1970S IN FASHION – DISCO DECADE1970S IN FASHION – DISCO DECADE

1970s fashion, which began with a continuation of the mini skirts, bell-bottoms and

the androgynous hippie look from the late 1960s, was soon sharply characterized by several

distinct fashion trends that have left an indelible image of the decade commemorated in

popular culture. These include platform shoes which appeared on the fashion scene in 1971

and often had soles two to four inches thick. Both men and women wore them. Wide-legged,

flared jeans and trousers were another fashion mainstay for both men and women throughout

most of the decade, and this style has been immortalised in the 1977 film Saturday Night

Fever, which starred John Travolta. The "disco look", complete with three-piece suits for

men and rayon or jersey wrap dresses for women, which the film further popularized, lasted

until it was gradually replaced by punk fashion and straight, cigarette-legged jeans. Platform

shoes gave way to mules and ankle-strapped shoes, both reminiscent of the 1940s, at the very

end of the decade.

EARLY TO MID-1970S

The decade began with a continuation of the hippie look from the 1960s. Jeans

remained frayed, and the Tie dye shirts and Mexican peasant blouses were still popular. In

addition to the mini skirt, mid-calf-length dresses called "midis" and ankle-length dresses

called "maxis" were also worn in 1970 and 1971, thus offering women three different skirt

lengths.

By the early 1970s, miniskirts had reached an all-time popularity. This young English

woman is wearing a fringed suede miniskirt

Teenage couple in California, 1975. The girl is wearing a crop top and high-waisted

trousers. The boy is dressed in the classic t-shirt and jeans, popular male attire in the

1970s

This photo taken in 1974, shows a girl inspired by the British glam rock craze which had a

brief influence on fashion. Her glitter-adorned dress comes from Granny Takes a Trip

boutique

In 1971, extremely brief, tight-fitting shorts, called hot pants, were a fashion craze for

girls and young women. Throughout the period, trousers for both sexes, though flared at leg

bottoms, were very tight and revealing from the lower thighs up. Another trend for both

sexes was the fitted blazer, which flared slightly at the hip. It came in a variety of fabrics,

including wool, velvet, suede, and leather. The buttons were covered and the lapels wide.

The jersey wrap dress, first designed by Diane von Fürstenberg in 1972, became an

extremely popular item, as it flattered a number of different body types and sizes, and could

be worn both to the office by day, and to nightclubs and discos by night.

For teenage girls and young women the crop top was often worn, sometimes with a

halter neck or else tied in a knot above the midriff. By the mid-1970s hip-huggers were gone,

replaced by the high-waisted jeans and trousers with wide, flared legs. In Britain, they were

often referred to as "Loon pants". These lasted until the end of the decade when the straight,

cigarette-leg jeans came into vogue.

In Britain and Ireland, in the early to mid-1970s, there was the bootboy subculture

which influenced youthful male attire with the "parallel jeans", which were flared jeans that

stopped at mid-calf. These were worn with heavy workman's "bovver" boots, braces, (US

suspenders), and denim jackets. Their hair was usually worn longish by the middle of the

decade.

LATE 1970S

Group of friends in 1979. Two of the women are wearing the trendy tube tops, while the

woman on the far left is wearing a rayon strapless dress

Swedish model Ulla Jones dressed in a lurex halter top and matching flared trousers

Fashion influences during the late 1970s included peasant clothing, such as blouses

with laces or off-the-shoulder necklines, inspired by those worn in the 17th century. Yves St

Laurent introduced the peasant look in 1976, and it became very influential. Skirts were

gathered into tiers and shoulder lines dropped. Camisoles were worn. Clothing became very

unstructured and fluid at this point. Embroidered clothing, either self-made or imported from

Mexico or India also enjoyed favour. Floral-patterned prints were in fashion. Fake-flower

chokers and hair combs were often worn with the peasant skirts. In 1977, the ruffled

sundress coupled with a tight t-shirt worn underneath enjoyed a brief popularity. [5] The

wrinkled look for women enjoyed a brief vogue in 1975, as did flared denim skirts which

ended just below the knee. Trendy colours were dusty rose, Prussian blue, bottle green, rust,

and brown.

