Ethnic prints were popular in the 1970s.
In the 1970s, disco fever struck, but the fashion of the decade wasn't all sequins and platform shoes. Women in the seventies were still influenced by the bohemian and ethnic fashion trends of the sixties and were still rebelling from staid mid-century looks, moving toward mini skirts and belly-baring crop tops. Consequently, seventies fashion included everything from polyester and peasant shirts to floral dresses and animal prints. Building a wardrobe inspired by seventies fashion should focus on a few key style concepts. Does this Spark an idea?
Tops
Peasant tops gained popularity in the seventies.
Ethnic influences inspired much 1970s fashion, so kaftans, kimonos, muumuus and styles from Africa, Asia and India worn as robes and shirts should be included in any seventies closet. Further, women took inspiration from gypsies, so bohemian peasant tops with in light cotton fabric are a seventies style essential. Women also exposed their stomachs in short crop tops. By the mid-seventies, punk culture had begun to influence fashion, and torn, shredded and frayed t-shirts harken back to the punk look.
Bottoms
Paired with a long tunic, wide-leg pants create a quintessential seventies look. Mini skirts that fall above the knee, midi skirts at calf length, and maxi skirts falling to the ankles or below were all popular, so skirts in these lengths are key items in a 1970s-inspired wardrobe. In addition to wide-legs pants and skirts, women often wore "hot pants," or tight shorts, for a night at the disco, so a pair of these creates an authentic seventies look.
Dresses
Dresses came in a variety of lengths from mini to floor-skimming maxi. Ethnic inspiration carried over into dresses, so exotic or tropical prints and kaftans and kimonos worn as dresses instead of tops create a very seventies look. Long dresses in paisley or floral elicit the bohemian vibe, while long evening dresses with an empire waist or halter neck evoke seventies elegance. Wrap dresses also gained popularity during the decade because of their comfort and versatility.
Accessories
Platform shoes were a popular seventies style.
The platform -- up to 4 inches high -- was a popular shoe style in the seventies, and are an easy way to evoke seventies style. Women also accessorized their wardrobe with long knit or acrylic scarves and turban hats, which add a touch of seventies flair to any outfit. Leg-warmers and thin hand-braided bracelets also gained popularity in the 1970s, and are great finishing touches to round out a 1970s-inspired closet.
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