Throwback Pics From The Oscars Red Carpet That Highlight Peak '70s Style

A lot can be said about '70s style, but a look at the outfits stars wore to the decade's Oscars (aka the Academy Awards) can tell you more about peak '70s fashion than a semester at fashion school ever could. The biggest celebs of the era pushed serious boundaries when it came to their red carpet looks, with everything from a Studio 54-esque sequin jumpsuit to a leopard-print bikini (really) making appearances at the biggest night of the year in movies

But the time's most notable female stars also proved how varied '70s fashion was when they strutted their stuff. Amidst the risqué numbers that would still raise eyebrows today, other familiar faces opted for the likes of more conservative pantsuits, Edwardian-inspired lace dresses, and boho numbers that represented some of the '70s most popular fashion trends. The decade was all about women throwing out the rulebook and feeling freer to express themselves through fashion than ever before. And these red carpet throwback photos to prove it.

Cher wore an embellished, sheer, co-ord in the form of a long-sleeve crop top and matching maxi skirt when she and the late Sonny Bono walked the 1973 Oscars red carpet together. Co-ords were huge in the '70s as part of the rise of disco fashion, which Cher's look had in spades. But just because it was trendy, that didn't mean it wasn't risqué. The heavily embellished two-piece turned so many heads that her stylist Bob Mackie told the New Yorker it helped cement the singer and actor's status as a risk-taking style icon. "It wasn't until a little later, when we started showing a little midriff, that people started getting excited," he said. But while there's little doubt the two-piece (one of Cher's best Mackie-styled red carpet moments) was very of the time, it also proved her status as an ahead-of-her-time fashionista and how cyclical '70s fashion was. The color trend made a huge comeback decades later, as Kate Middleton even jumped on the butter-yellow trend for a 2025 garden party. 

Just as iconic as the outfit was Cher's hair. The star spearheaded the poker-straight, middle-part hairstyle that trended alongside more voluminous styles. Celebrity hairstylist and colourist Harry Josh told Refinery29 that she would use an iron to keep her locks smooth — just don't try that at home. Cher's look is considered so iconic for the decade that Kim Kardashian and Jonathan "Foodgod" Cheban recreated the his-and-hers fits for Halloween 2017.

No one made a statement on the Oscars red carpet quite like the late fashion boundary-pusher Raquel Welch. In 1979, she brought serious Studio 54 vibes (the New York nightclub that had a major impact on fashion) to the red carpet in her plunging, electric-blue, strappy jumpsuit that was totally covered in sequins. Jumpsuits were another huge trend (one that spilled over from the '60s), and combined two staple elements of disco dressing. She even got in on '70s accessory trends via her gold, layered choker.

The actor demanded attention in her sparkly number, which made sense, as she was one of the most popular bombshells of the time. Welch had a slight lull in her career in 1979, though. She'd appeared in a string of movies in the decade, like "Fuzz" and "The Prince and the Pauper," but her only acting credit for the year was a two-episode appearance in "Mork & Mindy." Shimmering in a daring red carpet number that bordered on inappropriate for such a formal event, where women traditionally wore elegant dresses, was one way to get back in the headlines. 

This very '70s getup was still inspiring people decades later, too. Welch shared a throwback snap from the night on Instagram in 2017, and one fan commented, "Girl, we gotta get some sequined jumpsuits!" It's also an old-school '70s trend we'd love to see return.

Jane Fonda demonstrated just how varied '70s fashion was when she walked the 1979 Oscars red carpet in a look very different from Raquel Welch's that year. The "80 for Brady" actor represented the era's love for boho and new romantic fashions while posing with her second Academy Award, for Best Actress in a Leading Role category for "Coming Home." Her off-the-shoulder, muted gray gown featured sheer, flowy, trumpet sleeves and a delicate floral pattern.

But there was still a disco element to her mature outfit. It had chunky sequins all over, which made her look every inch the A-lister in the camera flashes. She also accessorized with an embellished waist belt. Not only did that add a very disco-esque sparkle, but it also made the flowy fit more flattering by adding a little structure without undoing the breezy, floaty style that's synonymous with the boho aesthetic. Doubling down on her '70s vibes? Her long hair has voluminous curls and plenty of body.

