15 Once-Popular Fashion Trends From The 1970s

In the early 1970s, Vogue famously professed (via Marie Claire), "There are no rules in the fashion game, now." And, boy, was that some serious foreshadowing. The decade that saw the start of the "Star Wars" franchise, ABBA's release of "Dancing Queen," and The Beatles break up was full of eclectic fashion, with disco fever, rebellious punk passion, and New Romantic aesthetics colliding to create one of the most interesting times in history.

As with any decade, the '70s brought about some major fashion trends. And, for one of the first times, much of the period's fashion was driven by images in the ever-evolving media. The likes of the "Charlie's Angels" and "Saturday Night Fever" helped set trends, as did the musical variety series "Soul Train." 

"The fashion was fly," music industry veteran Dyana Williams recalled to CNN. "It was a combination of kind of boho hippie meets Black nationalism ... 'Soul Train' set a tone for young people at that time to wear their hair natural, to wear vests, the platform shoes, the bell bottoms, the long maxi dresses." While there are some fashion trends we can't believe were so huge (super flared jeans, we're looking at you), other popular style choices of the decade have stood the test of time, coming back into fashion with a vengeance.

Ruffles were huge in the 1970s. Literally. Almost every piece of clothing, particularly for women, was available with a ruffle — or two. The flouncy texture featured heavily on the runway too, including the Yves Saint Laurent spring/summer 1979 fashion show. Particularly trendy at the time were loose, ruffled blouses, which usually had a high neck with billowing sleeves.

For many, the uber-romantic aesthetic was a nod to the boho trend (more to come on that), as well as a rebuttal to the major hot pants trend (more to come on that, too). It offered a stylish alternative to more daring, skin-baring looks. Though it may seem oh so '70s now, ruffles made a brief comeback in 2023. The short-lived revival was part of the romantic draping trend that tapped into our sultry sartorial sides.

The boho, or bohemian, aesthetic was everywhere in the 1970s, largely due the sustained popularity of hippie culture that spilled over from the 1960s. That made way for the rise of boho dresses in particular, which were defined by their long, flowy nature and floral prints. And there's great news if this was one of your favorite '70s styles, because the previously outdated trend came back with a vengeance in 2025.

Because the feminine look is having another moment in the sun, it's easy to wear it in the modern day while still giving a nod to the decade in which it became popular. R.Vivimos' bohemian midi dress in coral pink screams '70s thanks to its vintage print and length. If you want something shorter and bolder, try the Dokotoo mini dress in floral orange for a '70s vibe that won't feel costume-y.

Jeans were one of the big 1970s trends that have seriously stood the test of time. Back then, the most popular denim bottoms were high-waisted with seriously flared ends, two styles that have made a big comeback since. In fact, flared jeans became so hot in 2025 we delved into how to style the classic for any occasion. Part of the reason jeans as a whole became so popular was thanks to designers like Calvin Klein, who turned the garment into a luxury item.

"I think the whole point of jeans is that almost anything that I design for women or for men that is to be worn above the waist ... can be worn with jeans," Klein said in 1979. "I think it's something that's a classic. I think it's something that will always be a part of American lifestyle," he added. And he certainly wasn't wrong.

Like the boho aesthetic, paisley print was also massive in the 1970s. It was another spillover from the decade prior, but has a deeper history than many might realize. As Mary-Ann Bartlett Dunkley, Liberty's design director, explained to British Vogue, "[Paisley has] seamlessly moved between style eras and subcultures — from ancient Persia to Victorian shawls to 1960s psychedelia. It holds history and tells a story." And that story dates all the way back to the BC era, long before it became the print of the '70s and was spotted on fashion's elite.

Though paisley has gone in and out of fashion since, 2025 saw it officially back on trend, but in a more modern way. Allie Pellerano-Rendón, CEO and co-founder of The Collection Atelier, previously told Women in an exclusive interview, "This classic pattern has been reimagined on the runways of Saint Laurent, Etro, and Isabel Marant, taking on a more sophisticated edge."

Though there were several aesthetics floating around as we left the 1960s behind, punk was one of the strongest. British designer Vivienne Westwood, one of the notable figures leading the charge into the new decade, is widely credited as originating the fashion movement. Her edgy, then-modern pieces pushed for social change and rebellion. Studded clothing, biker jackets, unkempt garments with intentional holes, and chains rose as the antithesis of the romantic, glitzy fashion trends of the time.

