Disco Clothes
Disco clothes are about how to look hot while dancing all night long. The look was defined by John Travolta in the 1977 film, "Saturday Night Fever," but was popular before that. Leisure suits, slinky dresses and Sonny and Cher-style jumpsuits define the era. Skirts tended toward the mini and the micro, while hair was big and natural. Glam and decadence are the hallmarks of disco fashion. Does this Spark an idea?
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History
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The hippie movement of the 1960s was about jeans, natural fibers and ethnic influences. In contrast, disco was an urban style, concerned with being flashy and making an impression. Disco clothes represented a backlash against hippie fashion and an embrace of the city nightclub aesthetic. The gay pride and black power movements also had their influence on disco style, encouraging Afros, even among white people, and promoting an open attitude about sexuality.
Features
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Sister Sledge, in the song "He's the Greatest Dancer," encapsulates the core of disco fashion: "Halston, Gucci and Fiorucci. He looks like a still. This man is dressed to kill." Disco clothes for women had something in common with those for men: spandex. Synthetics helped give disco clothing that see-through slink that translated to hot bodies on the dance floor. Platform shoes, big accessories and sparkly makeup completed the look.
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Considerations
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You cannot talk about disco clothes without mentioning Studio 54 and the designer that influenced the scene: Roy Halston Frowick. Jimmy Choo chief Tamara Mellon is the brains behind a revival of the label, describing its standing in the 1970s as "a pure luxury brand." The Halston disco look was about glitter and glamor, flaunting curves and showing some skin.
Effects
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Many people consider disco fashion a big ball of regrettable trends. However, its influence has been seen in many fashion innovations since the 1970s, such as the paisleys of the rave movement and the club wear of house music. Another major effect of disco clothes was engendering its counter-movement, the punk rock look. The U.S. version of punk was an embracing of content over style and anger over frivolity.
Expert Insight
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One of the big names in disco clothes was Diane Von Furstenburg, whose wrap dress defined the signature look of the 1970s. The designer had some real-life experiences to bring to the discotheque floor, revealing that she did the Hustle with the likes of Bianca Jagger and Andy Warhol at the legendary Studio 54.
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