Friday 14 January 2011

Seasonal Updates

The Seventies

Being born in 1990 sets me at a certain disadvantage for background knowledge when looking at the revived Seventies look for 2011. However I’ve done my research and am now thinking that having not lived through it the first time allows me to automatically add a modern stamp to the 4 decades old look.

The designers have encourporated this Seventies revival in almost all of the cruise collections and spring/summer collections. However there are a variety of elements that can give your look a Seventies touch. My understanding is that in the early 1970s the hippy look was still reigning strong from the Sixties. In 1976 YSL created the designer “peasant look”. This includes off the shoulder tops, maxi dresses and skirts, floral prints, silk scarves and the infamous big brimmed hats. Amazing how then they were the finds of thrift stores and now Missoni is donning them on the catwalk! No matter when we were born we can all appreciate that one look never lasts a full ten years so just as it does now the fashion of the Seventies evolved throughout the decade. Cleaner lines began to dominate as the men wore three-piece suits á la John Travolta in “Saturday Night Fever”. And so enter the flares. Teamed with the, then innovative, strap top, tube top, crop top, sheer top, the flare was the essential leg shape. Today we have fantastic tailoring readily accessible. Topshop provide excellent examples of this in not just black and denim but lovely rust colours which I personally am thoroughly enjoying. Or look deeper in your purse and find exquisite designer pieces such as these high wasted bell flared jeans by Current/Elliot for £170. The colour of denim I’ve chosen here is dark enough to look chic with a range of styles on top. Lighter shades risk looking cheap, unflattering and as though you really think it still is the Seventies!



The beautiful models that exhibited these looks the first time round were Lauren Hutton, Margaux Hemmingway, Cia Carangi, Janice Dickenson, Cheryl Tiegs and Jerry Hall. Although not all of them still with us, seeing where some of the faces we still see around today all started it’s easy to understand what a fun era this time was which I think is important to reflect in your outfit when emulating this decade. The most prominent fashionista was Bianca Jagger. Her own beauty I cannot reveal any tricks for, unfortunately, however her outfits in the said decade can be linked to what Biba’s revival provides us with today (available at House of Fraser). Speaking of houses, House of Harlow, Nicole Richie’s Jewelry line, has excellent and stunning necklaces, rings and bangles which perfectly compliment any modern Seventies inspired look. House of Harlow is available at http://www.mywardrobe.com/

So what can you find in today’s stores to take you back to the disco-lovin’ era? Chanel is ripe with sheer blouses and even dresses and skirts. A simple turban could do it. Jumpsuits have been blowing us away for well over a year now and I urge you to go for it. I have a one shouldered pleated sleeve, flared trouser black jumpsuit just from Topshop which I adore. I feel perfectly comfortable in it and somewhat smug against the array of obvious mini-dresses still stomping the clubs! Team your jumpsuit, loon pants, and maxi dresses with a skinny belt. If you can find a long one wrap it around a couple of times! Embrace tassels (not fringing) and jump up onto your platforms. Big earrings are a must á la Rachel Zoe but enjoy a modern version of Farrah Fawcett’s flicks to keep your look modern.

With the weather jumping up to a shocking thirteen degrees it’s definitely time to start lusting over your Spring/Summer wardrobe. Although to keep you warm until it is actually warm add a faux-fur coat or blazer to keep in the theme. Despite not knowing about this decade first hand, it’s one I am utterly certain I will enjoy reinventing! Now… I must go and watch Charlie’s Angels (the original)!