1970s Teen Fashion
The 1970s was an era where independence was highly sought after by teenagers. Teens expressed their independence by wearing what they wanted. Unisex clothing was popular as was anything bright. But some of the trends were toned down and more laid-back looking. Some of the trends carried over from the 1960s and into the early 1980s.
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Tops
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Brightly colored tops, Indian cheesecloth and wide-collared shirts were worn frequently. Tops were often considered unisex and it wasn't unusual to see a girl or a boy wearing a shirt with ruffled sleeves. Long, flowing tops and long, flowing dresses were worn by girls as well and reflected the hippie era of the late sixties. Man-made fabric made its way into the clothing of teens including polyester. Cotton printed T-shirts were also worn and seem to reflect the opposite of the brighter, showier shirts.
Bottoms
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Longer skirts that reflected the hippie generation were worn and were often made of rayon or linen. But short mini-skirts and short shorts or hot pants were also in, reflecting a need for independence by teen girls. Flared, tight pants could also be seen on members of both sexes. Some of these pants were high-waisted while other types of pants were low waisted. Jeans were worn by both sexes.
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Accessories
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Large straw hats were worn by girls as well as several layers of beaded necklaces and beaded belts. Shoes worn during this period included moccasin-style loafers, canvas sneakers, platforms and vinyl boots. Girls wore boots that would sometimes go all the way up their calves. Sandals were worn by both sexes.
Hair
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Girls wore their hair long and straight with the part down the middle and shorter, wavy, feathered hairstyles later in the decade. Sideburns, longer hair, Afros and facial hair were all in fashion for teen boys in the 1970s. In the late 1970s, when the Sex Pistols band came into the spotlight, some teens would dye their hair unnatural colors like pink and style it in spikes or Mohawks. This was called punk and was a direct opposition of what was considered fashionable.
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References
- Photo Credit jeans for sale image by Ramona smiers from Fotolia.com
