Fancy Dress 1970s style guide

The 1970s are now a distant memory, their impact on popular culture still echoing to this day. But where the decade is most remembered and referenced is in its clothing styles. Looking back on what people wore in the 1970s can be a bit of an eye-opener for those with contemporary taste - ladies dressed in miniskirts and platform shoes, head-to-toe denim, flares and afros - but it also provides plenty of inspiration for anyone wanting to put together an outfit from this era!

So if you're reading this and you happen to be considering your options for fancy dress costume ideas, take a look below at some of the best places to get inspiration from this iconic period.

Mannequins

Let's face it, mannequins are for looking not for getting dressed. However, if your fancy dress outfit needs a little help getting into shape, a good old fashioned mannequin is the way to go. You can get a vintage looking mannequin from any good antiques store or dress shop and all you need to do is dress the mannequin in whatever you want.

Vintage Clothes

Vintage clothes are generally easier to get your hands on than those from the 1960s or 1970s and there are a lot of stores online where you can find some pretty awesome outfits - second hand and up-cycled clothes. As well as putting together a costume for yourself, if you look out for people in vintage clothing you can be one of the gang without even having to dress up!

You could also try getting together a vintage look with old-school brands such as Dior, Lacoste and Versace. These offer classic looks that will always be in style. Here are a few ideas for dressing up vintage style.

Vintage Fashion Magazines

Another good place to get some ideas from your local library is a vintage fashion magazine. There are plenty of periodicals including Vogue, Elle and Marie Claire which will give you a good indication of what people were wearing in the 1970s. Some of the greatest fashion icons of all time came out of that era and there are plenty of lessons to be learned from them. Marilyn Monroe's style is still relevant today, combining glamour with a relaxed bohemian feel while Jackie Kennedy showed us how to be elegant without looking like your costume's hanging off you - instead choosing slightly loose fitting clothes which look effortlessly chic.

Hairdo's

There are plenty of great hair styles to be seen in the 1970s. In the same way that mannequins were dressed in the 70s, try dressing up a hairpiece such as a wig or headpiece and get all dolled up. This is a great way of getting into character without having to spend hours on your hair. You can also dress an old flat-iron for some retro vibes by attaching a ribbon so you can use it as a brooch. Playing around with accessories will bring vintage fashion back to life, especially if you're trying to look like you're from that era.

Fashion Magazines

Fashion magazines of the time will give you some awesome insight into how people were dressing in the 1970s. Take a look through Annie Liebowitz's work as well as other mags such as Cosmopolitan, Women's Wear Daily, Vogue and Glamour. You can also take a look at websites such as www.pinterest.com which have plenty of examples of how other people have interpreted the 1970s in terms of fashion.

TV and Film

If you want to get some good inspiration for that 70s look, make sure you keep your eyes peeled for any TV or film that takes place in this decade. There are plenty of examples to be seen - from Grease to The Brady Bunch and even The Love Boat! Some TV shows even featured people dressed in period costumes, such as Laverne & Shirley and Happy Days, so keeping an eye out for these kind of shows is a great way to see what people wore in the 70s.

Film is also an excellent avenue to look at when trying your hand at getting into a 70s style. Bad Guys and Pretty in Pink are excellent examples of comedies which made their points with a whimsical and funny tone of voice, while films such as The Last Detail, Taxi Driver, Grease and Carrie make sure they give you a great peek into the fashion of the era.

Fashion Cartoons

Cartoons are another way to get creative with your costume ideas. Some of the best fashion cartoonists and illustrators of the 1970s include such names as Robert Osbourne and John Magnuson. Cartoons always look great when paired with other vintage assets, giving your costume that quirky 70s feel.

Music

The best place to find inspiration for an outfit from the time is in the music. A lot of modern day music has a very 70s vibe about it, which is why we're seeing 70s styles make a comeback on the fashion scene.

Flannels

One of the best pieces of fashion to come out of the 70s was flannels. They were so popular that even a review in Time magazine indicated that "only Brits understand flannel". Despite the iconic look of 1970s flannel, you don't have to spend a lot on them - you can get a vintage pair from any decent vintage store. We recommend Ribbed, Graham and Webb. They're available online as well as in store throughout Brighton and Hove.

Hats

If you're after some headwear ideas for your costume then take a look at some 70s style hats. Lots of fashion magazines and publications have fun stories about the headwear of the time. For example, Vogue revealed that in 1974, "Brainstorm and Cher wore "sideburns" on their heads, while David Bowie rocked a beehive."

Of course, you could always go for a classic fedora or pork pie hat - but you could also do something different with a hard-to-find style such as a Panama or Louisiana Bacony. You can get some great vintage fedoras from www.floralandfancy.com while Panama hats are available from Frank Bonansea's Antique Hatters in Brighton (www.antiquefunshop.co.

Conclusion

There's no reason why you can't create the perfect 1970s look for any event. If you're not sure where to start then don't hesitate to contact us - we've got plenty of ideas!

We hope this has been helpful and if you have any more questions then do get in touch!

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