Flared jeans and trousers were popular with both sexes as can be seen at this German

disco in 1977

DISCO STYLE

With the popularization of disco and the increasing availability and diversity man-

made fabrics, a drastic change occurred in mainstream fashion, the likes of which had not

been seen since the 1920s. All styles of clothing were affected by the disco style, especially

those of men. Men began to wear stylish three-piece suits (which became available in a

bewildering variety of colours) which were characterized by wide lapels, wide legged or

flared trousers, and high-rise waistcoats (US vests). Neckties became wider and bolder, and

shirt collars became long and pointed in a style reminiscent of the "Barrymore" collar that

had been popular in the 1920s. The zippered jumpsuit was popular with both men and

women, and clothing inspired by modern dance (wrap skirts and dresses of rayon or jersey)

also became common. Neck-scarves were also used. Polyester, double knitting, skin-tight

Spandex trousers, tube tops, and slit skirts were popular for a while at the very end of the

decade. In 1978, there was a brief craze for transparent plastic trousers worn with leotards

underneath. Silk blouses, spaghetti-strapped tank tops and shirt-waist dresses were also

worn. Women's shoes began to echo the 1940s, with high-heeled lower-platform

mules--"Candies" made of molded plastic with a single leather

strap over the ball of the foot or "BareTraps" made of wood

becoming very popular. With the sudden decline of disco late in

1979, these styles (which were by then being criticize d as

flamboyant) quickly went out of fashion. Designer jeans with

straight, cigarette-legs, and painters' pants then started to come

into style. The top fashion models of the 1970s were Lauren

Hutton, Margaux Hemingway, Beverly Johnson, Gia Carangi,

Janice Dickinson, Cheryl Tiegs, Jerry Hall, and Iman.

CUSTOM T-SHIRTS / BASEBALL JERSEYS

Short-sleeved t-shirts of various colors

personalized with iron-on decal illustrations or

appliquéd letters spelling a name or message were very

popular among teen and pre-teen boys in the U.S.

during the late 70s. It was also the trend for teenagers

and young men to carry a pack of cigarettes under the

sleeve. Also popular were baseball jerseys or "baseball

sleeves" (white shirts with colored sleeves worn under

baseball uniform shirts). These were worn plain or

with appliquéd pictures or words, as described above.

ONE-PIECE SWIMSUITS

American actress Farrah Fawcett, who starred in the 1970s programme Charlie's

Angels, was a sex symbol for that time period. Her poster which was released in 1976 and

sold 12 million copies, featured the actress with her long mane of streaked-blonde hair,

perfect white teeth, and wearing a one-piece swimsuit that launched the trend for the maillot.

This was, when it resurged in the 1970s, a sexy, tight swimsuit, with deep neckline and high-

cut legs, worn by young women and girls in lieu of the bikini, although it did not entirely

replace the latter.

THE 70S DISCO LOOK

Immortalized by the films like ‘Saturday night fever’, the 70’s decade is best known

for unleashing the disco era upon the psyche of the nation. With the disco era, in came the

disco fashion, which was different from 70’s outside disco fashion. That’s right; not all the

disco fashion of those days was acceptable as the regular day wear. In the disco, to be

actually part of the proceedings, one needed special costumes. The mirror balls, spotlighting

and strobe lights etc created a unique atmosphere that required an equally unique look.

SO WHAT EXACTLY WAS THE 70S LOOK?

Some major hallmarks of the 70’s fashion:

 

  •  Mini, midi and maxi skirts: The mini skirts didn’t die, they became shorter and

     turned into micro skirts. Midi skirts up to the mid calf length and full length maxi

     skirts also became quite popular.

  •  Hipster jeans and bell bottoms: The 70s saw moving away from the 60s hippie

     look of baggy jeans and instead popularized the hip hugging jeans though

     retained the bell bottoms.

  •  Flared trousers were equally popular among both the sexes.

  •  The disco-only clothing: The 70’s disco wear was normally based on two

     things: stretchy material reflecting fabrics which would shine under the disco

     lights.

         1. Spandex tops with hot pants were the staple disco wear for the girls.

         2. Vividly colored shiny disco pants in Lycra with equally dazzling halter neck

             tops were also quite popular.

         3. Shiny cat suits that shone in the ultraviolet lighting were also a regular

             feature on dance floors.

   •  Platform shoes: Another lasting legacy of the seventies is the advent of platform

     shoes. Although worn mainly by the ladies, however some more fashionable men

     also wore them with equal panache!

  •  Hair and make up styles: The 70’s redefined the ‘natural’ look in make up.

