Saturday, February 10, 2018

8 Ways to Incorporate Elements of the Seventies into Your Personal Style

Hello! If you know me then you know that I absolutely L-O-V-E vintage fashion with a particular affinity for retro seventies styles. There's just something about the free-spirited, bohemian flair of the seventies that I cannot resist. I fill my wardrobe with as many authentic vintage seventies designs as well as modern takes on seventies designs that I can find. But as much as I love seventies fashion, I understand that it can often be harder to style vintage pieces. There's a fine line between looking like you're wearing a costume (which I'm actually not opposed to but hey, that's just me) and effortlessly blending retro styles with modern ones. I've been rocking the seventies aesthetic for a few years now and I've picked up a few styling tips and tricks along the way. Keep reading for eight ways that you also can incorporate elements of the seventies into your personal style: 

Shot by Rachel Dwyer Photography

Shot by Rachel Dwyer Photography. Sweater c/o Shein. Watch c/o Lilienthal Berlin. Sunglasses: c/o Giant Vintage. Statement necklace: c/o KristinsCandiShop


1. Go for a paisley scarf. Paisley prints reigned supreme in the seventies and it's easy to see why. If you're not ready to rock that seventies maxi paisley dress, incorporate a smaller dose of the print into your wardrobe with something like a paisley scarf or clutch. Pair it with solid colors to let the retro appeal of the print truly shine.

Photo by Hannah Carroll

Photo by Hannah Carroll. Celestial earrings: c/o Zaful. Aviator glasses: c/o Giant Vintage

2. Rock a pair of aviator glasses. Aviator glasses and sunglasses popped up everywhere in the seventies. Throwing on a pair of aviator glasses or sunglasses is one of the easiest ways to incorporate a touch of seventies flair into your personal style.

Photo by Caroline Thornton

Photo by Caroline Thornton. Yellow sunglasses: c/o Giant Vintage.

3. Try out retro red, white and blue Americana vibes. Ah, seventies Americana. There's nothing that I love better than some patriotic red, white and blue hues circa 1975. However, this aesthetic is not for the faint of heart; you really have to go for it. It's a bold look and one that you need a little more confidence to rock. Start with an authentic red, white and blue seventies vintage piece, such as the sweater I'm wearing above, and style it with pieces that emphasize its patriotic, retro nature, such as my American flag bodysuit and red lipstick. Bring in a couple quieter pieces, such as my black circle skirt and rhinestone stud earrings, to keep the look from appearing like a costume. Avoid going overboard with the accessories. I always love to add just a touch of yellow to my seventies Americana looks to really solidify the vintage influence (like I did with my yellow shades above.)

Photo by Elissa Rumford

Photo by Elissa Rumford. Dress: c/o eShakti. Sunglasses: c/o Giant Vintage.

4. Add a couple inches to your height with a pair of platform heels. Bonus retro points for wooden platform heels! If you really want to go for the seventies gold, pair your platform heels with a pair of bellbottoms or flare pants. Besides radiating retro style, this combo will make your legs look about a million miles long. And who could say "no" to that?


Photo by Jon Faulconer

Photo by Jon Falcouner. 

 5. Wear mustard yellow (and rock a middle part if you're feeling bold.) Mustard yellow = THE color of the seventies. You can also experiment with burnt orange and rich avocado green. Sure, these colors may be traditionally thought of as "ugly" but are they really?? I can't help but be drawn to the aesthetic of these "ugly" colors. If you're feeling unsure, try bringing them into your wardrobe in small doses. Start with a burnt orange silk scarf and then move onto the puke green maxi skirt.

Photo by Rachel Dwyer Photography


6. Carry a fun, retro suitcase. Modern luggage is boring anyways. Just take a look at the luggage carousel at the airport- how many plain black suitcases do you see? I'm cringing just thinking about it! Stray away from blah and have fun with a colorful piece of luggage like the suitcase I'm holding above. You can often find these at thrift shops, yard sales, estate sales and of course, Etsy.

Photo by Rachel Dwyer Photography

Photo by Rachel Dwyer Photography. Dress: c/o Shop Nebula. Earrings: c/o Zaful. Sunglasses: c/o Giant Vintage. Necklace: c/o Personal Necklace.

7. Wear authentic seventies vintage pieces. Enough said. Scour local thrift shops as well as Etsy and Poshmark for authentic seventies vintage pieces.

Photo by Rachel Dwyer Photography

Photo by Rachel Dwyer Photography. Wardrobe: Urban Outfitters. Sunglasses: c/o Giant Vintage.

8. Get groovy with bell sleeves. Bell sleeves presided in seventies fashion and to my delight, they're trending yet again. You can easily find bell sleeve tops and dresses at many fashion retailers today and their options usually blend retro and modern style really well- which makes styling them with other pieces in your wardrobe super easy. Start small and pair a bell sleeve top with a pair of flared denim or go bold and rock a bell sleeve maxi dress in a burnt orange paisley print.

Do y'all have a favorite decade in regards to style? Let me know in the comments!

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