Vintage Articles

Everything old is new again! Women’s vintage fashions from the 70’s are all over the place, enchanting us with their bold, elegant lines and busy prints.

If your mother had hoarding instincts a few decades ago, then you might be lucky enough to have access to original 70’s fashions. The rest of us, however, are left rifling through the modern re-takes on 70’s disco glam and picking out the pieces that work best on us.

Originality

Fashion is cyclical, which makes it hard sometimes to feel original and fresh. And most women – at least post-junior high school women – want to be original in their personal style. In adulthood, uniqueness becomes a valuable commodity!

It never hurts to take some advice from one of the most original men on the planet, Karl Lagerfeld.

“Reinvent new combinations of what you already own. Improvise. Become more creative. Not because you have to, but because you want to. Evolution is the secret for the next step.”

Do fashion trends mean ditching your current fashion favorites or hoarding them for when your kids grow up? No, absolutely not! Do it Mr. Lagerfeld’s way and start incorporating new pieces that 1) mix well with what you own, and 2) begin to lead your wardrobe toward new looks that you enjoy.

Criteria

What are some of the major elements of the 70’s disco glam revival?

• Elegance: From wide-legged, slim hipped trousers with tucked in blouses to form-fitting mini-dresses, 70’s styles are figure conscious and flattering.
• Comfort: The maxi-dress was born in the 70’s, need I say more? Add to that loose, bohemian tunics, peasant blouses, and sweet little sundresses, and there’s no doubt that 70’s fashions are some of the most comfortable out there.
• Feminine: There is nothing masculine or even androgynous about women’s vintage fashions from the 70’s. Even the popular shirtdress maintained a distinctly female, body-skimming line!
• Texture: Earthy mixed with refined. Floral mixed with batik. Smooth mixed with rough. Jewels mixed with leather. The 70’s, with the movement toward freedom and acceptance, embraced variety – a fine standard in all things!

Back to Karl Lagerfeld

Assuming that you (like most people) don’t have an unlimited budget, but want to stay on top of fashion’s best options, let’s hear a little more shopping advice from Karl Lagerfeld.

“Buy what you don’t have yet, or what you really want, which can be mixed with what you already own. Buy only because something excites you, not just for the simple act of shopping.”

Looking at your wardrobe, what would be your top picks to pull elements of 70’s disco glam into your personal style? What are you in love with?

Is it a pair of wide-legged trousers with a quirky vest? A floaty sundress? Stacks of vintage bracelets or beaded necklaces? Colorful scarves used as headbands? A DVF wrap-style dress, maybe? Or a color block sweater? A groovy pair of 70’s sandals or heels?

Whatever it is that you’re crushing on from the 70’s, please tell us in a comment below! Go get it. Load it on.