A Brief look at 70's Fashions - The Years of Excess Part I

The looks of the 70's is considered the years of excess by most of the public. Those that remember the 70's will recall that the 1st half of the decade continued the "hippie-inspired" styles & ideas of the late 60's. There were simply No rules & no limits. Freedom was the buzzword. Fashion designers abandoned old rules of good taste, producing more outrageous clothes. For the first time, people took to heart the idea that they could wear what they liked, where they wanted, and when they wanted. Most importantly, the public wanted informality, and the designers listened & delivered.

Some of the most memorable styles included outrageous flares in pants, known as bell-bottoms, mega platform shoes, wide lapels, broad, wide ties. Bright & clashing colors were mainstream. Velvet, polyesters were worn abundantly. Men often strutted polyester shirts with ruffles, combined with Ultrasuede jackets & pants. Women were often seen in Lycra body stockings or wearing dresses slit to the top of the thigh. And of course, we cannot forget some of our wildest rock stars of the times, like David Bowie, Alice Cooper who also wore make-up. David Bowie popularized the wearing of dramatic skintight Lycra clothing with hefty platform shoes.

Indeed, by the mid 70's, the "Hippie look" was mainstream, despite our parent's disapproval and their fears that the world was ending, the momentum continued. Eventually, long hair or large Afros on men, bell-bottom jeans, ethnic look; wide lapels, platform shoes, and leather jackets became universally excepted.

Stay tuned for part II of "A look at 70's fashion & The years of Excess" coming soon.

Thanks for joining me on this journey......lol

Zee