The 1970s
1970s fashion began with a continuation of the hippie look from the late 1960s. However, it was soon characterized by several distinct fashion trends such as platform shoes, which appeared in 1971, wide-legged, flared jeans and trousers for both men and women throughout most of the decade. This particular style has been immortalised in the 1977 film Saturday Night Fever, which starred John Travolta.
The "disco look", consisting on three-piece suits for men and on rayon or jersey dresses for women, lasted until the end of the decade. Also, the leotard became a standard fashion icon of the disco scene and anticipated the aerobics crazy to come. Platform shoes gave way to mules and ankle-strapped shoes, both reminiscent of the 1940s, at the very end of the decade. Larger glasses, like the aviator sunglasses, became popular.
In Britain and the urban United States, from 1972 to 1974, fashions were inspired by extravagantly dressed glam rock stars such as David Bowie. Let’s remember Queen as a very influential band in the decade too. However, in the early to mid-1970s the difficult economic realities of Europe and Britain make punk fashion take over as a direct reaction to the economic depression of the period.
Punk believed in creation through disorder. Therefore, the look included ripped jeans, torn t-shirts, leather jackets and safety pins as the new nose and ear jewellery. Its best musical representative is the band The Sex Pistols.
Hairstyle is very rich and varied along the decade: starting with the long hair for girls with a centre or side parting, moving to platinum blonde with long fringe. We also see Afro style, Pompadour (or Elvis) style as well as the crazy multi-colored mohawks from punk style. Reggae music and style become extremely popular beyond expectations by the hand of Bob Marley.
