Are you drawn to the bold styles of 1970s British fashion? Discover the key trends and designers that defined the era and how to incorporate them into your wardrobe today.
As a fashion enthusiast, you might love the creativity of 70s fashion but find it tricky to pull off these bold looks now. You’re not alone in this.
Let us guide you. With our knowledge of fashion history, we’ll show you the essentials of 1970s British fashion and how to wear them today.
Here’s the plan:
- Explore cultural shifts that influenced 70s fashion
- Discover iconic designers like Vivienne Westwood and Zandra Rhodes
- Learn about key styles and accessories of the time
Read on and start styling yourself with the bold looks of 1970s British fashion. Imagine the confidence you’ll gain with these iconic trends.
Historical Perspective
1. Origins of 70s British Fashion
Cultural shifts and youth-driven movements from the late 1960s influenced the origins of 1970s British fashion. The era reflected freedom and individuality, with styles inspired by the hippie movement, music, and art. Glam rock introduced bold and theatrical looks, while a rebellious edge defined punk.
Designers like Vivienne Westwood helped reshape fashion, combining retro and global influences into fresh, unconventional designs. London and New York became major fashion centers, making the 1970s a pivotal time in shaping modern style.
Features of 70s British Fashion
2. Iconic Designers
Vivienne Westwood
- Contribution: Known as the “Queen of Punk,” Westwood played a key role in defining the punk aesthetic alongside Malcolm McLaren.
- Design Style: Bold, rebellious, and anti-establishment designs featuring ripped materials, safety pins, tartan, bondage details, and provocative slogans.
- Key Achievement: Opened the influential boutique SEX in London, a center for punk fashion and music.
- Impact: Westwood’s designs shaped punk culture and established her as a groundbreaking designer who connected fashion with activism.
Zandra Rhodes
- Contribution: Known for her dramatic and colorful textile designs, Rhodes brought a sense of artistry and flamboyance to fashion.
- Design Style: Feminine yet bold, featuring vibrant prints, flowing materials, and unconventional silhouettes. Her designs often included hand-painted details and beading.
- Key Achievement: Popularized “bohemian glamour” in the 1970s, dressing celebrities such as Freddie Mercury, Princess Diana, and Bianca Jagger.
- Impact: Rhodes’ avant-garde approach helped define 1970s glamour while celebrating individuality and creativity.
Barbara Hulanicki
- Contribution: Hulanicki transformed British fashion by making it stylish, youthful, and accessible through her brand Biba.
- Design Style: Affordable ready-to-wear clothing with Art Deco, vintage, and glam rock influences. Her designs often featured slim silhouettes, mini skirts, maxi dresses, and bold colors.
- Key Achievement: The Biba store became a cultural icon, attracting young women and celebrities like Twiggy and Brigitte Bardot.
- Impact: In the 1970s, Hulanicki made fashion more accessible, connecting with youth culture and positioning Biba as a symbol of affordable glamour.
Bill Gibb
- Contribution: Bill Gibb was known for his imaginative and theatrical approach to fashion, blending historical references with modern style.
- Design Style: Extravagant designs featuring intricate embellishments, knits, flowing capes, and bold patterns inspired by medieval and fantasy themes.
- Key Achievement: Collaborated with Kaffe Fassett for unique textile designs and dressed stars like Twiggy and Bianca Jagger.
- Impact: Gibb’s work defined the romantic and dramatic flair of 1970s fashion.
See Also 1970s Italian Fashion
3. Notable Brands
Biba: Biba, founded by Barbara Hulanicki, brought stylish fashion to a wider audience. The brand drew inspiration from Art Deco and bohemian elements, offering chic designs that were affordable and trendy. Its London store became a cultural hotspot, attracting young fashion-forward individuals. Biba played a key role in making fashion available to the working class and solidified its place in British fashion history.
Vivienne Westwood and Malcolm McLaren: Vivienne Westwood, with Malcolm McLaren, reshaped British fashion with their punk designs. Their London shop, SEX, became a focal point of the punk movement, selling provocative clothing that featured unconventional details such as leather, ripped fabrics, and safety pins. Westwood’s creations had a major influence on the punk scene, and she remains an iconic figure in British fashion.
Ossie Clark: Ossie Clark, in collaboration with textile designer Celia Birtwell, introduced romantic and free-spirited designs in the 1970s. His work, which featured flowing styles and bold prints, gained popularity among celebrities such as Mick Jagger and Bianca Jagger. His designs became synonymous with bohemian glamour and helped define the fashion of the era.
Thea Porter: Thea Porter brought a bohemian and exotic flair to British fashion, inspired by Middle Eastern culture. Her designs, including flowing kaftans and intricate embroidery, attracted rock stars and socialites. Porter was instrumental in popularizing ethnic-inspired fashion and contributed to the hippie chic aesthetic of the time.
Zandra Rhodes: Zandra Rhodes had a lasting impact on fashion with her dramatic, colorful designs. Known for her bold prints and flowing shapes, she became a favorite of figures like Freddie Mercury and Princess Diana. Rhodes’ artistic approach helped define the creative and avant-garde side of 1970s fashion.
Accessories and Jewelry Trends
In the 1970s, British Fashion accessories and jewelry were marked by a mix of bold styles, ranging from bohemian to punk and glam rock. Key trends included:
- Statement Jewelry: Large earrings, chunky necklaces, and bold rings became popular.
