70s Fancy Dress - 70s Fashion Designers

The designers of the sexy retro 70’s clothes

In order for someone to understand the fashion from the 70’s you would have to be introduced to the designers first. The 70’s were a time that was considered the “all about me” time. The 70’s clothes were controversial and rightfully so, it was the beginning of the “hot pants” and boots that were raised 4 inches from the ground. However, there were some that saw 70’s clothes as awesome and amazingly new with great taste and there were those who saw it as tacky and distasteful. The 70’s clothes had a distinctive look but carried over the look of the 60’s at first. It was that hippie, afghan, flower print look. Designers were fraying the jeans and people were still wearing tie-dye.

One of America’s most distinctive designers was Roy Halston Frowick, also known as Halston. Halston was popular on the New York scene and was widely known for his casual and comfortable garments. He visited other countries often and was a leader of introducing America to other culturally inspired looks. He designed 70’s clothes such as dresses that were extremely lightweight and pants with wide legs worn with tunics. Halston was popular and stayed around the elite crowd visiting clubs like Studio 54 especially after it opened in 1977.

Another designer representing a period of change and taking chances was Geoffrey Beene. Some may still recognize his name until this very day. Beenes’ 70’s clothes were known for his sophisticated designs and the way he paired black and white together leaving out any other color. He was simple in his designs and introduced the fashion world to wool and flannel in such a way, it encouraged woman to add more and more accessories to their outfits.

Designers of 70’s clothes had an influence not only on regular everyday people but on famous musicians as well. There was a style of clothing called glam-rock and rock stars loved it. David Bowie and Marc Bolan to name a few made it very popular especially in the United Kingdom. Whenever someone mentions fashion it is usually in reference to women’s wear but what about the men? Don’t worry designers did not forget them when it came to 70’s clothes. There was a new generation of men’s stores coming up all over the place, going towards very fashionable garments, having some to question those men’s masculinity.

Pierre Cardin was a leader in this era and took fashion for men and put a narrow shoulder, tight lined twist to it. Cardin left out the tie on men’s suits and on some garments was bold enough to even leave out a shirt, which started the cool, retro hippie look. There were so many designers changing America’s view and reality of fashion there are too many to list. Although there were so many 70’s clothes designers there were few leaders and those are the names that stick out the most. The motivators, movers, shakers and century changers were most important. A radical look or a more conservative look, finally the fashion world was beginning to even out with a designer who had a specific look for everyone.