     While in 60’s it was the movie stars inspired perfect white complexion that ruled

     the roost, in the 70’s it became fashionable to sport a tanned up look.

         1. A big part of the 70s disco make up was eyeliner, not so bright colors like

             blue were the order of the day. Nail polish, liquid eye shadows were also a

             rage.

         2. Long straight and flowing hair were the general norm in women’s hair.

             The Afro look was also popular, though more among males than females.

 

  •  Accessories: Hats, oversized glasses, lots of shiny bling bling jewelry or chunky

     beaded jewelry, large handbags, generally woven were some of the hottest 70’s

     disco accessories.

Now that you have an idea of the basic 70’s disco fashion sensibilities, here are some

tips on how to attain that look:

 

  •  Remember, what might be considered as loud and tacky today was totally

     fashionable in a typical 70’s disco, so the first step is to shed any inhibitions and

     proceed with an open mind.

   •  Look for some shiny bright colored cloths in synthetic fibers, like described

     above.

   •  For make up you can try blue eye shadows with fake eyelashes. Use lots of

     glitter and transform yourself into a walking talking shiny disco ball.

   •  If you are looking for a shirt, then go for a ‘loud’ printed shirt or one with floral

     prints. If you can’t find it, get hold of some spray paint and print your own shirt.

     Pair it with tight flares. Platform shoes would ideal to finish this look.

   •  The 70’s look is the best excuse for you to display your bling side to the fullest.

     Lots of fake gold jewelry would be perfect!

   •  Finally, any 70’s disco look is incomplete with the proper attitude: “I am the

     coolest thing in the world and no one can beat me on the dance floor”

 

70’s was the fun decade, when people still didn’t know terms like loud and tacky. In the

modern times every fashion trend has come to be defined by its own specifics, any deviation

is considered a folly. That’s why we always crave to go back to 70’s when the fashion was

all about “staying alive” on the dance floor.

70S DISCO CLOTHING STYLES

Not only were music and dance a big part of the 1970s disco era, but so was clothing.

Men and women expressed themselves through dance and their clothing -- the flashier and

more eye-catching the apparel, the better. Though its heyday may be over, '70s disco

clothing left its mark on the fashion scene and surely will not be forgotten.

Bell Bottoms

While bell bottoms started gaining popularity in the 1960s, it's the bell bottoms of the

disco age that really left a mark on fashion. These pants were more fitted at the top of the leg

and gradually widened down the leg, extending into a bell shape. They came in a variety of

styles and colors and by the mid- to late 70s, they had become wider, more vibrant and more

sparkling than ever. Both men and women wore bell bottoms. Today, their influence can be

seen in flare-legged pants.

Mini and Maxi Dresses

During the '70s, one of the ways that women began expressing their newfound

freedoms was through their clothing choices. On the disco scene, two styles of dresses were

popular: the mini and the maxi. During the '70s, mini dresses had extremely short hemlines

and were worn by women who wanted to show off their legs. Maxi dresses went to the other

extreme, as their hemlines were so long, they nearly touched the floor. Both styles were

made in a variety of bright colors, featured bold patterns and fringes and often were

decorated with sequins.

Platform shoes were commonly worn in the 70s disco scene

Wide Collared Shirts

Men who went to the disco were usually seen sporting wide-collared shirts. These

shirts had long collars that usually came to a point and, like so many other disco styles, often

featured bright colors and patterns. When wearing one of these shirts, it was common for a

man to leave the top few buttons undone so he could show off chains and other jewelry that

men frequently wore around their necks during the 1970s.

Platform Shoes

Platform shoes were the most popular foot attire scene at the disco, and were worn by

both men and women. The soles of these shoes were tall and could give the wearer an extra

one to four inches of height. A variety of footwear had platform soles, including sandals,

boots and sneakers. They were typically worn for the sheer attention that they attracted, as

with most of the fashion associated with the 1970s disco scene.

1970S IN FASHION – PUNK PERIOD1970S IN FASHION – PUNK PERIOD

Punk fashion is the clothing, hairstyles, cosmetics, jewelry, and body modifications

of the punk subculture. Punk fashion varies widely, ranging from Vivienne Westwood

designs to styles modeled on bands like The Exploited. The distinct social dress of other

subcultures and art movements, including glam rock, skinheads, rude boys, greasers, and

mods have influenced punk fashion. Punk fashion has likewise influenced the styles of these

groups, as well as those of popular culture. Many punks use clothing as a way of making a

statement.