- Punk Jewelry: Safety pins, studded cuffs, and DIY pieces reflected the punk movement’s rebellious spirit.
- Bohemian/Hippie Styles: Beaded necklaces, feathered earrings, and flower crowns represented a free-spirited, natural look.
- Ethnic Influences: Silver, turquoise, and beaded jewelry drew inspiration from global cultures.
- Disco & Glam Rock: Flashy pieces like chunky bangles, platform shoes, and glittery jewelry were key to glam styles.
- Minimalism: Simple geometric shapes and delicate chains offered a clean, modern aesthetic.
- Pearls & Elegance: Pearls remained popular for more formal, classic looks.
- Headwear: Wide-brimmed hats, floral headbands, and fedoras were common accessories.
- Brooches & Pins: Nature-inspired or political pins added personal flair.
- Large Handbags: Tote bags and metallic handbags were essential for everyday and evening wear.
Fashion Styles
4. Female Style
1970s British fashion for women was a blend of bold expressions and evolving styles. The bohemian look was characterized by flowing, loose-fitting clothes like maxi dresses and peasant blouses, featuring floral prints and natural materials like cotton and chiffon. This laid-back, free-spirited style was influenced by the counterculture movement.
Glam rock introduced a dramatic shift with metallic fabrics, platform shoes, and shiny materials, reflecting the influence of music icons like David Bowie. This era also saw the rise of punk, which brought rebellious elements like leather jackets, torn clothing, and safety pins, challenging traditional norms.
Tailored looks also gained popularity, with wide-shouldered blazers, high-waisted trousers, and crisp shirts giving a more androgynous and powerful vibe. Feminine, nostalgic styles like romantic dresses with ruffles and floral patterns offered a softer contrast to the bolder trends. Casual fashion was also prominent, with denim becoming a key material for everyday wear, highlighting a more practical and relaxed approach to dressing.
5. Male Style
1970s British Costumes for men featured a range of styles influenced by changing cultural movements. Tailored suits with wide lapels and high-waisted trousers were still popular, with bold patterns like checks and stripes. These sharp looks were a continuation of the mod and preppy styles of the 1960s.
Flared trousers became a key trend, offering a relaxed fit that was popular in both casual and formal outfits. Leisurewear, including polo shirts, turtlenecks, and knitwear, gained traction, with the leisure suit made from polyester becoming a common choice for both day and night.
The glam rock scene introduced more flamboyant styles, with tight shirts, metallic fabrics, and platform shoes inspired by icons like David Bowie. This led to more experimental and bold looks for men. As the decade progressed, punk fashion started to influence street style, with leather jackets, band t-shirts, torn denim, and studs reflecting the rebellious attitude of young British Culture.
Bohemian style, featuring loose-fitting shirts, wide-brimmed hats, and ethnic prints, was also popular in the early part of the decade, drawing from the hippie movement and offering a relaxed, free-spirited vibe.
Influences on the 70s British Fashion
6. Youth Culture and Rebellion
Punk Movement: The rise of punk rock in the mid-to-late 1970s, driven by bands like the Sex Pistols and designers like Vivienne Westwood and Malcolm McLaren, introduced rebellious, anti-establishment fashion. Ripped clothes, safety pins, tartan, and leather became the signature elements of this movement.
Glam Rock: Artists like David Bowie (Ziggy Stardust) and Marc Bolan played a significant role in shaping glam rock fashion. The style featured androgynous, bold looks with glitter, metallic fabrics, platform shoes, and dramatic makeup.
Hippie Counterculture: Building on trends from the late 1960s, the hippie movement continued to influence fashion in the 1970s. Styles such as flowing maxi dresses, kaftans, fringe, and ethnic prints became popular in mainstream fashion.
See Also Global Fashion
7. Music and Pop Culture
Music Icons: Artists like David Bowie, Freddie Mercury, Elton John, and members of Fleetwood Mac influenced fashion throughout the 1970s. Their distinctive stage presence and personal styles helped shape fashion trends and merged music with design in exciting new ways.
Disco Era: The disco movement of the mid-to-late 1970s brought vibrant styles to the forefront, including shiny materials, sequins, flared trousers, and halter tops. The energetic club scene, highlighted by iconic venues like Studio 54, and music from figures such as Donna Summer and the Bee Gees, defined the fashion of this period.
8. Social Movements
Women’s Liberation: The feminist movement in the 1970s played a key role in shaping fashion that reflected women’s independence and practicality. Trousers, tailored suits, and loose-fitting styles gained popularity, challenging traditional gender roles and promoting freedom in clothing choices.
Androgyny: Gender-neutral styles gained prominence, with figures like David Bowie and Marc Bolan leading the way in blending men’s and women’s clothing. This style blurred traditional lines and contributed to the acceptance of gender-fluid fashion.
70s British Fashion: A Recap
The 1970s British fashion scene was marked by bold expression and creativity. Designers and musicians blended unconventional styles, reflecting a dynamic youth culture and challenging social norms. Punk, glam rock, and bohemian influences shaped the decade’s distinctive look.
The influence of 1970s British fashion persists today, with its mix of experimental styles and rebellious spirit continuing to inspire designers. The focus on individuality and freedom of expression redefined fashion and solidified Britain’s position in the global fashion world.
The 1970s solidified Britain’s role as a major influence in fashion, contributing iconic styles and cultural movements that continue to resonate in modern fashion and popular culture.
