You don't have to drain your wallet deciding what to wear to a 70s party. Fortunately, costumes from the disco decade can be made with simple items found around the house.
About the 70s Style
It's not hard to resurrect fashion from the 1970s given that many of the clothing items worn back in the era of flamboyance are still readily available today. In the 70s polyester was king and Afros were hot accessories. Clothing styles in the early 1970s were not much different than the 1960s when the hippie look ruled. From 1970 to 1974 the emphasis of mainstream fashion included bell-bottom pants, floral shirts, and tie-dyed apparel. In the late 70s disco took over and psychedelic and geometric prints were replaced with wide ties, leisure suits and maxi dresses.
Tips for What to Wear to a 70s Party
When deciding what to wear to a 70s party you can choose from one of two aforementioned fashion themes-hippie or disco. If you can't find the following items in your closet or attic, then head to a local thrift shop. Most second-hand shops carry a wide variety of 70s inspired fashion staples.
70's Fashion Staples
To fit in perfectly at a 1970s themed party choose from the following clothing options:
- Bell-bottom jeans
- Polyester leisure suit
- Shirts and jackets with wide lapels
- Poncho
- Tie-dyed shirts or jackets
- Peasant blouse or skirt
- Halter-top
- Army jacket
- Maxi dress
- Tight mini skirt
- Tight corduroy slacks
- Gaucho pants
- Hip-huggers
- Hot pants
- Jumpsuit
70's Inspired Costume Accessories
No costume is complete without accessories. When attending a 70s themed party, cool accessories can make or break a prize-winning ensemble.
Hair
Starting with the hair, women can feather their locks ala Farrah Fawcett, while men can use Andy Gibb or David Cassidy's winged look for inspiration. If you are going with the hippie look, then wear your hair long and straight like Marcia Brady. The shag cut, Afro and mullet hairstyles were also popular back in the 1970s. If your current hair can't be styled into an Afro or mullet, then consider purchasing a cheap wig.
Shoes
Knee-high boots were hot in the 1970s, as were platform shoes. Both look especially retro when paired with gaucho pants or a hot micro mini skirt. Men also rocked platform shoes in the 70s as well as canvas shoes with long white socks.
Jewelry and Sunglasses
If you want to embellish your 70s hippie costume, then wear a pair of peace symbol earrings and a matching peace symbol necklace. Beads were also popular in the 1970s, so wearing a beaded choker is something else to consider. You could also tie a colorful scarf around your neck to enhance your 70s inspired costume. Don't forget to add some groovy sunglasses, too!
Other
To cap off your 70s costume, men should consider sporting long sideburns and women could perm their hair for fun. You might also consider adding a colorful headband if you are going with a hippie look. Men and women can top off their homemade costumes with large, wide-brimmed floppy hats paired with tiny track shorts.