Punk fashion has been extremely commercialized at various times, and many well-

established fashion designers — such as Vivienne Westwood and Jean Paul Gaultier — have

used punk elements in their production. Punk clothing, which was initially handmade,

became mass-produced and sold in record stores and some smaller specialty clothing stores

by the 1980s. Many fashion magazines and other glamor-oriented media have featured

classic punk hairstyles and punk-influenced clothing

1970s

Ramones playing for an audiences at CBGB's c.1977.

Punk rock was an intentional rebuttal of the perceived excess and pretension found in

mainstream music (or even mainstream culture as a whole), and early punk artists' fashion

was defiantly anti-materialistic. Generally unkempt, often short hairstyles replaced the long-

hair hippie look and the usually elaborate 1970s rock/disco styles. In the United States, dirty,

simple clothes - ranging from the T-shirt/jeans/leather jacket Ramones look to the low-class,

second-hand "dress" clothes of acts like Television or Patti Smith - were preferred over the

expensive or colorful clothing popular in the disco scene.

In the United Kingdom, a great deal of punk fashion from the 1970s was based on the

designs of Vivienne Westwood and Malcolm McLaren and the Bromley Contingent.

Mainstream punk style was influenced by clothes sold in Malcolm McLaren's shop. [1]

McLaren has credited this style to his first impressions of Richard Hell, while McLaren was

in New York City working with New York Dolls. Deliberately offensive T-shirts were

popular in the early punk scene, such as the DESTROY T-shirt sold at SEX, which featured

an inverted crucifix and a Nazi Swastika. These T-shirts, like other punk clothing items,

were often torn on purpose. Other items in early British punk fashion included: leather

jackets; customised blazers; and dress shirts randomly covered in slogans (such as "Only

Anarchists are pretty"), blood, patches and controversial images.

Other accoutrements worn by some punks included: BDSM fashions; fishnet stockings

(sometimes ripped); spike bands and other studded or spiked jewelry; safety pins (in clothes

and as body piercings); silver bracelets and heavy eyeliner worn by both men and women.

Many female punks rebelled against the stereotypical image of a woman by combining

clothes that were delicate or pretty with clothes that were considered masculine, such as

combining a Ballet tutu with big, clunky boots.

Punk clothing sometimes incorporated everyday objects for aesthetic effect. Purposely

ripped clothes were held together by safety pins or wrapped with tape; black bin liners

(garbage bags) became dresses, shirts and skirts. Other items added to clothing or as

jewellery included razor blades and chains. Leather, rubber and vinyl clothing have been

common, possibly due to their connection with transgressive sexual practices, such as

bondage and S&M.

Preferred footwear included military boots, motorcycle boots, brothel creepers, Puma

Clydes (suede), Chuck Taylor All-Stars and later, Dr. Martens boots. Tapered jeans, tight

leather pants, trousers with leopard patterns and bondage pants were popular choices. Other

early punks (most notably The Adicts) imitated the Droogs from A Clockwork Orange by

wearing bowler hats and braces. Hair was cropped and deliberately made to look messy, and

was often dyed bright unnatural colors. Although provocative, these hairstyles were not as

extreme as later punk hairstyles.

DIFFERENT STYLES

Various factions of the punk subculture have different fashion styles, although there is

often crossover between the subgroups. The following are descriptions of some of the most

common punk styles, categorized alphabetically.

Anarcho-punk

Anarcho-punk band Total Chaos in all-black clothing

Anarcho-punk fashion usually features all-black militaristic clothing, a style that was

pioneered by the English punk band Crass.[3] A prominent feature is the heavy use of

anarchist symbols and slogans on clothing items. Some who define themselves as anarcho-

punks opt to wear clothing similar to traditional punk fashions or that of crust punks, but not

often to the extreme of either subculture. Mohawk hairstyles and liberty spikes are seen.

Tight trousers, bands T-shirts and boots are common. Hairstyling products often are used

only if the company that manufactures it did not test them on animals. Leather, often avoided

due to veganism, may be replaced with imitation leather or cloth in a similar design as

leather products.

Celtic punk

American Celtic punk band Dropkick Murphys.

