Mens Fashion 1970 - 1979

A Look Back at Men's Fashion of the 1970s

Next up in our Men's Fashion Through the Decades Series are the 1970s. The 1970s was an extremely important era for men’s fashion. Hot on the heels of the style that practically defined the 1960s, ‘70s fashion is very often what modern men speak of when talking about “vintage” or “retro” clothing. While there were certainly plenty of style elements that emerged in the ‘60s and quickly disappeared, it can be very helpful to look back on this decade when trying to gain a better understanding of modern men’s fashion. Consider all of the following, which will help you to paint a clear picture of how fashion in the 1970s took not only America by storm, but influenced much of the rest of the world as well.

Early ‘70s Style
Much of the style that characterized the early part of the 1970s was carried over from the late ‘60s, in which “hippie” fashion grew out of the far more fashion-forward Mod look that became so popular in England. Bell-bottom jeans were immensely popular for both men and women, as well as those which were heavily frayed. Tie-dyed shirts were also commonly worn, and dramatically influenced the look of youth during this time. Around 1972, however, things began to change when the “glam” trend become en vogue. Men’s attire shifted towards attention-grabbing silver suits, rhinestones, quilted jackets and even velvet trousers. David Bowie characterized this style in ways that few others could. While this look may have originated in Britain, it quickly spread to America; Hollywood, in particular.

The Disco Era
The picture displayed above says it all! It is an actual image from the JC Penny Catalog from 1975. IN short, if the ‘70s are known for anything, it’s disco. Disco all but took over the world of nightlife during the latter half of the decade, and dramatically changed the way men dressed. Men shifted towards three-piece suits, which usually featured extremely wide lapels, flared pants and vests; often in bold colors. Ties once again became exceptionally wide, and were usually worn with shirts that featured long, pointed collars (similar to the Barrymore collar of the ‘20s). Man-made fabrics such as polyester began to work their way into a great deal of different styles of clothing that were found on the market, giving pieces produced during this era a unique look that differs quite dramatically from those of today. Disco fashion is often considered to be a thing of the past, although revivalists passionately cling to this period-specific look.

Neckwear (1970 – 1979)
Towards the end of the 1960s ties became ultra wide – a trend that carried over into the 1970s. Elvis Presley for example stopped wearing his black tie, and in 1970s came on stage wearing the infamous Kipper Tie – a ultra wide (6 inch) necktie decorated with bold motives and colors.
Also worth noting, the growing popularity of the Bolo Tie (aka Western Tie) after the state of Arizona made this leather strap their official state neckwear in 1971.

Takeaways for the Modern Man
For those who are looking to incorporate 1970s fashion into their own look, doing so isn’t quite as easy as one might think. After all, disco fashion has completely fallen out of style, and the hippie look that characterized the early part of the decade was typically considered to consist of a somewhat lazy take on fashion. That said, bell-bottom jeans are beginning to find their way back into the limelight, and can be attractive when worn with the right ensemble. You might also want to consider fabrics that were popular during this time; suede and polyester were everywhere, and just because the styles they found themselves in have fallen off doesn’t mean that the materials themselves don’t have a place in modern men’s fashion.

Other Suggested Articles:
The Prior Decade: Mens Fashion 1960 - 1969
The History of the Baseball Cap

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