Fashion trailblazer Westwood, who also led the New Romantic movement, spoke in an Amnesty International film about why she adopted the punk look and began creating clothing for people who wanted to bring about social change. "I was so upset with what was going on in the world. I just couldn't stand the idea of being people tortured and that we even had such a thing as war," the late fashion icon said (via British Vogue). "I hated the older generation, who had not done anything about it. Punk was a call-to-arms for me."

In direct contrast to the punk aesthetic, one of the other big trends of the 1970s was disco. Bold, sequin dresses were a hugely on trend as the world embraced dance music, with the Bee Gees and ABBA heating up the charts. The fun, sparkly aesthetic echoed the glam and maximalism of disco.

The upbeat music of the era led to a surge in disco clubs, including the iconic New York City nightclub Studio 54, which opened in 1977 and heavily influenced the style of the time. But it wasn't just light-catching dresses that encapsulated the fun and flirty vibe. Sequin jumpsuits were big business too, usually with a halterneck top and (very!) flared bottoms.

Sequins made a comeback in a less dramatic way in 2024 — but they're still not for the fainthearted. Back in the day, more was more, but to wear the sparkly style in a modern way, choose a single piece with embellishments to avoid going overboard and looking dated. After all, Studio 54 has closed, and so has the all-over sequin trend. For a modern twist on the classic, try the SOLY HUX halter top in black, with jeans or the Happy Sailed sequin skirt.

Leather was highly sought after in the 1970s, with almost every kind of clothing available in the material. Leather jackets with studs and safety pins were particularly huge thanks to the rise in punk fashion, but rock 'n' roll music was also inspiring designers, with the likes of Led Zeppelin, The Who, and Black Sabbath dominating the charts. Leather was prominent on bottom halves too, with leather pants giving jackets a run for their money.

Leather boots also had a huge moment, with Frye boots gaining popularity in New York City before spreading across the nation. The long shoe was huge in tan shades, with all the biggest stars of the era clambering for a pair. Then-sales manager Rudy Weeks told The New York Times in 1976 that the likes of Barbra Streisand, Bette Midler, Carole King, and Liza Minnelli were all on the waiting list for the footwear.

Look at any fashion history book and you'll notice a slew of women wearing halter-neck pieces in the 1970s. The trendy style, which highlights the chest and shoulders and usually fastens around the back of the neck, became the go-to style for everything from dresses, to tops, to jumpsuits. One of the big reasons so many women embraced the look? Not only was it modern and stylish, but it worked without a bra. The decade prior saw many feminists ditch their bras, and the halter-neck style offered a little extra support for a braless look.

Nothing represents this era quite like the boho and crochet-inspired '70s cami dress from Verdusa. For a halter-neck top, try the RoseSeek tropical paisley print halter blouse. That'll get you in on the paisley print trend, too.

Leaning into the hippie vibe of the time, crochet fashion was major. While tops were particularly popular, so were dresses, skirts, bags, ponchos, and pretty much anything else that could be fashioned from wool. People weren't just heading to the store to buy crochet items, though. Many were making their garments themselves. Crafting was huge following the social unrest of the previous decade, and many people sought ways to create clothing pieces that felt more authentic and natural

Though crochet hasn't returned it quite such a big way since, it has enjoyed at least one comeback. Crochet was a 2023 summer trend that saw plenty of fashionistas taking to social media to show off their homemade designs. The ever-stylish Taylor Swift also brought the '70s vibes the following year in a purple, yellow, and brown crochet mini dress, which she paired with chunky, butter yellow mules.

It's hard to ignore the wild success of the wrap dress. The revolutionary style was spearheaded by legendary designer Diane von Furstenberg, who debuted the flattering new way to tie a dress in 1974. And it blew up. Anyone who's anyone owned a wrap dress during the decade, with von Furstenberg telling BBC News, "[By] some magic thing, it took off." The success of the ensemble has been attributed to how it offered (and still offers) working women a sophisticated alternative to the menswear-inspired looks many felt they had to wear in the workplace. According to Time, von Furstenberg's creation was so popular she'd sold 1 million wrap dresses by 1976.

But, as von Furstenberg pointed out, the wrap dress's success certainly wasn't confined to the '70s. The dress has continued to rise in popularity and is still a staple in the 2020s, with everyone from Selena Gomez to Kate Middleton rocking the style. One striking version of the wrap dress is even ranked among Middleton's pre-royal outfits we can't stop thinking about. 