Fans of Celtic punk often mix hardcore, street punk, Oi! and skinhead fashions with

traditional Irish or Scottish clothing styles, including elements of highland dress.[4] Common

items include boots, sneakers, jeans, work trousers, kilts, grandfather shirts, T-shirts,

hoodies, braces, black leather jackets, peacoats, donkey jackets, football shirts, flat caps,

tuques, Tam O'Shanter caps and Trilby hats. Hair is usually cut relatively short.

Cowpunk

Fans of cowpunk base their look on Southern United States poor boys: vintage western

wear-like checked shirts, Perfecto motorcycle jackets, wifebeaters, overalls, trucker hats,

work boots, acid wash jeans, and cowboy boots. Hair can be a short quiff, crew cut, long, or

a psychobilly-style mohawk, and facial hair is acceptable for males.

Crust punk

A group of crust punk fans or "crusties"

Crust punk can be traced back to Bristol (UK). In the late 70's early 80's, Bristol bands

like Disorder, Chaos UK, Lunatic Fringe, Amebix, broke from the usual punk fashion

confines, creating a disheveled DIY look originating in squatting and poverty. Typical crust

punk fashion includes black or camouflage trousers or shorts(heavy work pants are popular

for their durability), torn band T-shirts or hoodies, skin tight black jeans, vests and jackets

(commonly black denim), bullet belts, jewellery made from hemp or found objects, and

sometimes bum flaps. Many items of clothing are covered in patches and/or metal studs.

Often the patches display a political message. Clothing tends to be unsanitary by

conventional standards, and dreadlocks are popular. Crust punks sometimes sew articles of

clothing with found or cheaply bought materials, such as dental floss. Pants are sometimes

held up with string, hemp, or vegan-friendly imitation leather.

Dance punk

Glam punk band Prima Donna.

Dance punk fashions include day-glo colors, phat pants, glowsticks, leather studded

jackets, chains and combat boots. Typical haircuts include spiky hair bleached blond, short

mohawks and synthetic dreadlocks.

Garage punk

Contemporary garage punk band Mudhoney.

Garage punk bands of the 1970s like MC5, Iggy and the Stooges, the Flamin' Groovies

and the Ramones often wore secondhand clothing from the mid-late 1960s, such as velvet

jackets, slim-fitting grey suits, black leather jackets, winklepickers and drainpipe jeans, in

reaction to the flared trousers worn by hippies and disco fans.[6] Their hair was generally

worn long, as was then fashionable in the 1970s, but some fans opted for buzzcuts or Caesar

cuts, previously associated with hard mods and bootboys. Following the 1980s garage rock

revival, garage punk bands tended to dress more casually, with less overtly 1960s clothing.

However, the original garage punk look remained a big influence among British indie rock

groups during the mid and late-2000s.

Glam punk

Contemporary to the garage bands of the early 1970s, glam punk fashion, pioneered

by bands like the New York Dolls,[9] includes glitter, androgynous make-up, brightly dyed

hair, drainpipe jeans, bright colours like electric blue, elements of leather fetish wear, and

unusual costumes like leopard print, spandex, or satin shirts. Leftover baroque pop clothing

like ruffled pirate shirts or brocade were also worn, together with more typical glam rock

fashions like platform boots, tartan, kipper ties, and metallic silver clothing like jumpsuits.[10]

Gothic rock, deathrock and horror punk

Death-rockers in 2007.

Deathrock and horror punk fashion is similar to goth fashion. Black is the predominant

shade. Deathrock and horror punk incorporates a sexier image, incorporating fishnets,

corsets and elaborate make-up for men and women. The use of occult and horror imagery is

prevalent on T-shirts, buttons, patches and jewellery. Other common adornments include

band names painted on jackets or bleached into clothes, as well as buttons or patches

indicating cities. The initials D and R (for Death Rock) is sometimes part of a crossbone

logo, accompanied by other initials, such as C and A for California, N and Y for New York,

or G and R for Germany. Hair may be in a deathhawk style (a wider teased-out variant of the

mohawk hairstyle), an angled bangs style, or a devilock style.

Hardcore

Henry Rollins and others in the American hardcore scene have eschewed elaborate punk

fashions in favour of a basic style.

There are several styles of dress within the hardcore scene, and styles have changed

since the genre started as hardcore punk in the late 1970s. What is fashionable in one branch

of the hardcore scene may be frowned upon in another. Personal comfort and the ability to

mosh are highly influential in this style. For this reason, jewellery, spikes, chains and spiky

hair are highly uncommon and discouraged in hardcore fashion.

