Floating semi-sheer and transparent fabric dresses recapture
1970s fashions precisely. Check out fluid fantasy flares, flowing maxi dresses and frilled fiesta frocks. Look out for skinny rib striped chevron knits and floral print
cardigans.
Romantic ruffles of the 1970s flow into faded hippy chic. Fringed bags,
bleached denim cropped jeans, halter dresses worn with platform
shoes and big straw floppy hats hark back to seventies flower children moments in fashion.
It is truly amazing how the much maligned 1970s appear to be
referenced as often as they are by designers. But even back
in the 1970s designers were merely aping styles of the 1930s and
40s. This newest retro fashion trend captures some of the very best of
1970s in all its full glory.
1970s retro uses Luxe fabrics to recreate the
drape of full wide trousers and silk chiffon which emulates the long
dreamy dresses of this fashion era. In the real 70s decade the
fabrics were probably made of Laura Ashley sprigged cottons or crinkle crepe
viscose.
Above Left - River Island Chelsea Girl Dress and Hat - Delightful 70s
retro fashion. River Island Chelsea Girl Stockist Number: 0208 991 4904
or www.riverisland.com
.
The Spring Summer 2011 designer fashion catwalks were awash
with floral based fabrics and accessories. These pieces are all
vintage retro 70s inspired.
Fashion in the seventies used lots of floral patterns, from
ditsy pinhead prints to massive exotic hothouse blooms.
For Spring/Summer 2011 washed silks, silk charmeuse, viscose, organza, flowing silk
chiffons and parachute silk fabrics are all used to make light-as-air
dreamy hazy summer day dresses.
Lightness and transparency, especially in voiles and chiffons
emphasise the mood of 1970s flowing dresses. Otherworldly light-as-air draping
blouses and undulating hemline kimono tops of various lengths
make their mark on Summer Trends 2011. Look for the ultra
light fabrics of translucent tulle flowing silk and chiffon,
tactile, knobbly cloque and shiny satin all of which are
mesmerizing in surface quality.
Sizzling fashion trends include contrasting dress looks where edgy
sharp funky dresses contrast against billowing chiffon and lace
peek-a-boo. The result is feminine fairytale fantasy frocks of
an age long gone.
Tiny lace pleating around cuffs on blouse and dresses
adds a prim puritanical 'touch me - touch me not' aura.
In contrast to florals there are eastern inspired prints with
elements of tribal motifs, but the 2011 twist in adding bright rich colours that evoke
hot bazaars and colourful nomad textiles and tents. Hats,
Fringe, tassels and colourful scarves or border prints are all
an easy way to add that seventies touch.
Here are some press shots that would easily add
that 70s fashion look. The beaded beach sandal has fun summer
tassels and coins all reminiscent of 1970s hippy styles of
footwear brought back from holiday travels.
Left - Penneys Summer 2011 Womenswear Panama Hat
6, Floral Tassel Scarf 5, Coin Waistcoat 13, Ibiza Skirt 13.
Right - Accessorize Spring Summer 2011 Campaign - Stockist
Number: 08448110068.
Indulging
your inner gypsy should be easy with the volume ruffles seen on
blouses, dresses and peasant top bodices. Combine these with
freely flowing flared skirts and tiered ruffle frill skirts.
70s Peasant Dresses
This floral green and pink printed gypsy tunic captures the
70s vibe in all its glory. Wear it as a dress or a long top.
Possibly every woman has a loose easy peasant top blouse they
throw in their bags for a summer holiday. Such tops are heaven
sent, relaxed and forgiving when the sun gets too hot. Now you
can work this blouse top into your gypsy look and be spot on the
trend.
Similar tops are available on the high street as you can see
from the image right and below. This top is also one of the
easiest of all to sew yourself as fitting is controlled by
elastication or drawstring ribbon.
Above Far Left - Monsoon Woodstock - Sapphire Bird & Floral
Embroidered Ruched Blouse £38 - SS2011.
Centre Top - SS11 Matalan Womens Papaya Floral Gypsy Top £10 -
Matalan Stockist Tel: 0845 330 3330.
