Mini Skirts, Turtlenecks and Wrapround Dresses Sum Up 70s Fashion
Women in the 1970's were faced with some of the most unusual fashion choices one can imagine.
There had been some innovations in fabric that seemed to have the potential to change fashion forever.
Polyester was touted as a miracle fabric, that was easy care, held its shape and could be any possible color, but no one mentioned its ability to be a wearable sauna.
The fabric that was to revolutionize the 70s fashion world, ended up being easy care and not very comfortable.
In women's fashion, the emphasis was often on the legs and not the neckline. Mini skirts paired with boots were topped with turtleneck sweaters and heavy vests. The fabrics all seemed to have as much polyester as possible and there were stripes everywhere.
As a result, for the most part, no one seems to mourn the demise of 70s fashion. But, there were some bright spots, influences that linger today. In decades prior to the 1960 and 70's, clothes were a bit dull and boring and colors had coordinate and everything was predictable.
But, in 70s fashion, no one could predict exactly what anyone was going to wear at any given time. Boots weren't just for cowboy or skiers any more and were popular in almost any length. The boots were so popular, in fact, they were very important to the well dressed woman. But, men wore boots in many lengths and styles as well.
Men's shoes actually sported high heels and side zippers as well. For men and women, the staid and predictable pinstripe three piece suit was challenged by the leisure suit for men and the pants suit for women.
In fact, in 70s fashion, women wearing pants in the work place became more common and was slowly accepted in most business sectors. Women began to understand the comfort of trousers and injected them into the business world.
As the decade wore on, dresses became more feminine and clingy. The length was still short, but the necklines began to plunge as the wrap-around dresses took over on the disco scene. That hot dance atmosphere with its fast choreographed dances required that dresses move with the body and show off every move.
