Fashions of the 1970s shocked some parents and grandparents as they saw young people’s styles so different from what they were familiar with. Halter tops seemed risqué and wrap dresses could easily be undone.
I remember getting my first pair of bell bottom pants. They felt weird at first with the tight tops that flared into a bell at the knee. My friends all got them, so I felt stylish and accepted with mine if I wore them to a festival or picnic.
Platform shoes were also the trend in the 70s. If you wore bell bottoms without them, the pants were too long. Bell bottom pants were made to wear with 3” thick heels or platform shoes. They felt funny and awkward to walk in, but they were the latest style!
Punk rock eventually became popular at this time. Thick makeup made some musicians look far away from the norm. Clothing included lots of metal, and if you wore a metal belt, you were in style.
Jumpsuits for men and women were very popular. They were made from a variety of fabrics, including denim. Big, extra-large collars were on men’s shirts and women’s blouses. You could finish off the look if you really wanted to be stylish with aviator sunglasses and large yellow gold jewelry.
Those who lived in the 1970s tried many different styles of clothing. If celebrities and musicians wore a certain style, fans would eventually copy their look.
There was a large division between people who were teens and somewhat older and the rest of the population. People were shocked when the first saw some of the 1970s styles, but teens had lots of fun wearing these clothes.
