Men’s 1970s fashion was big and bold. Here’s everything you need to know about this well of style we’re always dipping back into.
The 1970s are an important time for me. Sure, it’s when James Bond started wearing flared trousers and a Seiko. That wasn’t a highlight for everyone, but it was certainly memorable.
Beyond that, a lot of important things happened in pop culture. The Godfather and ESPN, anyone?
And you can’t discuss the culture and the art of the era without remembering ‘70s men’s fashion.
It was bold, sometimes brash, and mixed patterns and textures. It did it with a combination of late-stage counterculture and Brady Bunch-esque optimism. This tension between edgy and traditional, with an overlay of sparkling loudness, would bring us into the ‘80s via Studio 54.
Even today, classic men’s style isn’t exempt from this special era. Here’s everything you need to know about the sartorial world of the 1970s.
1970s Men’s Fashion Trends: What Brings the Decade Together?
There were many 70s men’s fashion trends, and they continued to pour in throughout the decade. One thing they all had in common was that men’s fashion in the 1970s was all about the silhouette.
There was particular attention to cut: bell bottoms, giant shoes, bigger hair in the African American community, and bowed neckerchiefs.
Everyone was just a little more shaggy. Even the clean-cut golden boys of the time, like Robert Redford or Freddie from Scooby Doo, were a touch more relaxed. At least, they echoed the good boys of the past, such as the ones sporting crew cuts in the 1950s.
The penchant for striking aesthetics also manifested in velvet and silk shirts, lively colors, and fun patterns. In a way, all of the organic work of the ‘60s found new life. It’s as if the styles of the 1960s found theory in the ‘70s, then remixed with flamboyance.
Let’s start this exploration with a style that started a decade prior. You’ll see how hippie ‘70s men’s fashion was different from their ‘60s counterparts.
Hippie 70s Men’s Fashion
In today’s greater imagination, hippie style is a mix of the ‘60s rendition with the ‘70s. However, they’re actually quite different.
Remember that in the ‘60s, hippie counterculture came about from rebellion. It was a resistance to the conventional, so the fashion was earthy, of the people, and very DIY. Big fashion brands weren’t catering to this demo.
In the ‘70s, a lot of the hippies’ political concerns were answered. Desegregation was in full force, the Vietnam War ended, and second-wave feminism started becoming mainstream.
So, while the ‘60s hippie style represented a fight, the ‘70s hippie style represented a celebration. It was bolder, more colorful, and, of course, groovier. It was also more consistent, with brands like Pucci grounding the look in luxury.
So there was less tattered fringe and more suede fringe bell bottoms. Less sparsely buttoned, loosely fit shirts and more gigantic collars. And, of course, more peace sign necklaces, afros, and other elements borrowed from other movements of the time.
Brands created an institutionalized counterculture. The slightly more satisfied youth stopped rejecting consumerism wholesale. In a way, fashion was back.
Men’s 70s Fashion: Where Did the Boldness Come From?
A big part of the loud fashions of the ‘70s came from the women’s movement. Women, as a whole, have always used fashion as a form of joyful expression representing their era.
This embrace of glamor and gender-bendy energy gave rise to a few pop culture phenomena. We had David Bowie’s Ziggy Stardust era, Freddie Mercury and Queen, and Elton John.
Sure, not every guy was experimenting with sparkles and jewelry. But in the 1970s, men’s fashion was less allergic to bright colors and dramatic silhouettes. Furthermore, guys were more openly expressing themselves through clothes than ever before.
I mentioned that ‘60s hippie men incorporated styles from other cultures. In the ‘70s, though, the African American community found success in the arts. So, in the 70s, black men’s fashion, and many of their unique and beautiful approaches, became more mainstream.
70s Black Men’s Fashion
On the political front, the Civil Rights Movement was passed in 1964. This gave many African Americans the spirit to use their sartorial voice instead of overly assimilating.
They embraced even louder colors and bolder forms of self-expression. The Jackson 5’s iconic afros were a symbol. Many in the community wore their natural hair instead of straightening it to look more “white”.
Ironically, even white men embraced this trend in the same way they wore cornrows in the early aughts.
Meanwhile, the titular character in 1971’s Shaft became a style icon. Wide-brimmed fedoras, jeans with open shirts, denim jackets, turtlenecks, and chic leather jackets became all the rage.
Another popular garment was the statement frock coat made from velvet, wool, or tweed in lively colors. I’ve heard this lovingly referred to as “a pimp coat”.
‘70s men fashion wouldn’t be what it is without the contributions of the African American community. Certainly, ‘70s disco fashion men style, the sum of all parts of the decade, wouldn’t be what it is.
