Fashion in the 1970's

With each increasing decade, women gained more and more freedom in their choice of clothing. By the 1970's,  fashion was at its most wild, carefree, and diverse.

Skirt lengths varied for women, from the shortest (micro mini) to the longest (maxi) lengths. Catsuits, trouser suits, disco-inspired hot pants, and midi skirts were also worn, among other innovative new clothing items. Flared trousers and waistcoats, in particular, were very fashionable, in part due to movie stars such as Farrah Fawcett wearing them in films. For dresses, most designs were either straight or empire-waisted, often extravagant and adorned. Halter necks or Granny dresses with high lace necks were also popular.

Actress Farrah Fawcett popularized Flared Trousers

The hippie fashion of the 1960's carried over into this decade as well. Exotic influences popularized caftans, kimonos, and other styles of loose robes and wild prints. The use of the most innovative materials was usually reserved for nightlife. Discos were wildly popular, and clothing was designed to show off the body. Stretchy lycra, spandex, and velour clothes were decorated with sequins or metallic colors to make them noticeable under dance-floor lights.

Kaftans

To keep up with the new liberal lifestyle full of retro dance parties, shoes had to be comfortable but fashionable. Platform heels became iconic for shoes of the era, ranging from 1 inches to as much as 4. Women who wanted to flaunt their legs wore white stockings with black patent leather shoes. The release of the Wonder Woman series made knee-high boots popular, especially paired with hot pants.

Disco Fashion

Changes in purchasing power meant consumers could now buy individual clothing items without worrying about finding matching pieces, as color schemed clothes started disappearing from department stores. This meant buyers had more freedom to mix and match single pieces.

Sources:
http://pongogirl2.hubpages.com/hub/1970s-Fashion
http://www.skwirk.com/p-c_s-14_u-189_t-508_c-1883/fashion-in-the-1970s/nsw/history/australia-s-social-and-cultural-history-in-the-post-war-period/social-and-cultural-features-of-the-1970s

Fashion in the 1960's

The 1960's were without a doubt one of the most important decades for women. The growing youth culture, feminist movement, and other liberal sentiments were reflected in the similarly liberal nature of period fashion. Colorful, unusual fabrics and bold designs previously avoided for their flamboyant appearance were used, and previous conventions rejected. The rise of unisex clothing, such as blue jeans, also occurred as the distinct separations between male and female clothing weakened. New synthetic materials inspired by the hype surrounding space exploration, such as polyester, PVC, plastic, and vinyl were also popular. Make-up, like fashion, was very bold. Fashion icon Twiggy popularized dramatic eyes with spiked lashes.

Model Twiggy's Trademark Look

"Mod" fashion, a movement short for "modern" spread to the United States quickly from Europe. Focusing on innovative slim fits and bold geometric shapes, these fashions were made available to the public through mass production. The youth culture of rebellion developed new fashion items, such as the mini-skirt, a radical rise of the hemline from the previous knee-length standard. Mini-skirts were perceived as statements by women of their personal ownership of their own bodies. Other youths embraced the newly emerging hippie culture, welcoming lifestyles emphasizing peace, love, freedom, and alternative lifestyles with drugs and communal living. Their clothing, which was often inspired by non-Western cultures, included paisley prints, beads, fringes, leather, and embellished or tye-dyed t-shirts. New styles of jeans emerged, the most popular being bell-bottoms.

1960's Hippie Culture

In coats, shorter, fuller coat shapes were favored, and layers were used to create various outfits. Tunic tops and tiered skirts were popular for this purpose. Clothing emphasized a new sort of "soft fullness", often achieved through relaxed shaping or relaxed waistlines. Designs nevertheless emphasized contoured figures.

1960's Fashions

First Lady and Fashion Icon Jacqueline Kennedy

If you want to do some more reading up on how fashion trends of the 60's have impacted modern fashion, here's a cute site titled appropriately, "10 Ways the 1960's Invented Today's Fashion Trends". It's wonderful to see how history connects within itself in a network of cause and effect.
Link: http://sammydvintage.com/vintage-style/60s/fashion-in-the-1960s/

Sources:
http://www.skwirk.com.au/p-c_s-14_u-189_t-507_c-1878/fashion-in-the-1960s/nsw/history/australia-s-social-and-cultural-history-in-the-post-war-period/social-and-cultural-features-of-the-1960s
http://historywired.si.edu/detail.cfm?ID=119
http://www.paperpast.com/html/1960_fashion.html