I can't say that I love everything about 1970s fashion but there is no doubt that it was an expressive, colourful and fun era and certain looks have had a lasting influence.
In 'Fifty Fashion Looks That changed The 1970s', fashion guru Paula Reed explores the most revolutionary, prominent and definitive looks of the decade.
She details outfits from style icons of the time including Bianca Jagger and her famous Yves Saint Laurent wedding suit. I can't imagine her wearing a classic wedding gown!
Diane von Furstenberg's elegant wrap dress of course gets a mention. It's one of the 70s icons that has become a true classic.
'Flower power' conjures up an image of hippies in their floral prints in the early 1970s and the Afghan coat, another favourite at the time, is featured towards the beginning of the book.
Flares, loons, bell bottoms, boot-cut .. ..In the 1970s the flare ranged from a six inch boot-cut to the elephant flare which was apparently twenty-five inches wide! Did you know that loons flared from the knee whereas more of the leg was flared with bell bottoms? This book is full of fashion snippets!
Hot pants showed how dramatically dress rules had changed and they even entered the Oxford English Dictionary.
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| Southwest Airlines air hostesses wearing hot pants |
One of the most dominant trends of this decade was the platform shoe which gradually increased in height ...a two inch platform with a five inch heel soon becoming a popular choice.....
Zandra Rhodes is a designer who will always be associated with this period especially towards the end of the 70s with her glamorous punk dresses.
As for shops, people were heading to the exotic Biba store in London where shopping was more of an experience or event..... with a range of North African products, maxi coats, feather boas....rich mulberries, rusts and plums..... a real treasure trove ....
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| Barbara Hulanicki, founder of Biba, with her husband Stephen Fitz-Simon |
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| The 'Farrah Flick' |
The book takes us right through to the late seventies with references to the Disco look....halter neck tops, sequins, and white fabrics which glowed in the ultraviolet light.
'Fifty Fashion Looks That Changed the 1970s' is a comprehensive guide to this period and the page per look format of the book is easy to just dip into and browse ...with fabulous photos too ....a great read for all those who love fashion.
PS The History of Fashion has always fascinated me and I now have my eye on two more books in this series...
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You may like to read my previous reviews....
Fifty Bags That Changed The World - here
Fifty Dresses That Changed The World - here
Fifty Shoes That Changed The World - here
*Images from 'Fifty Looks That Changed the 1970s' unless otherwise stated.
The large comfy jeans and the utmost feminine hairstyles are what I still love about those years. I wish I lived in those years. When I see my mom's picture of that period, I realize how much things for us girls of the have changed....
ReplyDeleteHello Miss B, who could forget the denim flares and the Garah Fawcett look? They are so fashionable and so classic. The 70s have it's own distinct style. It is more free and stylish than the power 80s style.
ReplyDeleteSo interesting and a trip down my memory lane to my childhood and teens during this period when I so wanted a pair of those platforms and bell bottoms! Fab review of the book xx
ReplyDeleteHi Miss! This would be definitely a great reading for me since I totally love the '70s style and fashion, would like to know more about it. DVF wrap dress is iconic, she looks gorgeous in that pic, what legs! Also, another trend I liked is the platform shoes, always curious to try them. Many kisses! xo
ReplyDeleteWow, thanks for asharing this review with us! It was really interesting, the 70s are so various! Diane von Furstenberg's is so classy indeed! I'd definitely buy the book about the 50s! Looking forward to your next review!
ReplyDeleteThere are certain 70s elements I absolutely embrace, but mostly I just love to learn about fashion history, so I am sure I would enjoy this read!
ReplyDelete~Alexis Grace of North On Harper
I remember that era like is was yesterday and David bowies Diamond Dog album cover!
ReplyDeleteThat is so interesting! Yves Saint Laurent was HUGE in the 70's. I think someone just bought the rights to make a movie about him. He had an interesting life. Great eye for fashion. Love DVF! The little wrap dress is still popular today.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.averysweetblog.com/
Thanks a lot for the insight in this book, dear Miss B! I agree the wedding suit from Bianca Jagger is the only thing I can imagine her to wear and I like also this DVF-Wrap-Dress so much <3
ReplyDeletexx from Bavaria/Germany, Rena
www.dressedwithsoul.com
Oh yes, the 70's and what a time of it...I lived it well.
ReplyDeleteLoved all the influenced artist, designers, and singers who created a pathway to expressing ones self !!
The music was so like none others would you not agree, everything from jazz, rock, soul, Motown, what a mix of culture and wouldn't have missed it for anything! :)
Xoxo
Enjoyed my visit. Gave me time to reflect.
Xx
Dore
LOVE,love,love these time!
ReplyDeleteSo absolutely inspirational and so feminine time!
Every time have own face....but years of 70 is absolutely one of my favourite time in fashion!
I have enjoyed reading your post,
Thankyou so much,Miss B.:)*
Greeting from Holland,
V.
Thank you so much for sharing this post, I loved seeing all the trends. I think I'm going to have to pick up all these books.
ReplyDeleteLittlePinkRainBoots.blogspot.com
Ha ha, it was your post about 'Fifty Bags That Changed The World' that first attracted me to your blog if you recall, and I bought the book. This book sounds very interesting too. Ooooh platforms and flares; deep down these are among my favourite trends but it's hard to find a good quality, stylish pair of flares and platforms these days. Love 70's style and every now and again I like to look through my mum's photos where she rocked these very trends together with an Afro - so cool!
ReplyDeleteI didn't know the history of the Biba store - didn't realise they had been going for so long.