Plain working class dress and short hair (with the exception of dreadlocks) are usually

associated with hardcore punk. Mute colors and minimal adornment are usually common.

Elements of hardcore clothing include baggy jeans or work pants, athletic wear, cargo or

military shorts, khakis or cargo pants, band T-shirts, plain T-shirts, muscle shirts, and band

hoodies. Common sneakers include classic Adidas Originals, Puma, Pony, Nike, Converse

high-tops, and Vans shoes. Boots are also somewhat common, especially Dr. Martens.

Pop punk

Contemporary pop punk, or "scene fashion", sometimes overlaps with skater punk fashion.

Originally this consisted of black or tartan baggy pants (sometimes fitted with studs and

eyelets), band hoodies, wristbands, patrol caps, pyramid stud belts, dress shirts with thin ties

or scarves, blazers and spiky hair or fohawks. In the mid-2000s (decade), pop punk fashion,

influenced by indie rock, hip-hop and emo fashions, evolved to include cartoon print

hoodies, Converse shoes, keffiyehs and skinny jeans. Spiky hair was gradually replaced by

skater styles with long fringes or bangs. In the 2010s, pop punk fans took on a more hardcore

look, with shorter hair (including Liberty spikes and a wide Mohawk combined with a

fringe), plain hoodies and straight-leg jeans.

Psychobilly

Contemporary psychobilly band: the Horrorpops

Psychobilly fashion combines elements of punk with 1950s Greaser and British Teddy Boy

fashions. Brothel creepers are frequently worn, as well as leather jackets, gas-station shirts,

black or white retro T-shirts, dark-colored drape jackets and vintage motorcycle/work boots.

Hair consists of a quiff or pompadour, usually with the sides shaved into a mohawk.

Clothing is usually adorned with motifs inspired by classic American horror films or art-

styles inspired by Ed "Big Daddy" Roth. This subculture is strongly associated with the

Kustom Kulture movement.

Ska punk

Ska punk fans typically dress in a style that mixes typical ska- or 2 Tone-related

fashions, with various types of punk fashions, including street punk, pop punk, skate punk or

hardcore punk. Braces are popular, as are Harrington jackets with Royal Stewart tartan

lining, thin ties, Doc Martens, mohair suits, pork pie hats, tonik suits (especially in the early

years of the 1980s ska revival),[11] tank tops, Ben Sherman or Fred Perry polo shirts, hoodies,

and checkerboard patterns. Hair is cropped very short in imitation of hardcore punk bands

and early 1960s rude boys.

Skate punk

Skate punk is a derivative of hardcore fashion, chosen with comfort and practicality in

mind. Common skate punk clothing items include: T-shirts, flannel button-down shirts,

hooded sweatshirts, webbing belts, and khaki shorts, pants or jeans. Some punks, especially

in Southern California, mirror Latino gang styles, including khaki Dickies work pants, white

T-shirts and colored bandanas. While some skateboarders have long and messy hair, skate

punks usually have short hair, often shaved into a buzzcut, and wear little jewellery.

Street punk and Oi!

In general, contemporary street punks wear leather, denim, metal spikes or studs,

chains and military-style boots. They often wear elements of early punk fashion, such as

kutten vests, bondage trousers (often plaid) and torn clothing. There is a large influence by

DIY-created and modified clothing, such as ripped or stitched-together trousers or shirts, or

trousers that are tightly tapered. Jackets and vests often have patches or are painted with

logos that express musical tastes or political views. Bullet belts and belts with metal studs

are popular. Hair is often spiked and/or dyed in bright, unnatural colours and arranged into a

mohawk or liberty spikes. Hair could also be cut very short or shaved.

Street punks at a music festival.

Czechoslovakian street punk wearing kutte and shemagh, 2009.

Oi! skinheads, sometimes known as skunks or punk-skinheads, fuse traditional

skinhead style with street punk fashions. The look is characterised by Doc Martens boots (or

similar boots made by a different brand), braces, and tight rolled-up jeans, sometimes

splattered with bleach. Other common items are T-shirts (featuring band names, political

beliefs or other text/images relevant to skinhead culture) and denim jackets or flight jackets.

These jackets are often decorated with buttons or patches, and in the case of the denim

jackets, sometimes splattered with bleach. Hair is typically shaved shorter than with

traditional skinheads. Other items from traditional skinhead fashion (e.g. Fred Perry and Ben

Sherman shirts) and, to a lesser extent, punk fashion (e.g. short mohawk hairstyles, metal

studs on jackets) are also worn.