Edy Williams made a shocking move at the 1974 Oscars when she arrived on the red carpet in a leopard-print bikini under a fur coat. She paired the seriously bold look (which wouldn't fit the event's dress code today) with gold hoop earrings and a simple gold chain — not that anyone noticed her accessories. The TV star's provocative two-piece, which is still widely considered one of the most shocking looks in Oscars red carpet history, assimilated with the rising popularity of animal prints and fur in the '70s, which was seemingly influenced by women's changing attitudes toward life and fashion.

Many women felt more liberated as sexual freedom became more widely accepted, which translated to showing more skin and taking provocative fashion risks. Though sexism was far from conquered, the decade saw a notable spike in feminism. That may explain why Williams didn't feel she needed to abide by outdated expectations for women to attend the event in a conservative, formal gown. Times haven't changed enough to make bikinis Oscars-appropriate, though leopard print is a trend from the '70s that many older women still love.

Edy Williams took another major fashion risk at the 1977 Oscars. This time, the actor showed skin in a plunging, gold-and-champagne top connected to a sheer skirt via an eye-catching blue gemstone. The skirt was open at the front to show her matching briefs as she strutted her stuff while holding a dog in one hand and a fur wrap in the other. The cohesive look aligned with the rise in see-through garments that were sent down the runway by major fashion houses like Yves Saint Laurent and Halston. She again demonstrated how women were taking more risks via provocative clothing, and this look isn't one we'd be surprised to see Kim Kardashian in today.

Williams was quizzed on why she repeatedly hit the Oscars red carpet in revealing and non-traditional ensembles during an appearance on Wally George's "Hot Seat" in 1986. "I have a good sense of humor about myself and I like to have fun," she replied. "What's wrong with a woman showing off her body? A woman shows off her hair a woman shows off her ear lobe, why can't a woman show off her body?" she asked, noting she worked hard to keep herself in shape and wanted to show the world.

In stark contrast to Edy Williams' uber-provocative outfits, fellow actor Dyan Cannon demonstrated a dramatically different trend that was everywhere in the '70s. On the 1977 Oscars red carpet, the actor wore a long, white, off-the-shoulder gown. The piece featured delicate lace across the chest and hem and a star pattern down the bodice. It represented the juxtaposition between women's sexual liberation and the concurrent infiltration of more traditional and conservative Edwardian-era-inspired fashion.

Cannon's maxi dress, paired with her '70s bombshell, voluminous 'do, combined the more traditionally feminine and romantic elements many also embraced in the decade. The aesthetic was gentle and delicate and showed a softer side to Cannon, who had gained notoriety for raunchier roles, like 1969's "Bob & Carol & Ted & Alice." Adorably, the star's daughter, Jennifer Grant (whom she shared with her former husband Cary Grant), attended the event with her mom, and the two wore similar Edwardian-inspired looks, showing how this aesthetic worked for all ages.

Sleeveless knit vests were on anyone who was anyone in the '70s, but it was rare to see the more casual piece on the red carpet. Model Paulene Stone found a way to make the hugely popular garment Academy Awards-appropriate at the 1973 Oscars, though, as she wore a plunging gown that incorporated the cozy piece in an uber-glamorous way. The long dress featured billowy sleeves (another hugely popular aesthetic of the time) under a sparkly, seemingly built-in sweater vest top.

The star attended the event alongside her then-husband, the late Laurence Harvey, and hinted to Publishing Business that the looks from her modeling heyday — she became an in-demand model in the '60s — were mostly her own doing. She admitted the likes of personal makeup artists and hairdressers weren't readily available to models, which meant personal stylists were likely out of the question too. That may explain why she relied so heavily on trends and looked to what others were wearing to hit the mark on the red carpet.

Actor Susan George attended the 1975 Oscars with singer Jack Jones in a monochrome white ensemble, including a statement-making white fur-look coat. It's not clear if the outerwear was real fur, but wearing anything that resembled it in the '70s was a surefire way to get noticed. Though fur in fashion was popular, animal rights activists had begun raising concerns about the treatment of animals. As a result, faux-fur pieces had become more readily available, which likely got people talking about whether George was wearing the real thing.

Though bold colors were everywhere in the '70s, monochrome black and/or white outfits were popular as well. And George was seriously committed to the single-color vibe. She paired her fur garment with what appeared to be a white maxi dress and white clutch and carried a single pink rose, which popped against her light ensemble.