Thanks for sharing and thank you for your lovely words on my blog x
I discovered Biba when I was in Glasgow last year. I agree, I don't like everything 70s but platform shoes and DvF are here to stay!
ReplyDeleteThis is such a walk down memory lane .. I was a teen in the seventies and recall all the "big hair" "long hair" and bell-bottom jeans. I also wore the mini skirts with platform shoes .. ha! DVF was all the rage (still is!) and I had the original wrap dress and loved it. It's fun to see how fashion circles around.
ReplyDeleteIt is amazing how it changed every decade earlier but now I find it is more of a mix and repeat.
ReplyDeletewww.thoughtsofpaps.com
I saw your title and thought, 'The 70s? Really?' but I stand absolutely corrected. So sexy. So many of those things I love - flares, the Farrah flick, the wrap dress - are of course from that decade, I just hadn't really thought about it clearly.
ReplyDeletePhilippa
Beautiful shots, my dear! Loved! kisses :)))
ReplyDeleteThe seventies is one of my favourite eras, other than the twenties! Fashion history is something that I am very interested in, since I studies costuming design. Great post miss b. Thanks for sharing. :) xx/Madison
ReplyDeleteFun post my dear Those bell bottoms were not a huge fave of mine It is funny how old fashion comes back eventually Some things should be left back in the decade they began however! Hope you are doing well !! :)
ReplyDeleteWonderful post! I love looking back at recent trends to see which ones will influence our modern trends! :)
ReplyDeletehttp://findmethoseheels.blogspot.co.uk/
x
This is the era I grew up in, girlfriend! I enjoyed this post so much and am familiar with all the styles and trends here.......the flared bell bottoms and the platform shoe were all a part of our lifestyle. Me and my best friend also wore the satin pants and hit the dance floors with the disco balls. And Charlie's Angels - my favorite! Farrah was beloved by many and such a beauty. I love her to this day even after she's gone.
ReplyDeleteOh, thank you for taking me down memory lane, my friend. It was such a pleasure for me to be back in the 70's.
love,
~Sheri
I feel like the 1970s are the decade our fashion resembles the most now so it's very relevant. Thanks for posting!
ReplyDeletexo
Sharon
Hi Miss B, this is such an interesting book and post, the 70's had such an iconic style to it that so many people try and emulate that today as well. We were all not around then but we still know about the beautiful Charlies Angels and their flicked hair and slick outfits. I couldn't even recognize Diane v Furstenburg. She was so young and very glamourous. It was great hearing your thoughts, have a splendid week ahead!
ReplyDeleteThese books definitely seem like something I would be interested in! They would make excellent coffee table books.
ReplyDeleteJessica @ Sunny Days and Starry Nights
Oh this looks great!! Thanks for posting I am on the hunt for well designed interesting coffee table books for my future condo and I am adding this to my list!
ReplyDeleteAllie of ALLIE NYC
allienyc.com
Must buy this book!
ReplyDeletexoxox,
CC
Great post! I love a flair of 70s, like Cloé. xo Caroline
ReplyDeleteIt really was quite the era for fashion wasn't it! I watched a really interesting documentary last week about Harpers Bazaar and Vogue during that era. Plenty of fashion forward choices were made there too!
ReplyDeleteKrissie x - http://pearlsofstyle.blogspot.com.au
a wonderful inspiration, great post!
ReplyDeletehappy day!
<3
http://www.getcarriedaway.net/
Looks like a book for a wish list. Thank you for the review and photos! x
ReplyDeleteHi Miss, one great walk by fashion in this post!!!
ReplyDeleteHave a good week!!! and my g+ for you!!!:)))
Besos, desde España, Marcela♥
Thank you for sharing those fashion ages! Interesting! I lived there. enjoying new fashions very much. New fashion is always look women beautiful.
ReplyDeleteI appreciate that you always take the time to stop by hun :)
ReplyDeleteLooks like a very fun and interesting book.
ReplyDeleteIt is interesting I was thinking not too long ago about the wacko fads of the seventies versus the beautiful creations of Halston and top designers during this period. There was Yves St. Laurent probing into Eastern and peasant influences and indeed places in fashion that stunned. 1970 saw the ushering in of mini skirts and bell sleeves, capping off the era with Disco influences: Quiana and blouson styles of Saturday Night Fever
ReplyDeleteahhhh 1970's isnt my generation so i's nice to to know how fashion was like during that time. soo coool.!!
ReplyDeletehttp://yanibonifacio.blogspot.com
This sounds like it would be a really fun read. I'm not big on 70's style but it's interesting how certain looks launched back then still endure today like the DVF wrap dress and flared pants.
ReplyDeleteRowena @ rolala loves
Two words: Bianca Jagger. Her wedding look has always been a favorite of mine :)
ReplyDeletei absolutely looove these books! although the 70s is not really my era! however, i will never pass up a great pair of bell bottoms :)
ReplyDeletexx Corinne
cateyesandthighhighs.com
Many thanks for your kind comment, happy start into the weekend for you!
ReplyDeletexx from Bavaria/Germany, Rena
www.dressedwithsoul.com
It was so interesting to read everyone's thoughts about 1970s fashion. I don't think it matters whether you were around to experience it first hand or not. It's one of the decades which is so often talked about. Thank you for taking the time to comment!
ReplyDeleteLoved this! What a super book. I adore the 70s and I guess I am more fond of it now than when I was a little girl..Looks like these are all interesting books. You chose some of the best photos. Great review Miss b! x Kim
ReplyDeleteI would love to have this book!!! Ilina
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