It’s March – Spring, Hurrah!! (ok not quite yet
technically…but I saw crocuses today, and indulged in some tulips for the house
yesterday, because winter, I’m bored of your grey dullness!
Anyway I can't help but start thinking about Spring fashion. This year it seems to be
a lot about the 70’s, which I loooove, but can also appreciate might freak a
lot of people out…I mean, clogs, fringe, floppy hats, faux fur, suede, all at
once as it’s often thrown together in the fashion magazines, can feel a bit
overwhelming and more fancy dress retro nightmare than chic fashion statement if you’re
not careful.
I think when we think about the 70’s in fashion terms it’s
easy to overlook the sheer diversity that the decade offered. Bright, garish
prints and flares (that’s what British people call bell bottoms my American
friends!) are all well and good, but there was also Annie Hall’s fresh take on
androgyny, Debbie Harry’s pretty punk and Stevie Nick’s glam gypsy. Not to
mention the jaw dropping creations of Halston, the Jackie O preppy island
hippy, Studio 54 and a multitude of other influences. There’s been a slightly
unfortunate “Woodstock effect” in how the 70’s have come to
be represented in culture and often fashion. A sort of fashion filtering of everything into feathers and daisy chain headgear and fringe at
Coachella has understandably led to the decade feeling maybe a bit ho hum
hippie-ish for some.
A look inside my own closet reveals I do have an innate
gravity towards many things that slot in under the 70’s category. Folkloric
embroidery, tribal prints,chunky jewellery, gold, denim on denim, smock peasant
blouses galore, it seems being born
smack in middle of the decade has imprinted upon me in some nascent way.
I really like the look of this jumpsuit from River Island, it's kind of a cross between utilitarian and dressy I think and would be a great "go anywhere" sort of piece. Even though the "How do I go to the loo?!" element is always there, this one actually tempts me to suffer for fashion!
Stevie Nicks is maybe slightly more obvious a representative of the decade, but for a night-time glam look her gypsy Goth goddess is a fun style to take inspiration from. All wispy curls and glowing skin, Stevie’s California rock chick look is not difficult to emulate - take a sheer or other floaty black blouse, pair with a long skirt or dark denim, and you’re half way there. Lots of layers to swish around and some smudgy eyeliner and lip gloss if you want to really go for it!
I could look at pictures of 70’s Debbie Harry all day long.
She didn’t conform to the mould of the era much at all really, coming up
in CBGB’s prime punk era she managed to look feminine and edgy all at once,
underscoring her insane beauty with garish disco makeup and 50’s pinup sweaters
or mini dresses. She really was her own entity, and I think she is eternally fabulous.
For the more daring there is the temptation of glam rock, but channeling David Bowie or Bryan Ferry is only for the very brave - still, a great excuse to watch Velvet Goldmine! A flash of bold colour on the face, some leather, be as glam as you dare! I think this is the way to go if you are loathe to give up your biker boots and skinny denim, no one said the 70's had to be one thing.
As for 70’s staples we might already have in our wardrobes,
here are a few things worth dusting off:
Tops: Anything folkloric, embroidered, detailed, lace, tunic or smock-y. Prints: As bold as you dare!
Dresses: I'm seeing a lot of very loud mini dresses around, which is fine if that's your bag, but they're not the most wearable element of the trend. I'm currently more drawn to softly pretty prairie print dresses that channel 70's Emmylou Harris like this little M&S number:
Shoes: Potentially the trickiest aspect of all things 70’s, mules and clogs are not exactly the most adorable hoof wear. I have found a couple of cute/not too clumpy options at M&S and also on my handy 70's blog inspired board!
Brown leather sandals or wedges or ankle boots would also
give something a more 70’s vibe. I do think moccasins are adorable but I’d keep
the rest of the look simple.
Jeans: Ok while I’m no fan of the skinny jean, flares can be
just as tricky to pull off without looking costume-y or having the legs of a
gazelle. Personally I’m more inclined to stick with a bootcut, in a faded denim
for day and perhaps a darker wash for night.
Trousers: What a minefield. Culottes are everywhere again.
Sorry but I do think they are the devil, unless done by Halston. I do love the very glam Bianca Jagger/Lauren Hutton 70’s
wide leg trouser. It’s maybe not for everyone but it’s something I can get on
board with.
Accessories: Bags, I picture slouchy totes but there seem to
be a lot of satchels around. Anything brown leather, fringed obviously, or not too structured looking would work.This red leather one from Joy feels pretty groovy/of the
era, plus I’m seeing red leather jackets in nearly every A/W campaign so also a nod
to upcoming season if you're one of those crazy fashion forward types! ;-) As for belts, you can go leather, embroidered, or more metallic disco (of which I have none sorry!)
Sunglasses: Big, round, pale-ish colours. NO BLACK! Gold
detailing. Maybe an aviator. It’s one of my favourite elements of the decade in
truth. I bought a pair of rather 70’s looking sunglasses last year and love
them.
Jewelry:
Hats: Ok Let’s be honest. Floppy hats and fedoras have been
around for a while now, and many of us have a couple lurking in our wardrobes.
When I was younger I was much more into hats, but I do think they create an
instant “look at me!” vibe, unless you live somewhere fabulous and fashion
crazy I think they can be a little bit hard to pull off. But you know, it’s all
relative. I do love a good hat, they just demand to be worn with conviction,
and I think they should be treated as Liz Taylor treated jewelry, i.e. “Always
take one thing off.” I think less is more probably applies. I wouldn’t go as whole hog as this personally, but it’s just my own taste. A hat with maybe a
denim shirt-dress or very plain outfit would be more my speed (though honestly I’m
more into a headscarf at this stage, which is a whole other kettle of fashion
fish!).
Ok well I hope my ramblings have given an insight into my Pinterest obsessed fashion brain and hopefully I provided a few cues for anyone interested in approaching a decade that can
seem a bit scary on the sartorial surface. I think there are so many wearable
elements that we might not immediately think of as “70’s” to experiment with - personally I’m glad to see the back of crop tops and skin tight everything. I
think the “decade that fashion forgot” actually has plenty of hidden treasures
once you take a closer look.
Films to watch for 70's fashion inspiration!:
Annie Hall
Shampoo
The Last Days of Disco
Saturday Night Fever
Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (I know it's a period piece but Katherine Ross makes everything 70's fabulous, including...)
The Stepford Wives (original)
Velvet Goldmine
Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (I know it's a period piece but Katherine Ross makes everything 70's fabulous, including...)
The Stepford Wives (original)
Velvet Goldmine
Like you, I have a love hate thing with the seventies as it's when I grew up. Love corduroy, burgandy, olive green, purple, polo necks, stripes, sandals. Not sure I'd wear again; dungarees, brown, orange, flares, sheepskin, suede, fringing. I like the m&s dress though. And Debbie Harry is always fabulous.
ReplyDeleteI do really love the colours of the era! Especially for home decor weirdly! I think the overemphasis on fringing and suede in all of the spring magazine 70's spreads will put off many people as well, there are fresher ways to attempt it (I think?!).
DeleteI had to comment! Stevie Nicks, Emylou Harris, Debbie Harry. Three of my all time favourites. Lovin that jumpsuit too
ReplyDeleteLaurie x
http://vanityandmeblog.blogspot.com
Thanks for reading, they are all great fashion icons I think too! :-)
DeleteTime to shop!! Guess who?
ReplyDelete