For a long time, the question of the best decade for men’s fashion has been on my mind. Now, I can confidently say that the 1970s stands out as the most remarkable era. This realization struck me after watching “Fantastic Mr. Fox” again, a film that has been my comfort movie since childhood. While my admiration for this film might slightly influence my perspective, I believe the fashion of the 70s truly deserves recognition.
When thinking about the 1970s, the image of a hippy often comes to mind. While this is partially accurate, there’s much more to the decade’s fashion evolution. To grasp how menswear transitioned from conservative to vibrant and bold, we need to revisit the Peacock Revolution of the 1960s. This revolution, starting around 1964, is largely attributed to The Beatles. They introduced mod fashion from London’s Carnaby Street to American youth. This style featured bright, sometimes flamboyant colors, paisley patterns, heeled boots, slim-fit trousers, skinny ties, frills, lace, and accessories like necklaces. It blurred gender lines and paved the way for the iconic 70s fashions.
The Peacock Revolution extended into the early 1970s, marked by the increasing popularity of bell-bottoms, colorful velvet suits, and exaggerated lapels. Designers like Yves Saint Laurent challenged traditional masculine and feminine boundaries, fostering greater acceptance of gender-neutral clothing. This concept of non-gendered clothing is a fascinating aspect of the era and its resurgence in modern fashion is truly exciting.
This gender-neutral approach further evolved in mid-1970s casual wear. Everyday items like bell-bottom jeans, t-shirts, mood rings, vests, and sweaters became unisex. However, men were frequently seen in oxfords and chinos. Corduroy became a key fabric texture. Long hair also gained significant traction among men.
Glam rock emerged and was popularized by icons like David Bowie and Freddie Mercury. Their style was characterized by satin shirts, silk ascots, spandex jumpsuits, glitter, and makeup. It was a whimsical and androgynous style that directly opposed traditional macho masculinity. They embraced skirts, feather boas, extravagant costumes, and a philosophy that “more is more.”
Later in the 1970s, athletic wear surged in popularity. Men were commonly seen in tracksuits and jumpsuits, often tucking in their shirts and sometimes popping collars. Tennis shoes and headbands were essential accessories. Shorts became shorter, and workout videos became a cultural phenomenon.
Another significant style was disco, blending the inexpensive synthetic materials of athletic wear with the flamboyant sparkle of glam rock. Aviator sunglasses and three-piece suits were highly fashionable. Originating in gay nightclubs in New York, disco style quickly spread to the mainstream public, fueled by hits like “Turn the Beat Around” and the movie “Saturday Night Fever”.
While men’s fashion in general was captivating, younger men truly excelled in style. Hippie fashion, primarily adopted by middle-class youth, featured tie-dye, embroidered bell-bottoms, and long hair. Many historians view hippie style as a form of rebellion against the Vietnam War. Teddy Boys, originating in the 1950s but still present, were enthusiasts of rock and R&B, wearing brightly colored suits, animal-print waistcoats, and heavily hairsprayed hairstyles. Heavy metal teens aligned more with the hippie aesthetic of the time than the biker style of the 1980s. They typically wore t-shirts, flared pants, and earth tones, often listening to bands like Led Zeppelin.
Punks are arguably the most compelling subculture of the decade. Elizabeth Wilson from Rutgers University Press aptly described punk as “trash culture gone avant-garde and/or the avant-garde gone trash, and just as Dada had tried to destroy the institution of art, so the punks seemed bent on destroying the very institution of fashion.” Vivienne Westwood is synonymous with punk fashion. Forget the modern brooches and necklaces associated with her today; her 1970s creations were a shredded, tartan, anti-establishment, and incredibly cool fusion born from rebellious youth rejecting their parents’ outdated and oppressive fashions. Her clothing was deconstructed, unfinished, inside out, slashed, and safety-pinned together – quintessential punk rock. Bands like the New York Dolls and The Sex Pistols helped popularize this rebellious style. Punks were often seen in leather jackets, Doc Martens, and shirts emblazoned with anti-establishment slogans. Many even created their own clothing.
The 1970s was a decade marked by social unrest and political upheaval, and fashion directly mirrored this. Some embraced bright, whimsical styles, while others adopted rebellious, counter-culture aesthetics. Regardless of personal style choices, every subculture and fashion trend of the 1970s was undeniably iconic, making it the best era for men’s clothing.
