70s Fashion for Women

The 70s fashion can be defined as an iconic decade of free spirited fashion and trends. The 1970s in fashion, continues to be one of the most stylish decades of all time. From flares to bell sleeves, shearling coats, and mini skirts, the ‘70s birthed an eclectic mix of style influences that evolved quickly in a 10-year span. Be it the rise of disco or hippie styles, skirts got shorter, boots got taller, and a range of style icons like Jane Birkin and Jean Shrimpton helped spearhead some of the era’s most memorable fashion moments. The idea that 1970s fashion was an expression of one’s personality replaced the everyone-follow-the-famous trend of the ’50s and ’60s. 

Some of the 70s fashion ideas included- Clothes that were made to mix and match with each other as well as across gender guidelines.  Whether the combinations made any sense was another matter.

While most fashion history books and online articles focus on 70s fashion sub-cultures (luxury, punk, cowboy, hippie, exotica, soul) this one explores what the typical women wore in the 1970s. The housewives and working women in small towns and urban cities had fashion trends that looked a little different than what mainstream media displayed. Some of them were:

1970S FASHION TRENDS

• Granny dresses, hippie dresses – midi and maxi length Edwardian inspired lace trim prairie dresses
• Shift dresses – short mod dresses to knee length shirt dresses
• Peasant blouses, tunic tops, funny t-shirts/ band shirts
• Bell bottom pants and jeans called flares or loons, wide-leg palazzo pants
• Homemade and decorated clothing – patches, fringe, embroidery
• Pantsuits with silk bow blouses and blazers worn to the office
• Jumpsuits could be worn as casual wear, evening wear, or for disco dancing
• Denim everything- pants, jumpsuits, dresses, skirts, jackets
• Long knit vests layered over tops and pants
• Vintage 1920s jewelry and accessories revival

Let’s explore these seventies fashion trends plus show you where to shop for 1970s inspired clothing, shoes, and accessories online.

1970S DRESSES

The mini shift dress, jumper dress, drop waist dress and tunic dress were still trendy dress styles in the early 70s. Sleeveless jumper dresses were worn over short or long sleeve shirts in winter with high knee socks. Drop waist shift dresses and button front sheath dresses gave a nod back to the 1920s flapper era.

This time they were made of polyester double knits that were stiff enough to withstand wrinkles and staining. It was the perfect material for the age of low-maintenance fashion and big bold colors.  Many dresses had oversized collars and some started to sport hippie prints in yellow, green, and orange flowers or paisley swirls.

Fashion Trends of the 70s 

• Floppy Hats
• Platform Shoes
• Jumpsuits
• Wrap Dresses (which debuted in the 70s!)
• Bell Bottoms and Bell Sleeves
• Crop Tops / Tube Tops / Tops Tied to Show Off the Belly
• Boots (Thigh High/Knee High/Ankle Boots/Cowboy Boots, etc.)
• Both Fitted and Flowing Button Down Shirts
• Denim Shirts and Jackets
• Fur and Shearling Coats, Vests, and Stoles

70s Outfits – 70s Style Ideas for Women

There is more to 1970s clothing than bell-bottom pants and disco shirts. Take a look at these authentic 70s outfits for women and create your own 70s wardrobe. We feature it all: from casual tops and shorts to hippie shirts and jeans to dresses for the office and even jumpsuits for the disco dance floor.  Explore the 70s fashion trends that are making a comeback today and find out where to buy them online.

Famous 70s Fashion Icons

• Diana Ross- Disco glamor
• Iman
• Stevie Nicks- Gothic glamor
• Bianca Jagger 
• Blondie - New York punk
• Diane Von Furstenberg
• Charlotte Rampling
• Farrah Fawcett
• Liza Minnelli
• Ali Macgraw
• Marie Helvin
• Jane Fonda
• Anita Palllenburg
• Patti Smith