70s Disco Fashion Men
When it comes to vintage 1970s fashion for men and women, I think disco really brings it all together. The cleaned-up hippie aesthetic, the incorporation of remarkable African American fashion, the glam, and the move towards the fast-paced, consumer-friendly ‘80s. It’s all there.
See, disco originated as a mixture of music. Specifically, music from different club scenes in then-modern communities known to express themselves through unique dance. This included the black community and the gay community in New York and Philadelphia.
Additionally, it was a response to the ‘60s counterculture’s focus on rock. Disco was another coming of pop, of celebration, and of dance. It’s quite similar to how, in the mid-’90s, pop took over grunge, setting the stage up for the aughts.
Some disco fashion staples include bell-bottom pants and flared jeans that are extremely tight in the thigh for contrast. Other elements include satin and silk shirts, gold chains, gigantic medallions, and velvet suits in the brightest colors imaginable.
The only light you got from the inside of a dark club came from the disco ball and the shine of the martini glasses. So, your clothes need to bring brightness.
1970s Fashion for Men: The Studio 54 Effect
Studio 54 was an interesting club. There, you had international heads of finance and masters of the universe from Manhattan, Europe, and beyond.
They were mingling with rebels and artists, the most influential rock stars, pop stars, painters, and performers. Even old money uptowners and New Englanders had drinks there after their dinner at their private social clubs.
It was a mix of cultural, historical, and financial elite. Therefore, it was the capital of 1970s fashion for men, no different from London in the Swinging ‘60s.
This mingling caused rock stars to become a little more elegant — see Mick Jagger in his clean, white disco suits and huge collars. It also caused preppies to be a little looser. The cable-knit-clad, bow-tied WASP had to get used to the fact that shirtless go-go boys served him his martini.
Sports stars like Pele wore ruffles and wide-lapeled tuxedos with the biggest bowties imaginable. Fashion designer Yves Saint Laurent was always in the sleekest black tailoring.
Sequins, glitter, and metallics defined disco — especially gold and silver. Naturally, everyday people weren’t wearing these kinds of clothes outside of the club. But the sentiment definitely reverberated throughout ‘70s fashion.
This era is probably the last time in history (so far) that it was appropriate to wear a gold suit to work. Imagine a gold corduroy suit with a brown shirt and patterned tie.
The Will Ferrel film Anchorman does a great job of exaggeratedly depicting a lot of this suiting.
One aesthetic in particular they focused on was ‘70s Western fashion men’s clothing. This was the twilight of this aesthetic, at least until its remixed return in the aughts. But it went out with a bang.
70s Western Fashion Men’s
Bongo Jeans would make denim a style staple in the ‘80s. However, in the 1970s, fashion men knew that it was an important part of Americana.
This style has been popular since the ‘30s. It includes embroidered Western shirts. Also, there was a lot of denim on leather (think a leather jacket over a denim vest over a shirt). Cowboy hats had an uptick too.
Sheepskin coats and flared trousers were garments that were popular even among the non-Western-identifying set.
It makes sense that Western fashion would further proliferate at this time. It has a lot in common with the decade’s style sensibilities. Men loved big boots and platforms, which weren’t unlike cowboy boots. They also loved big collars, similar to the kind you’d find on a Western shirt.
70s Men Fashion Summer
The 70s men’s fashion summer style came to define casual clothes in the era in general. In fact, a lot of the things normalized at the time are still ubiquitous to casual style today.
Summer clothes were, and are, meant to be more relaxed, light, and breathable.
At this point in 1970s men’s fashion, the T-shirt had made a full shift. What was once underwear became a regular garment appropriate for the weekends.
Sweaters paired with jeans, graphics on T-shirts, khakis, gauchos, and workwear became normal. Thanks to casual summer wear and the popularity of Western clothes, blue jeans became ubiquitous in the ’70s.
Men even started wearing jeans with their sports coats.
Some may even say this warm-weather informality was the start of athleisure. Gym clothes, like track shorts, fitted t-shirts, and canvas sneakers (especially the now iconic Converse Chucks), were popular. This was especially so on hot days.
Tracksuits were popular in the burgeoning hip-hop community. This, with crop tops, tunics, and high tops, would make their way into athletic fashion in the ‘80s.
Conclusion: ‘70s Men’s Fashion Wasn’t Subtle
This was an era all about boldness, which is likely why ‘70s men’s fashion never comes back in a particularly pure form. However, its silhouette has gained popularity in the mid-2020s.
Even bolder 70s-esque formal wear is back. You can see many non-trendy style icons in pieces like double-breasted velvet suit jackets. As such, it’s possible some of these aesthetics have been in and out long enough to finally be considered classic.
Are you a fan of ‘70s fashion? What components do you like to incorporate into your modern style? Let me know in the comments below!