The wrap dress made a serious splash in the '70s when fashion designer Diane von Furstenberg introduced the effortlessly flattering style to the world. Though wrap dresses were considered more formal than other styles (such as the halter-neck dress), eternal fashionista Raquel Welch found a way to make it work on one of the most formal red carpets. At the 1973 Oscars, the late actor wore a plunging, satin, strapless gown that mimicked the crossover of a wrap dress without being one via its tulip-style skirt. The shiny, pink material made the dress flirty and feminine, while her black fur wrap only added to the glamor.

Welch's Farrah Fawcett-esque voluminous curls (one of the hairstyles from the '70s that made a huge comeback) were also very of the time, but she made a smart move by not going overboard with her jewelry. Though statement jewelry was big, Welch's wise move to keep her décolletage bare kept attention on her dress and prevented her ensemble from looking like a costume.

Actor Vanessa Redgrave posed with her Oscar at the 1978 ceremony in a black, oversized dress that showed how big exaggerated sleeves were at the time. Literally. Her almost-off-the-shoulder gown featured dramatic trumpet sleeves with red edging around the neckline and sleeves, with a delicate bow on each shoulder. The billowy sleeves appeared even more exaggerated as she lifted her arms to show her Oscar for Best Actress in a Supporting Role for "Julia." Though her oversized dress can't be classified as fully disco due to its lack of bright color and sequins, it still tapped into one of the decade's most popular aesthetics. Shiny materials came to the fashion forefront thanks to the rise of the sparkly, bold clothing movement, and, though dark, the ensemble still shone as the cameras flashed.

The 'fit may have represented Redgrave's life and fashion maturing. The decade prior, she was snapped wearing the era's popular bright, psychedelic, hippie-inspired prints. At the Academy Awards, though, she was just days away from celebrating her 41st birthday, which may explain why she preferred to dip into '70s trends in a more subtle way that made her feel comfortable and represented her new stage in life.

Anjelica Huston was all about the sparkle and sequin trend that dominated the '70s as she posed with fellow actor Jack Nicholson at the 1975 Oscars. Huston's dress worked for her style, as she isn't known for regularly experimenting with bold colors. The long-sleeve dress featured a fish scale pattern all over, which prevented the muted lavender number from looking too drab or flat, yet she brought the '70s disco vibe via the all-over sequins. The shiny pieces made "The Addams Family" actor sparkle on the red carpet, but also provided a masterclass in adopting trends in a way that feels true to your own style.

Huston's accessories also helped keep the fit on trend for the time. She took part in the overstated, costume-jewelry trend via her long, beaded necklace. The dangling beads brought a little breezy bohemian to the star's aesthetic, and the mix of purple and clear beads perfectly fit her ensemble's cool-tone color palette.

By 1976, after decades of women traditionally gravitating toward dresses and skirts, Diane Keaton showed how women were leaving behind outdated fashion expectations and embracing suits. Keaton attended the Academy Awards in a white two-piece with excessively wide pants — a '70s fashion trend we hope never comes back. She paired it with a blue-and-white satin shirt and an oversized blue polka-dot tie. The prints clashed, but it seemed that was the late star's intention. Queen icon Freddie Mercury famously wore a lot of clashing prints in the '70s, and "The First Wives Club" actor was clearly leaning into the era's menswear trends. That was no surprise considering the style icon, who made pantsuits her signature look, told WWD she sought style inspiration from the people she saw on the streets.

The look seemingly also represented women gravitating toward the workplace, as Propel HR claimed over 50% of women were employed by 1980. Though women were still paid far less than men, that didn't stop them from emulating their style in a more fashion-forward way. That may explain why pantsuits, which are more practical and comfortable than many dresses and skirts, became more common for women in the '70s.

Liza Minnelli served peak '70s fashion in her bright orange co-ord at the 1973 Oscars. While clutching her Oscar for Best Actress for "Cabaret," it was obvious she had her finger on the fashion pulse. Co-ords were popular, and Minnelli co-signed the aesthetic in her exact-match cardigan and long dress, putting a twist on the more traditional matching top and pants. The outfit appeared to be the iconic singer and actor's way of putting a more formal spin on the Studio 54-inspired fashion of the era, which was all about fun. Though she hadn't gone for full-on sequins, the bold color and looser fit (which looked like it would have been easy to dance in) were still oh-so-disco.

The eye-catching color that kept all eyes on her was ideal considering Minnelli, who worked closely with the iconic fashion house Halston at the time, had started to carve out a hugely successful career and became a bona fide movie star thanks to "Cabaret." The deeply '70s vibe was also anchored by her theatrical jewelry. She added a statement-making, very on-trend multi-colored choker, plus a long, gold chain.