Centre Bottom - Soul Cal Deluxe Gypsy Crop Top -
www.republic.co.uk
£19.99. Soul Cal Tel.
Far Right - Internacionale Plain Chiffon Gypsy Top £18.99 -
Internacionale Stockist Number: 0141 552 2020.
To this Inner Gypsy look add flamenco full skirts that froth
and flounce with buoyant ruffled volume skirts or go for linen
gauchos. Ruffle trimmed skirts add a 70s touch whilst letting
you long buried hankering for a return of Boho come to the fore.
Prairie Spirit Pioneer Girl is one move from Inner Gypsy and
likes denim and indigo dyed goods with Navaho touches especially
in accessories.
Think of these looks as Gypsy Chic with vintage peasant
prairie prettiness. Its the opposite of understated elegance,
but it has lots of now wow factor.
White hit the catwalks in a big way for Spring Summer 2011.
Dolce& Gabbana showed a
wonderful white collection and the high street retailers
have gone to town copying every idea offered.
Tiered and lingerie looks, plus lace insertions seal this
style and emulate the summer whites of Edwardian days. White
maxi dresses reign.
Above - White Voile Catwalk Fashion Dolce&Gabbana.
Centre - £17 High Street Bargain White Maxi From Penneys
(Ireland).
Right - Santa Ines Ivory Organic Cotton Maxi Dress £150/254
(Due May) - Monsoon S/S 2011 - Monsoon Stockist Number:
08448110068.
±
Tiers & Frills
This beady snowy white maxi skirt is a summer stunner with all
its tiers and frills. imagine wearing it on a glorious summer
evening or strolling down the beach promenade.
Above - San Antonio White Beaded Top £150/254 With San
Lorenzo Frill Maxi Skirt £180/305. Both SS2011
Monsoon SS11 - Stockist Number: 08448110068.
Lace in every form stormed the catwalks for
summer 2011. Crochet and macramι are trends to watch and buy
into now.
Above White Crochet Maxi Dress - The ideal
place to wear this dress might be the beach as a light cover up.
Monsoon SS11 - Stockist Number: 08448110068.
Vivid Colours
Colour Blocking and vivid Ombre dye techniques and prints create bright
cheerful maxis and kaftans that are pretty and feminine.
Above Left - Cobalt Blue Turquoise Colour Block Dress - From
£50 Fifty Plus Spring Summer 2011 Womenswear Stockist Number:
0871 231 2000. A bright block blue colour flattering holiday
cruise wear dress that comes in plus sizes.
Centre - Blue to Green Maxi Dress £95 Kaleidoscope SS11 -
Womenswear Stockist
www.kaleidoscope.co.uk.
Right - Aquatic Print Kaftan Dress £65 - Marks & Spencer
Clothing SS11.
Above Left - A flowy pinks colour block sleeveless maxi
dress. Jasveer Colour Block Dress £85/144 - Monsoon SS11
Stockist Number: 08448110068.
Centre - River Island Shaded Pink /Purple Maxi Beaded Band -
Stockist Number: 0208 991 4904.
Right - M&S Limited Collection Orange /Pink Tiered 70s Maxi
Dress From £20 -Marks & Spencer.
Trousers have had 'another' makeover. Pants have new wider
leg trouser shapes. Even jeans are flaring widely.
Check out those by Raoul at matchesfashion.com. If you want
something bright and exotic in the pants line, take a look at
the gorgeous wide leg sea green pants at Jaeger. Raoul has
designs for the modern discerning woman who needs easy wearable
pieces. As well as wide pants silk dresses are another Raoul
talking point and cost around £200.
LOOSER PANTS SILHOUETTE -
Trousers have
widened substantially and the wide 1970s flared
palazzo pant is the new pant of 2011. The louche silhouette of trousers and layering tops gives a
messy silhouette that is flowing and relaxed. Despite this wider pant leg development, narrow Capri pants
and paper bag waistline top trousers are in great demand for
summer wear.
»
Right - Penneys (Ireland) Spring 2011 Womenswear - Print
Vest 4, 70's Styled High Waisted Flares 17.
