70s Style Month: Week 4 - Disco Glam

I’ll end the decade overview at night spots like Max's Kansas City and Studio 54; both drew hordes of the rich and beautiful. Bianca Jagger, Mick's wife and a favorite of Andy Warhol, was the reigning queen of Studio 54, where she celebrated her 32nd birthday riding in on a white horse—lead by naked men. Now if that's not enough reason to celebrate the '70s, then what is?

Thanks again to Wikipedia, for all the detailed info:
"With the popularisation of disco and the increasing availability and diversity man-made fabrics, a drastic change occurred in mainstream fashion, the likes of which had not been seen since the 1920s. All styles of clothing were affected by the disco style, especially those of men. Men began to wear stylish three-piece suits (which became available in a bewildering variety of colours) which were characterized by wide lapels, wide legged or flared trousers, and high-rise waistcoats (US vests). 

Neckties became wider and bolder, and shirt collars became long and pointed in a style reminiscent of the "Barrymore" collar that had been popular in the 1920s. 

The zippered jumpsuit was popular with both men and women, and clothing inspired by modern dance (wrap-around skirts and dresses of rayon or jersey) also became common. 

Neck-scarves were also used. Polyester, double knitting, skin-tight Spandex trousers,tube tops, and slit skirts were popular for a while at the very end of the decade. In 1978, there was a brief craze for transparent plastic trousers worn with leotards underneath. Silk blouses, spaghetti-strapped tank tops and shirt-waist dresses were also worn. 
Platform shoes with soles 2–4 inches thick became the style for both men and women.

The top fashion models of the 1970s were Lauren Hutton, Margaux Hemingway, Gia Carangi, Janice Dickinson, Cheryl Tiegs, and Jerry Hall

In Britain and the urban United States, from 1972–1974, fashions were inspired by extravagantly-dressed glam rock stars such as David Bowie,Roxy Music, and Marc Bolan. Glitter was in vogue. Women wore high-waisted, flared satin trousers or denims, the latter usually decorated with rhinestones, tight lurex halter tops, metallic-coloured lamé and antique velvet dresses, satin hot pants, sequined bra tops, and occasionally they wore ostrich- feather boas draped over their shoulders or turbans on their heads. 

 The short, imitation rabbit-fur jacket was a hot fashion item during this period. Make-up was garish and glittery, with eyebrows thinly plucked. Bianca Jagger, who often used an ebony walking stick, wore peacock-feathers in her cloche hats, green sequined shoes, transparent blouses, and carried an ivory cigarette- holder, was a fashion icon. The men often wore lamé suits, silver astronaut-style outfits, satin quilted jackets, wide-m rock-inspired fashion were Biba, in London's Kensington High Street, and Granny Takes a Trip in Kings Road, which also had a branch in West Hollywood, California. And who can forget the roller skating craze?"

All in all, the 70s was a very groovy decade, and I plan to be wearing a lot of great outfits in honor of an era that was not afraid to be different. Let the dancing begin!

Love what you read here, and want to see more great 70s fashion?
Check out my other blog entries in honor of 70s style month:
Week 1: Hippie Chic
Week 2: Rock and Roll, Punk
Week 3: Street Style

70s Style Month: Week 1 - Hippie Chic

So the 70s. That era that is coming back into style faster than a 15 year old novice can fall off her 4" platform shoes.

Highlights include:

• bell bottom or wide leg pants
• anything gold
• peasant tops
• maxi skirts
• fringe
• headbands across the forehead

Sound familiar? To those of us who were too young to see it the first time around, its like playing dress up at those parties where you pick a decade. So. Much. Fun.

To know what inspired the fashion trends of decades past, it puts it into perspective to know a little bit about the history of what was going on at that time on the world. 

After all the political craziness of the 60s, the 70s were a decade of hedonism. Wanting to depart from the peace loving world changing slogans of the decade before, people just wanted to go out and have fun.

Thank you Wikipedia, for the following information:

"1970s fashion , which began with a continuation of the mini skirts, bell-bottoms and the androgynous hippie look from the late 1960s, was soon sharply characterized by several distinct fashion trends that have left an indelible image of the decade commemorated in popular culture. These include platform shoes which appeared on the fashion scene in 1971 and often had soles two to four inches thick. These were worn by both men and women. Wide-legged, flared jeans and trousers were another fashion mainstay for both sexes throughout most of the decade, and this style has been immortalised in the 1977 film Saturday Night Fever, which starred John Travolta. The "disco look", complete with three-piece suits for men and wrap-around rayon or jersey dresses for women, which the film further popularized, lasted until it was gradually replaced by punk fashion and straight, cigarette-legged jeans."

Without any further ado, and before I bore you to tears with a history lesson, I give you 70s look 1:  

 Hippie Chic

Mini Skirts

Wide Leg Jeans

Peasant Tops and Skirts

Crochet

thanks to http://my-retrospace.blogspot.com for the amazing collection of retro images

stay tuned for next week's 70s style featuring rock and punk looks.. 

Check out my other postings on 70's fashion month:

Week 2:  Rock and Roll, Punk Style

Week 3: Street Style

Week 4: Disco Glam