The fashion trailblazer explained, "It's never actually happened that a dress has survived 50 years and that's even more of a revolution than the first time." That success is likely down to the attention and thought she put into the design. As she told Elle, "The two things that inspire me in life are women and nature, and with the wrap dress, I honor women and I honor nature."

Super short shorts, coined hot pants, dominated the streets, runways, clubs – and everywhere else for that matter — in the early 1970s, with women across the nation and beyond embracing showing their legs in the curve-hugging garments. Though the trend was as short-lived as the hemline, it burned bright for a time as a symbol of women's liberation. It was even adopted by those who didn't feel comfortable showing so much skin, with some wearing hot pants with colored tights for a flirty yet conservative twist.

"They feel like a most confident garment. They pack a lot of attitude and allow the wearer freedom," fashion designer Alix Pietrafesa told Coveteur as the trend resurged in 2021. "It's liberating to show the curves of your body, to flash so much leg, without the limitations that a miniskirt presents," she added. And that's oh so '70s.

Jumpsuits, sometimes referred to as catsuits, were another hugely popular garment that signified a change in attitudes. Women had previously been expected to wear dresses and skirts, which could prove restrictive. Not only did jumpsuits introduce a fun and easy way to wear pants, they also offered women more freedom to move. That's why the decade saw so many jumpsuits worn in nightclubs, allowing the wearer to dance to their heart's content. Flared and halter-neck versions were especially trendy takes, as were garments covered in sequins.

The all-in-one style was particularly prevalent in the media. Jumpsuits were a favorite of the "Charlie's Angels" ladies after the original TV series debuted in 1976. The glamorous trio sported matching, full-sequin numbers during an appearance on "Inside Television: ABC '76," with stars Kate Jackson and Jaclyn Smith both opting to be extra on-trend with halter-neck versions.

Pearl jewelry has come and gone multiple times since the 1970s, but when it was big, it was big. In the 1970s, the world's most glamorous stars were dripping in pearls, including Joan Collins who had a penchant for pearl necklaces. Part of the reason pearl jewelry surged in popularity again was because of changes in how pearls were produced. The rise in hippie culture encouraged many to tone down their unsustainable jewelry habits and look toward sustainability, which made pearls the perfect accessory due to the forward strides made in the cultured pearl industry.

But not everyone was looking to cultured pearls. As more people turned to hippie ways of life, some groups embraced faux pearls over the real deal. That included faux, colored pearls and beads, such as those used for the LAYWAF imitation pearl necklace or the Kim Carrey pearl bracelet.

Matching sets dominated the 1970s, with many huge stars of the time embracing matchy-matchy fashion. Cher, in particular, was the queen of the co-ord, rocking multiple cohesive pieces, especially on stage. Olivia Newton John proved to be just as on trend, as she was snapped in a matching, patterned, white look during a 1978 photoshoot. Styling pieces in the same print demonstrated how much fun '70s fashion was, but it also offered women a quick and easy way to dress, which was needed as more women headed to the workplace. The end of the 1970s marked the first time in history when more than 50% of U.S. women were part of the workforce.

Though co-ords stayed buried for a while after the '70s, they had a big resurgence in the 2020s. "They are actually a classic," celebrity stylist Priyanka Kapadia told The Nod. "Women love them and they're easy outfits to put together, because let's be honest, we're all busy, so sometimes thinking about our clothes is not really an option," she added. Co-ords have come a long way since the '70s, but there are still pieces available that deliver the era's vibe. Aim for top and trouser pieces in fun prints, such as the Miss Fame modal printed co-ord set or the co-ord suit from Chipbeys.

No one shoe defined the 1970s quite like the platform. The XL heel was worn by men and women, it's popularity likely due to the hugely trendy disco aesthetic that ruled supreme. But the fun footwear had a more practical use too. Platforms fit perfectly under the elongated pant shape of the bell-bottoms and flares worn by so many, and stopped clothing from skimming the ground (which could hinder dancing in disco clubs).

For a shoe so era-defining, platforms have come and gone multiple times since the '70s. The shoe was huge again in the '90s (thanks, Spice Girls!), but the chunky shoe was officially declared outdated in 2025. "Chunky platform heels that had made a strong return are also on the decline," Ira Lysa, CEO of Imperial Alterations, previously told Women in an exclusive interview. But even though they may be outdated, there's no doubting platform shoes have made a serious impact on fashion history that can never be erased.