Comeback Alert: 1970s Fashion
Photo by Emily Chen.
Vintage fashion has become a staple in the modern wardrobe. With social media like TikTok facilitating an endless array of niche fashion interests, it’s only logical that looks from decades past will make their way into our closets again.
Of course, there’s no question that the Y2K look – low-rise bottoms, chunky shoes, tiny purses – has dominated the fashion conversation of the 2020s thus far. Pieces from the early 2000s have been sought after in vintage stores like it’s going out of style - and perhaps it is.
Now, all signs are pointing to the 1970s as summer 2023’s decade of choice.
Shows like Amazon Prime’s “Daisy Jones & The Six” are putting this groovy decade back into the zeitgeist, with the stars sporting crochet tops, flare pants and plenty of denim.
Whether you want to look like someone who just walked out of the 1970s, or combine staple ‘70s pieces with more modern apparel, this fun summer trend has something for everybody.
The Evergreen Flare Pant
It seems like every decade has its take on flares. From the 1960s wide-leg trousers and 1990s bootcut jeans to 1970s iconic bell bottoms, this style has appeared in popular culture for over 50 years.
According to the European Fashion Heritage Association, the look did not originate from prestigious design studios but from the practical ideas of Navy sailors in the early 19th century. They created the flared leg look out of function: they were easy to roll up and easy to grab onto when [or] if somebody fell overboard.
“A lot of the ‘70s styles were copying the 1940s. Long collars on blouses and even bell-bottom jeans were influenced by the ‘40s,” said D, a dedicated employee at Replay Vintage on Fourth Street in Long Beach.
Photo by Emily Chen.
Tanya Lopez, a graduate of CSULB’s fashion design program, has plenty of flares in her wardrobe. “I would say the staple are the pants. The flare pant–that definitely stays. And the high-waisted stuff.”
The consistency of flares in fashion points to fashion’s cyclical nature.
“Flares are like current fashion. A lot of Y2K styles are just kind of modern revisions of ‘70s aesthetics. Especially the flares; things like that are kind of all callbacks.” said Ryley Ronnow, a fashion student and manager of Crossroads, a popular consignment store for modern and vintage clothes.
Kathleen Schaaf, owner of Meow Vintage on Retro Row in Long Beach, echoes the sentiment. “In true vintage it's hard to find a good ‘70s piece now. A good pair of well worn-in jeans with some zipper and lace-up action. I mean, people love that stuff.”
If you have anything flared in your closet, it’s best to hang on to it. Flares are versatile enough on their own to fit your personal style - from the discos of the 1970s to the internet-age of the 2000s.
Based on fashion’s past and future, there will always be a place for flares in your wardrobe.
Feel Like a Rockstar with the ‘Shag’ Hair cut
Created in the early ‘70s by barber Paul McGregor for Jane Fonda, this shaggy style became the ‘it’ haircut of the decade. Worn primarily by rockers and celebrities, the cut creates the perfect messy hairstyle for any gender.
The shag, not to be confused with its cousin the mullet, is characterized by choppy layers and thick curtain bangs, usually achieved with a razor. After its debut in the 1970s, the cut was popularized again in the 1990s in a softer way by stars like Jennifer Aniston and in the 2020s in the form of the ‘wolf’ cut.
Tanya Lopez. Photo by Emily Chen.
“I have the ‘wolf’ cut. I mean, that haircut is a modern day type of Farrah Fawcett ‘70s type of haircut,” said Lopez.
A cut that has never gone out of style for rock and rollers, the shag will forever be synonymous with edgy glam.
Put On Your Boogie Shoes
There’s no better way to get your groove on this summer than in a pair of platform shoes, courtesy of the 1970s.
“I’m in the market for platforms. That’s something that always catches my attention,” said Lopez. “Anything platform, like platform boots, has been coming in and out [of fashion] forever.”
Photo by Emily Chen.
Shoes with platforms have been around since the Middle Ages - albeit in a different form than today. According to The Independent UK, upper-class women of the 14th century fastened leather straps around wooden platforms to protect their precious feet from the muddy ground - and the higher the shoe, the more “noble” the wearer. Perhaps some of that carries over today.
More modernized platforms were worn in the 1930s by movie stars like Judy Garland and Carmen Miranda, but not until the 1970s did the tried and true platform shoe emerge.
“I love platform shoes,” said Long Beach student Olivia Pfost. “In the ‘50s, women wore kitten heels. So in the ‘70s, when platform shoes were coming in, it was empowering for women.”
Disco brought platform shoes to the height of their popularity in the ‘70s. Let’s face it–it’s more comfortable to dance the night away in platforms than stilettos.
Venture Into Vintage
For students and young people, the rise of ‘70s fashion correlates with the rise of vintage as a whole. Students say thrifting, second hand shopping and vintage-wear are sometimes the preferred choice over fast fashion and designer options.
“I like that thrifting is a thing. I feel like it’s accessible clothing and has affordable options for people. And it’s a way out of fast fashion,” said CSULB student Laura Lopez. “I do feel like the trend right now is to go back to old styles. I see a lot more ‘70s and ‘80s stuff with color in [thrift stores].”
Student Anahi Ordaz frequents thrift shops in search of more goth-style clothes, but can’t ignore what else is in store. “I feel like I have found a lot more vintage ‘70s and ‘60s stuff with color and patterns.”
Photo by Emily Chen.
“Androgyny was a very big thing in the ‘70s. Like, men wore women's clothes, women wore men's clothes, and it wasn't weird at all,” said Olivia Pfost on why ‘70s fashion resonates with her. “And I feel like that's something that’s true now. Because people are exploring what gender means and fashion especially can help express this.”
According to Ryley, as opposed to a trend which is usually two to five years, and a fad which usually lasts six to twelve months, “a style that’s consistently relevant for 20 years or longer is considered to be a classic. Parts of ‘70s style at this point would be considered classic because they're just as relevant as they were when they were first being produced.”
Exploring vintage and retro fashion is a great way to find pieces that suit your style regardless of current trends.
“Yeah, [the 1970s] are definitely on the upswing again; it's not the first time we've seen a revival of the ‘70s. It's just kind of starting now for people that maybe have never experimented,” said Kathleen. “There's always people that have dressed in that certain way. Because they know it gets their body. But I think a lot of younger people haven't gone there. Because before, there was the whole Boho thing, and we're doing it again. They did it in the 2000s, and in the ‘90s there was a revival of the ‘70s, so, it all comes back.”
Tanya Lopez concurs that going back in fashion is a way to express originality. “The kids like to take a little peek into the past and find what’s cute and what’s not. It’s fun to see people go back to eras like that for fashion. It’s good to get the best parts of the decade. It just goes to show you how impactful art and fashion can be. It’s artistic, it’s expressive… it’s a good way to find a little bit of light when there’s so much clouding your mind. Fashion and art are the best way to express that.”
Lucky for us, there are plenty of places in Long Beach to find these 1970s staple styles. Retro Row on Fourth Street offers the perfect array of vintage stores to further your personal summer-style journey.