Above Left - ASOS Zip Pleat Flare £36,$58, 43 - Stockist: www.asos.com.
Other trouser looks that are well suited to summer days are
cropped pants and silky harem pants. Slim legged trousers that
land just above the shoe are much loved by fashionistas.
For more formal wear the return of the
pants suit adds a
refreshing, alternative dose of masculinity when closet racks
are packed with feminine dresses. The skirt is still less in
favour, so pants add the piece that teams well with blouses and
jackets.
Palazzo pants are ideal vacation pants, keeping you cool in
hot dusty places. Denim too is revived and bright blue denim
returns as flared jeans and longer skirts all 70s style.
Left - Kimono Sleeve Lace Detail Top £35, Monochrome Palazzo
Trousers £40,
Necklace £10 - M&Co
SS11 Womenswear
Stockist Number: 0800 0317 200.
Right - Club Tropicana 5: Slinky Cowl Neck Jumpsuit £40/45,
Croc Print Envelope Clutch £16/20. A|wear Club Tropicana -
Stockist Number: 00 353 1 4724900.
Jumpsuits
The all-in-one has been making a slow comeback. More styles
including cat suits, playsuits and dungarees show that the
jumpsuit is a real fashion trend stylish women are buying.
Left - Blue Jumpsuit from NEXT SS2011.
Right - Matalan SS11 Womenswear - Be Beau Vintage Corsage Wide
Leg Jumpsuit £25, Engraved Earrings £6, School Satchel £10, -
Stockist Number: 0845 330 3330.
Observe the silhouette hemline changeover of 1970s longer dropped hemlines
and wider pants. Over the knee hemlines pay homage
to the recession. Look out for 1970s lines with longer tunic
tops. Note the attention directed to
feminine blouson tops and wistful ethereal dreamy looks. In
particular note the rise and rise of the floaty maxi dress like
this one from Matalan.
Micro minis bye bye, evening luxe and daytime elegance
say hello to a decade of style starting right now in 2011.
In UK in 2011, the most commercial fashion trend is likely to be
that of new retro 1970s. This look as seen in the flowing
purple wide pants at Marc Jacobs and is a natural follow on
from the numerous Boho style elements so beloved by British
women.
70s Points To Note
TOP TREND - 1970S GLAM GEAR - Think high
stacked platforms flowers and flares. Check - MISSONI STYLE ZIG ZAG KNIT
PATTERNS. But this retro 1970s
version is far more bewitching than the fashions of the real
1970s. Costlier fabrics and cunning cutting revives
this fashion era into a slinky fluid look that is almost
futuristic. Glam Rock Chicks NEVER DIE!
FOOTWEAR - WEDGES
& Sandals - There
are cubist effects in squared off 1970's block heels. Colour
mixing of textures and materials with shoe designs
highlights colour blocking even more. Exotic elements to 70s
dressing means beaded jewelled sandals team well with maxis.
ASOS REVIVE
For a fast high street 70s fix through your fingertips try ASOS
REVIVE and the new collection of the same name.
ASOS REVIVE is
by Marc Jacobs and captures style silhouettes of the seventies.
ASOS REVIVE has kaftans, palazzo pants, maxi dresses, big bell
sleeves and dreamy fluttering evening pieces fit for Miss Vintage lover. Add a
big brimmed floppy Biba hat and tie a floral scarf around the
headband for a touch of real retro.
Copyright of images courtesy of Prshots.com,Marks & Spencer, Hobbs, House of Fraser, Penneys, George at Asda, Oasis,
River Island, Accessorize Monsoon, Matalan,
Principles, Hobbs, Benetton, ASOS,
Warehouse, New Look, Jane Norman, Dolce & Gabbana,
Next, Monsoon, Fever, French Connection, A|wear, Fifty Plus,
Kaleidoscope.
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It is truly amazing how the much maligned 1970s appear to be
referenced as often as they are by designers. But even back
in the 1970s designers were merely aping styles of the 1930s and
40s. This newest retro fashion trend captures some of the very best of
1970s in all its full glory.
70s Retro Fashion