PUNK HISTORY

Punk as a style originated from London from the designer Vivienne Westwood and her

partner Malcolm McLaren. Before the Modern world a punk was a person who attacked

someone's cherished beliefs, traditional institutions, etc., based on error or superstition. Due

to the harsh economic realities of Europe and Britain in the early to mid-1970s, this

movement was a direct reaction to the economic situation during the economic depression of

the period. Punk had at its heart a manifesto of creation through disorder. Safety pins became

nose and ear jewellery, rubber fetishwear was subverted to become daywear, and images of

mass murderers, rapists, and criminals were elevated to iconographic status.

Punk fashion can be traced to the ripped jeans, torn t-shirts, scrappy haircuts, and worn

and torn leather jackets sported by members of the Sex Pistols. When they released Anarchy

in the UK in 1976,The Sex Pistols were dressed by Malcolm McLaren, their manager, whose

partner Vivienne Westwood owned a clothes store called "Let It Rock" in the Kings Road,

Chelsea area of London. These styles can be traced back further to New York artists at the

Andy Warhol Factory or bands such as the Velvet Underground, Patti Smith Group or New

York Dolls. By the 1980s, punk fashion and punk bands had shown up in cities across the

world. There was a Do It Yourself quality to the fashion. Some small elements that spoke of

a person's punk roots were safety pins, black PVC or tartan bondage trousers, leopard-print t-

shirts, mohawk, spikes or harshly dyed hair, filthy tennis-shoes, or pointy Beatle boots.

There is an element of a makeshift, thrown together look and a sense of poverty.

Siouxsie of the English punk group Siouxsie and the Banshees. She personified the

female punk look on both sides of the Atlantic

Actress Camille Keaton in 1972. Throughout most of the decade, women preferred light,

natural-looking make-up for the daytime

HAIRSTYLES

Throughout much of the decade, women and teenage girls wore their hair long, with a

centre or side parting, which was a style carried over from the late 1960s. Other hairstyles of

the early to mid-1970s included the wavy "gypsy" cut, the layered shag, and the "flicked"

style, popularly referred to as "wings", in which the hair was flicked into resembling small

wings at the temples. This look was popularised by the stars of the television series Charlie's

Angels. Blonde-streaked or "frosted" hair was also popular. In 1977, punk singer Debbie

Harry of Blondie sparked a new trend with her shoulder-length, dyed platinum blonde hair

worn with a long fringe (bangs).

In the 1970s, women's hair was usually worn long with a centre parting

In the 1970s, making one of the popular hairstyles for a woman didn't take a lot of

time. These hairstyles, including Afro hairstyle, Shaggy Hairdo and Feathered hair (then

known as "Farrah Fawcett hairstyle") were said to be perfect when you're on-the-go and

would still keep your expressive style in-check.

For Blacks in the United States and elsewhere, the afro was worn by both sexes

throughout the decade. It was occasionally sported by whites as an alternative to the uniform

long, straight hair which was a fashion mainstay until the arrival of punk and the "disco

look" when hair became shorter and centre partings were no longer the mode.

Young men's hair was worn long until well past the mid-1970s. Unlike the unkempt

1960s, it was often worn styled in soft layers. In California, the tousled blond, surfer hair

was fashionable for teenage boys and young men. In the early part of the decade, sideburns

were popular.

Steve McQueen with crew cut and large sideburns, 1972.

Some of the most popular hairstyles for men include "Long and Luscious" hairstyle,

mod haircut, and the "buzzcut" hairstyle popularised by action heroes like Steve McQueen.

Continuing on from the 1960s, the ducktail and Pompadour hairstyle (then known as the

"Elvis Presley hairstyle") were popular among young Italian-American and Mexican-

American men in big cities like New York. Large quantities of grease or brylcreem was

normally used to keep the hair in place.

COSMETICS

Cosmetics in the 1970s reflected the contradictory roles ascribed for the modern

woman. For the first time since 1900, make-up was chosen situationally, rather than in

response to monolithic trends. The era's two primary visions were the daytime "natural

look" presented by American designers and Cosmopolitan magazine, and the evening

aesthetic of sexualized glamour presented by European designers and fashion photographers.

In the periphery, punk and glam were also influential. The struggling cosmetics industry

attempted to make a comeback, using new marketing and manufacturing practices.