-shirt. They paired well with a comfortable pair of jeans or trousers or layered over pleated skirts. In matte jersey or a polyester print knit, they could be dressy enough for a dinner party. Each came with a matching tie belt to accent the waist without the pressure of a leather belt. In the 70s, urban young people, sick of hippies and wary of the arty retro scene, looked for glamor at the dance clubs.
"Some people say we got a lot of malice
In summer, sandal heels with wood soles complemented floral dresses. Outside of the office, women’s casual skirts came in every length from the micro mini to a floor-length maxi. The mini skirt was a carryover from the 60s, still worn by teens and young women until 1973 when skirts dropped to the floor for the first time since the turn of the century. During the day, the jumpsuit was made of double knit polyester, cotton, or denim with a zip or button up front, pant pockets, and oversized collar. The denim jumpsuit with a zip up front revived the overall look. Evening jumpsuits slimmed down the look into a stretchy bodysuit with a sleeveless or halterneck top.
Scarves, wraps, and shawls of the same materials, usually homemade, were alternatives. The hippies also made skirts from patches of fabric , crochet squares, suede, and velvet. In the early years, blazers contrasted the pants and blouse with bold plaids and checks. Towards the end, they matched into one uniform suit and came in traditional men’s suiting material and patterns such as pinstripe. Contrasting blazers and pants sets rounded at the end of the decade, beginning the powersuit revolution of the 1980s.
Fashion in Film: Classic Movies With Style
Despite the trend for women to be bra-less and girdle-less in the 70s, the luxury lingerie market was hot stuff. Intimate apparel was displayed in department stores front and center. The designs were light and airy camisoles, teddies, and step-ins made of silk or silk-like nylon trimmed in lace. Birkenstock sandals emerged in 1967 and were quickly picked up by hippies in the early 1970s. The contoured footbed and earth tone colors fit right in at festivals, concerts, and rallies. High waisted cords and overalls, flare jeans are back in style.
Taking his design cues from Hollywood costumes of the 1930's and 40's, he widened the lapels of his suits and extended and padded the shoulders. Bill Kaiserman advocates slightly shorter and always ventless jackets...Hardy Amies...emphasizes double-breasted suits with surprisingly...narrow lapels on unvented, shoulder?expressed jackets. There was a slide show from Paris ready-to-wear collections,...But most of the guests were simply not ready for such high-fashion profundities as palace-guard or storm-trooper outfits.
Color: BlackThe epitome of youthful, coltish beauty, she picked her way across the grass wearing a simple white shift dress by Colin Rolfe in Mary Quants Youth quake style. We put this fun video together to celebrate mini skirts of the 1960’s. Footage courtesy of the public resources of the United States Governments National Archives and Records Administration.
All black suits, shirts, and ties was also a popular formal look for men. The quintessential '70s couple costume, dressing like the hit husband-wife music duo, Sonny and Cher is simple. To look like Cher, you just need to don a wig of long, black wig, perhaps with a thin headband across the forehead.
