The Most Popular Trends Of The 1970s

Maybe you remember the 1970s. Or maybe you’d like to forget them.

Either way, there were some good times to be had, and some fashion trends that were real eye-openers back in the day. The shoes were high, super-short shorts were in, and forget skinny jeans – the larger the denim flare, the bigger impression you made.

Here’s to the all of the great, daring, and can-you-believe-it looks that are worth a second look.

Tie-Dye Shirts, Bellbottoms, Corduroy, And High-Waisted Jeans

Many a plain ol’ cotton shirt became nothing more than a common household dust rag when tie-dye happened upon the scene. If shirts were worth wearing, they had to be bright, bold, and a blend of popping colors swirled together like melted cotton candy.

Bellbottoms are a trend that should certainly ring a bell: Pants that were sleek and slim at the top, but billowy bold bells at the bottom. Sure, they tended to flap a bit when you walked, but they did have a waking of making your thighs look thinner.

Soft and cuddly like a favorite sweater, corduroy was the ‘it girl’ of material. Tended to be a bit bulky, though, so it wasn’t a perfect choice for anyone looking to appear imperially slim.

At the time, high-waisted jeans were a novelty that somehow made everyone who wore them look as though they had no waist at all, just an overly pronounced abdomen.

Feathered Hair and Chevron

Farrah Fawcett started it all: The dreams of displaying a ‘do that would make every guy swoon and every head turn when you entered a room. Truth be told, the style was heavenly but should’ve been left to Charlie’s Angels: Few could pull it off, even after using an entire can of hair spray.

Chevron was an attractive, wavy pattern that wound its way into everything from your favorite maxi dress to your mega sofa.

Floppy Collars, Circular Sunglasses, The Afro, and Platform Shoes

Nothing makes a slim-fitting shirt seem sleeker and more sophisticated than a ginormous collar with points so large and sharp they could be mistaken for a knife holder. But dang, they sure made you feel like Travolta burning up the dance floor in Saturday Night Fever.

Nobody wore circular sunglasses  better than John Lennon, but everyday people could at least imagine they were just as cool.

Forget the styling, the primping, the struggling to make hair into a ‘do that was someone else’s idea of beauty: The afro came to symbolize strength, pride, and acceptance.

With platform shoes, suddenly, everyone could feel tall and svelte (just pay no attention to that slow, stilted, almost-tipping-over style of walking that was passed off as casually cool and confident).

Puka Shells, Love Beads, Underground Polk, and The Ethnic Folk Look

Accessories were a must –  and what better way to draw attention to your big shirt color and  hair sprayed to the point of becoming a helmet? Puka shells and love beads were the baubles of choice.

It wasn’t for everyone, but, then again, that was the point of it all. Black leather jackets, pointy hair, and studs to match became the rage and the sign of a don’t care attitude that was refreshing to some, farfetched to others.

Bright prints and patterns weren’t considered far out as much as they were considered a nod to faraway cultures. Native American and European styling were front and center in ponchos, patterns, and pocketbooks.