When you think of 70s fashion, you can't help but think of African American style icons. Black women in the 70s were the blueprint-bold, radiant, and way ahead of their time. Their influence is still everywhere today. This article celebrates 70's Black women who didn’t just follow trends-they made them.
Seventies fashion saw bold colors and patterns take center stage. As the Swinging Sixties turned into the 1970s, the influence of boutique stores and diffusion lines made ready-to-wear clothing increasingly accessible. New synthetic fabrics meant that fashionable styles could be bought at any price point. Seventies fashion began with a continuation of the late 1960s hippie style.
In the early 1970s, this meant an emphasis on handmade materials and decorations. Patchwork, crochet and knitting, embroidery were among the details used by designers. Along with an emphasis on handmade crafts, seventies designers looked to the past for inspiration.
The Style Icons of the 70s
Pam Grier
Pam Grier owned the screen in the 70's-and she did it in leather, halters, high-waisted flares, and her signature afro. As the star of Blaxploitation films like Foxy Brown and Coffy, she wasn’t just serving looks-she was flipping the script. Pam made the tough-girl aesthetic hot.
She paved the way for edgy, empowered fashion-especially for Black women-at a time when softness was expected.
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Pam Grier brought a tough-girl aesthetic to the forefront of 1970s fashion.
Diana Ross
Nobody-and I mean nobody-served drama like Diana Ross. From her days with The Supremes to her solo superstardom, Diana brought elegance, sparkle, and larger-than-life glam to every stage she stepped on. Her looks were dripping in sequins, feathers, and floor-length everything.
If it shimmered, swayed, or sparkled under a disco ball, she wore it. Her hair? Voluminous and iconic. Her gowns? Custom and unforgettable. Her aura? Diana made high-glamour feel accessible and fun. She helped turn the nightclub into a runway and inspired a whole wave of disco fashion-from Halston to the modern-day red carpet.
Diana Ross epitomized high-glamour and disco fashion.
Chaka Khan
When Chaka Khan hit the scene in the 70's, she brought the funk-and then some. Her look was all about flowing fabrics, bold patterns, and oversized accessories that screamed freedom. Chaka was unapologetically herself, with a style that celebrated her roots, her body, and her limitless energy.
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Chaka’s style was one of freedom and fluidity. She blended funk, soul, and glam in a way no one else had before-and her iconic outfits are still a source of inspo today. Her use of metallics, fringe, and vibrant colors set the tone for bohemian chic with a heavy dose of rock and roll.
Chaka Khan's style was a blend of funk, soul, and glam.
Grace Jones
Grace Jones wasn’t just a model, singer, or actress-she was an experience. A visionary in both fashion and music, she shattered every expectation of what a woman should look like. She didn’t play by the rules-she wrote her own.
Grace Jones defined the androgynous look, making it high-fashion and fierce. From her sharp suits to her bold, structured silhouettes, she broke fashion conventions while embracing avant-garde, futuristic designs.
Grace Jones defined the androgynous look in the 1970s.
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Donna Summer
The voice of a generation, Donna Summer ruled the disco era, and her style was as unforgettable as her music. Her fashion was a perfect reflection of her music: loud, electric, and absolutely fabulous.
Donna Summer’s style was all about glamour and escapism. She made the disco era synonymous with glitter, metallics, and flowy fabrics.
Donna Summer made the disco era synonymous with glitter and glamour.
How to be ready for the 70’s Fashion Revival! Outfit Check
Key Trends of the Era
In the early- to mid-seventies, designers looked to the 1930s and 1940s for inspiration. In 1971, Yves Saint Laurent was especially inspired by 1940s style. While daywear looked to the past, evening wear was thoroughly modern.
While it may have been known as the “Polyester Decade,” satin, sequins and velvet ruled the dance floor. As disco became increasingly popular, women’s evening wear became increasingly glamorous. In the early seventies, women could be seen wearing sequins and hot pants to the disco.
Throughout the sixties and seventies, women were gaining increasing sexual freedoms and this was reflected in their clothing. New styles were created and women began to wear clothing heavily inspired by menswear. Another look that reflected women’s sexual freedom was the wrap dress. As women gained more opportunity to work outside the home, they looked for clothing, like trousers and the wrap dress, that afforded them more freedom.
Later in the decade, fashion became even more comfortable. As the 1970s slipped into the 1980s, an emphasis on personal fitness foreshadowed the rise of athletic wear as informal wear.
Seventies glamour is perhaps epitomized in the relationship between Mick and Bianca Jagger. By 1971, the two were married and their wedding ensured their status as fashion icons. Bianca wore a sleek white Yves Saint Laurent tuxedo jacket and a bias-cut skirt, full-length skirt topped with a veiled hat. Her impact on fashion has endured with her name being synonymous with 1970s glamour and she is often cited as a fashion muse by designers today.
Men’s fashion in the 1970s continued to get brighter and bolder. By the early seventies, the so-called “Peacock Revolution” that had started in the 1950s had made it acceptable for men to wear brighter colors, bolder prints and wear their hair long. While the suit continued to be a staple for many men, new, inventive styles were popularized.
In the early 1970s, men’s fashion tried to emphasize a tall, lean figure. Just as womenswear embraced elements of menswear, men’s fashion also became more gender-neutral in the 1970s. Though more informal looks were increasingly acceptable, suits were still required by many. However, there were new varieties that provided less formal versions. All materials were utilized, resulting in plaid and denim suits. Similarly, the leisure suit was a less formal option.
In the mid-1970s, some men and women in London began to shock with the anarchic Punk style. Just as womenswear saw a rise in athletic wear as leisurewear, so too did menswear. Tracksuits and running shoes were worn as every day casual wear.
In the 1970s, children’s wear continued to look to adult fashion for inspiration. Bright colors and bold patterns were found in both boys’ and girls’ fashion. Throughout the seventies, boys wore brightly colored and flared trousers. In the early 1970s, boys’ trousers came in bright colors and bold patterns. Later in the decade, styles became more informal.
Summary of 1970s Fashion Trends
| Trend | Description |
|---|---|
| Hippie Style | Emphasis on handmade materials, patchwork, crochet, and embroidery. |
| Prairie Dress | Midi-length dresses with flounces and delicate floral patterns, reminiscent of Victorian styles. |
| Disco Glamour | Satin, sequins, and velvet evening wear with shimmering skirts and strappy sandals. |
| Menswear Influence | Women wearing trouser suits, wrap dresses, and styles inspired by menswear. |
| Athletic Wear | Rise of sportswear as informal wear, including tracksuits and running shoes. |
| Punk Style | Anarchic fashion with tight black pants, leather jackets, and slashed clothing. |
The 70's were defined by these fierce Black women-each with her own unique style, but all united by their unapologetic confidence and boundary-pushing fashion. Want to bring that bold, free-spirited energy into your own wardrobe? Embrace their fearless style and step into the iconic looks they pioneered.
